PHIL 4401-01 and -02: Engineering Ethics

This 2009 report finds that the drinking water of 15 communities surrounding the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal is seriously contaminated by chemical pollution.

This website contains articles, a detailed timeline of the disaster, and court documents.

The complete National Transportation Safety Board report on the deadly failure of an epoxy and anchor bolt concrete panel hanging system in the Central Artery Tunnel.

This government website provides access to information on the disaster and its effect on the Gulf states.

An introduction to the problems posed by radioactive fallout due to nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s. Contains links to Centers for Disease Control reports on this issue.

A World Nuclear Association webpage that explores the sequence of events, the reactor technology, and environmental cost of the 1986 catastrophe.

The final forensic report on the collapse by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The complete 6 volume report on the Space Shuttle accident may be found here.

This report estimates that climate change is responsible for 5 million deaths per year, and will cost as many as 100 million lives by 2030.

An article about a wind load design flaw in the CitiCorp Building that was discovered by a graduate student. Short video included.

EM-DAT contains essential core data on the occurrence and effects of over 18,000 mass disasters in the world from 1900 to present.

Videos and reports on engineering accidents, failures, and disasters.

In 2015, it was discovered that Volkswagen had engineered its diesel vehicles to pass laboratory emissions tests, but push large amounts of pollutants into the air when driven on the road by customers. This 2019 article brings the story up to date.

An overview of the scandal involving faulty ignition switches in GM vehicles that resulted in the deaths of 97 people.

This article describes the fatal consequences of a tank failure in Boston's North End that resulted in the deaths of 21 people.

This essay by Robert Campbell of The Boston Globe was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1995.

This paper provides an overview of the Southeast Louisiana Flood and Hurricane Protection System that was in place at the time of Hurricane Katrina.

A 2010 article from Public Roads Magazine that highlights the specification revisions and protections that arise out of disaster.

The accident report, mission history, audio and video clips, and risk assessments may be found here.

An excellent color video clip of the 1940 collapse.