Danger Management (Essay)

The following is an essay written by the author on July 11, 2011:

Risk is something that is eternally present here on earth. It is defined as the effect of uncertainty on objectives, in which uncertainty is an event that may or may not happen. Everybody, young or old, is exposed to danger in all tasks that they do. The risk involved in any activity cannot be eliminated, though it can be minimized. Some activities, especially those that involve major changes and creations, have a higher risk factor than other activities. Such activities include business projects and engineering feats.

Like people of other engineering fields, Chemical Engineers face many risks and dangers as they do their duties. Engineers, especially Chemical Engineers, are key people behind societal change, innovation, and development. This is one reason why they are constantly exposed to risky situations. Inventing, constructing, developing something is like exploring the unknown wherein the person is constantly in danger. Chemical Engineers, especially those in the industry sector, are constantly at risk. The risks include accidents, adverse health effects and ecological effects. The industry sector includes construction, materials production, energy production, design development and similar innovations. A Chemical Engineer, being the foreman of such projects and activities is the primary person at risk of such projects. If he is to work in the process sector of the Industry sector, then the risks are truly high. Experiments done with potentially hazardous chemicals are risky. Even though Chemical Engineers are equipped with knowledge, such risks and dangers are still present. It is the primary reason why working in the industry sector is considered a noble and benevolent task. The Chemical Engineers face the risks and dangers just to do their duties and to contribute to a societal change. They are heroes for the common people, for they are risking their lives trying to discover and/or invent something that will make our lives much better. Such examples include Petrochemical Engineers working in oil refineries, though safety measures are being enacted, they are still constantly exposed to hazardous vapors and chemicals that are potentially irritating to the body and other life-threatening dangers. Another example involves Chemical Engineers working in nuclear power plants who are constantly exposed to ionizing radiation, not to mention the threat of a nuclear meltdown. In some occasions the work of a Chemical Engineer is quite stressful due to the workload and pressure applied on them. This shows that Chemical Engineers should be versatile and careful at the same time.

In summary, the risks and dangers that Chemical Engineers have to face is enormous. The duties they have to fulfil deals with dangerous and sometimes poorly understood chemicals and processes, doing it in potentially accident-prone areas. On the positive side, safety measurements are improving, thus reducing the risks they have to face.