Case Study Unit II Alfred Elvins Columbia Southern University

The article, “Exposing Workers to Plutonium” (Beauchamp, T. L., Bowie, N. E., & Arnold, D. G., 2009) is a writing that addresses the health hazards associated with the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The article discusses the responsibilities of a corporation that it has to the workers. The author attempts to present the problems of working in an unsafe environment. The company has failed to protect the community by not fully disclosing certain health concerns and risks associated with plutonium exposure. The Federal government has initiated a cleanup of the area. The Clinton administration indicated that the employees would be compensated for their exposure to the harmful product. (Beauchamp, et.al. 2009) The article is clear and concise. The reader is able to understand the major issues of worker safety that face the corporation and the costs involved with maintaining a safe disposal program.

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

1. Should management in the plant make a full disclosure of known risks, even when the risks are believed to be insignificant? Management should make a full disclosure of all the known risks even if the risks appear insignificant. It should be the employer’s duty to provide a safe work environment. The employee should be able to go to work and be free from injury or exposure. Each company must make it a priority to promote safety. (Beauchamp, et.al. 2009) Each employee may look at insignificant risks differently. One employee may not be concerned with the mitigating factors and another employee may be overly concerned. The employer should provide a level of protective clothing and gear to keep the employees safe.

2. Did the government have the responsibility to pay the workers for the risks that they were asked to undertake as well as the health effects that resulted?

The government did not have the responsibility to pay the workers. The government did not have to take responsibility for the health conditions either. The company is the entity that put the workers at risk. (Beauchamp, et.al. 2009) The government should not be liable for financial compensation because of a poor decision on the part of the management team.
The health effects are not the government’s responsibility. The government will