Health and safety challenges: The engineering manager's response

Engineers always have considered safety in their decisions on design concepts and design criteria, but the values of our society are changing and so different emphases are necessary in these decisions. This paper reviews two theories about safety: the values that our society uses when evaluating the work of engineers, and the principles of engineering design. Interaction of these factors is discussed, resulting in suggestions to guide engineers and managers in making design decisions for three different futures: individualism, regimentation, and middle-of-the-road.