Stickley Furniture Company, based in Syracuse, New York was evaluated for its risk management practices based on utilitarian and deontological considerations. This company was selected because it deals with light and heavy machinery, used in its operations, from woodcutting, preparation, jointly, finishing, inventory and storage. The riskiest job in the factory is the management and running of the woodcutting machine that requires an employee to manually feed wood logs into the machine.
To reduce the risk of accidents associated with this job, Stickley management has made sure only skilled and trained employees work with the machine. Additionally, they have posted in bold letters on a wall next to the machine, rules governing the use of the machine. The first rule is that workers should make use of mechanical feeding whenever possible by the use of push sticks rather than hands. Secondly, only authorized employees should work with the machine. Thirdly, dangerous parts like cutters, saws, nips, and blades must be enclosed at all times. Fourthly, workers must be in protective gear involving gloves, helmets, masks, hearing protection, boots, eye shields, and workshop overalls at all times. Additionally, safety procedures must be followed and machines must be switched off when not in use. Machine operators must pay attention and not get distracted while working and should not work if fatigued. By interrogating the wood-cutting machine operators and observing them at work, it is evident that employees at Stickley are well informed of the risks involved.
The rules given by the company concerning the use and management of this machine are utilitarian (Waller, 2005). This is because by employees following these rules they will reduce the risks of getting wood and machine cuts and amputations, they avoid grazing, piercings, and gouging out of eyes. Moreover, these rules are utilitarian for they provide positive results to employees and the company, as they significantly reduce the risks of employees getting caught in rotating parts, and reduce the risk of having sharp wood pieces flying in the workshop. Moreover, by having unused parts covered at all times, they reduce the risk of amputations, cuts, and even death caused by the sudden movement of parts. Lastly, employees that follow these rules enjoy positive utilitarian results, for they significantly reduce the risk of getting their hands chopped off when they feed wood with a push stick rather than their hands. The company also reduces the cost of running, in terms of medical payments arising from accidents, while employees enjoy a healthy working environment.
Taking into consideration the business function of the company and the risks involved in their workshop, Stickley furniture must have a deontological moral duty to protect employees from risks (Waller, 2005). Towards this, the company has dutifully made sure only skilled employees work with machines. Employees are only allowed to work with the wood cutting machine after they have been trained adequately. The company provides safety gear, protective clothing, emergence aid, and healthcare for employees. The company also adheres to the government’s occupational health and safety standards for woodwork.
In conclusion, by deontological ethics, the company has dutifully done its moral duty in protecting employees from risks of injury and death from the wood cutting machine. Additionally, by utilitarian ethics, since employees understand and follow laid down rules, they enjoy the benefits of reduced injury while the company has lower medical costs. Therefore, by deontological and utilitarian principles, the risks involved with the wood cutting machine are acceptable and reasonable.
Reference
Waller, B.N. (2005). Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Pearson Longman.