ENGINEERING ETHICS AND SAFETY IN INFRASTRUCRURE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study examined the role of engineering ethics in promoting safety within infrastructure and industrial development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Despite existing safety standards and regulations, ethical lapses continued to pose risks to project outcomes and public safety. A descriptive survey design was used, involving 238 engineers, contractors, and regulatory officials engaged in major projects across the state. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with confirmed reliability, and respondents were selected via stratified random sampling to ensure representation across stakeholder groups. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed to analyse relationships between engineering ethics, safety standards, and causes of ethical failures such as corruption, poor regulatory enforcement, lack of professional training, and weak accountability. The findings revealed that engineering ethics significantly contributed to ensuring safety in infrastructure and industrial projects. The study also found that current safety standards and regulations were effective in accident prevention when properly applied. However, factors such as corruption, inadequate enforcement, insufficient training, and weak institutional accountability were identified as key causes of ethical failures. These results aligned with previous research highlighting the importance of organisational support, leadership, and ethical commitment in enhancing safety compliance. The study concluded that while ethical principles and safety regulations existed, inconsistent enforcement and systemic challenges hindered their effectiveness. It recommended stronger regulatory enforcement, continuous ethics and safety training, and improved transparency to mitigate ethical breaches and promote safer engineering practices.