Hira HRM

Assignment 3
Name: Hira Tanveer
MBA II
Section: A

Ans 1: Ethics are defined as the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group. Making ethical decision involves two things, one is normative judgments and other is morality. Referring to BP Texas city incident, it is much a breakdown in the company’s ethical systems as it is in its safety systems. Because BP’s management system was already aware of the problems with maintenance, spending and infrastructure before the explosion held in March 2005. It also said in the case that it focused mainly on the personnel employee relationship, safety behaviors and procedural compliance rather than focusing on the reducing safety accident rates as unsafe environment and unacceptable deficiencies were tolerated from a long period of time.
Ans 2: Yes the occupational safety and health administration’s standards, policies and rules aimed at addressing problems like the ones that apparently existed at the Texas City plant because Texas City explosion followed a series of accidents at the facility for a number of years. It is also evident that average of one employee death has seen in each year. Also, safety measurements and risk reduction policies of employees had not been secured by management. It also lacks poor level of awareness and understanding of safety among the workers at Texas City.
Ans 3: Since there were apparently at least three deaths in the year prior to the major explosion, and an average of about one employee death per 16 months for the previous 10 years, but OSHA inspections missed these glaring sources of potential catastrophic events because such problems was not just started but also it already prevailed there. It also says that BP was taking steps to deal with them. Also, it was not evident that anyone intentionally taking actions to put their employees at risk.

Ans 4: The main issue of BP Texas City incident was that their management were unable to understand the importance of safety culture and safety management process. Basically, the top management of BP Texas City was responsible for not maintaining safety culture within the organization. Therefore, the most important three steps should be taken by top management to prevent such accidents which includes they should have unifying safety culture among the five refineries, the company should also make sure that each employee of BP Texas city have relevant process safety knowledge and expertise. Lastly, the company should monitor the each ongoing process of the refineries in order to avoid any accidents.
Ans 5: Referring to knowledge from chapter 16, the additional recommendations to BP can be that employers should provide a safe workplace for any such recognized threats. Also, BP employers should use computerized tools to design safety process equipment, which helps them to automate the tasks of risk assessment, and to identify safety options. Most importantly, every employee should use personal protective equipment which ensures their reliable protection. Employers should listen to their employees whenever they are suggesting safety processes, concerns or complaints about any mishap. Moreover, improve motivation throughout the organization through extensive incentive programs.
Ans 6: Strategic Human Resource management at BP seems to have supported the company’s broader strategic aims