William Lowrance's Definition of Safety
William Lowrance outlines the definition of safety and how it should be decided in his book Working Conditions of Acceptable Risk. He says that protection is immeasurable in the essay. In other words, safety cannot be quantified in precise terms. Safety is still determinable though it cannot be measured. According to Lowrance, this is accomplished by using the risk variable, which can be given a specific value. Measurable risk can be used to decide safety when it is balanced against social values. (Lowrance 228). There are therefore two tasks that must be completed in order to determine safety. The first is measuring risk and the second is using that risk to determine or judge safety. While measuring risk, the probability and severity of harm are determined, and this involves empirical and scientific methods. After risk has been determined, then safety is judged by deciding the acceptability of the risk.
Application of Lowrance Safety Analysis Criteria in Daily Life
The Lowrance safety analysis criteria can be essential for judging safety in daily life. There are numerous real-life scenarios that the criteria can be applied. Many things are regarded unsafe by people today, and the reason for that is intangible. A case in point would be one of the many phobias that people have. An individual could term an activity as unsafe based on their fear of it. However, when the risk of engaging in that activity is measured and compared to other similar actions, and it is found out that its risk is too low and thus acceptable, then it can be regarded as safe.
Role of Professionalism in Safety and Ethics
Lowrance says "Highly trained people are definitely seen as having special status. Given this, a key to developing compelling ethical argument, and to understanding why the lay public feels as it does, seems to reside in the notion of professionalism." (233). From this, I am bound to develop the opinion that Lowrance is basing ethics on professionalism. That is to say that, professionalism forms the foundation of ethics. The lay public decides what is good or bad based on the directions of professionals. Professionals, through their knowledge and skills in the various fields, determine what is good or wrong and offer advice to the public (Renfrew 33). For instance, professionals in the field of accounting would know the best and negative accounting practices and, with this, they can help keep the public informed and protected by ensuring that individuals adhere to the best practices and are ethical. The lay public expects and trusts professionals to offer them guidance.
Dependency on Professionals for Ethical Standards
I am inclined to agree with the author’s thesis. All knowledge is not given to all people. There are people who possess expertise in one field while others have knowledge in other areas. This makes it necessary for people to depend on each other. In this line, the public depends on professionals, who have the knowledge and skills in various fields, to come with the best practices in their own fields. This knowledge and skills are used to determine what is good for the public. The public cannot possibly determine what is good for them considering that this requires one to have the right knowledge. For instance, it would be hard for the public to decide which method would be best for treating a particular disease given that it does not have the knowledge to treat that disease. A qualified person, however, would come up with the best solution easily. Therefore, the public depends on the professionals to come up with ethical standards.
Works Cited
Lowrance, William W. "Of Acceptable Risk, William Kaufmann." Inc., Los Altos, CA (1976).
Renfrew, Malcom M. "Of acceptable risk. Science and the determination of safety (Lowrance, William W.)." (1977): A345.
