smc-3728-40-Safety/Environment

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Telecommunications engineers face many work health and safety risks while carrying out their duties.

With reference to ONE issue, describe strategies that can be implemented to reduce the risk for the engineer. (3 marks)

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Telecommunications engineers work on satellite dishes and other structures at height.
To minimise the risk, they must ensure that they wear safety harnesses that prevent injuries from falling from heights.
The engineer should have completed relevant safety training before undertaking the task so that they are aware of the possible risks and how to avoid them.

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Describe the responsibilities of the engineer when considering security issues of telecommunications devices. (3 marks)

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Engineer responsibilities:

Ensuring the ongoing integrity of telecommunications networks.
Designing and implementing the integration of service devices.
Ensure consumer data is protected and cannot be intercepted by others.

Answers could also include:

Providing threat analysis.
Keeping device software up to date so that they are protected from viruses.
Design and implementation of protective protocols into the devices such as encryption and password protection.

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Engineer responsibilities:

Ensuring the ongoing integrity of telecommunications networks.
Designing and implementing the integration of service devices.
Ensure consumer data is protected and cannot be intercepted by others.

Answers could also include:

Providing threat analysis.
Keeping device software up to date so that they are protected from viruses.
Design and implementation of protective protocols into the devices such as encryption and password protection.

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A telecommunications engineer has designed a tower that is to support two mobile repeater transmitters. It is to be located in an urban community.

Outline responsibilities the engineer has when placing the tower within a local community. (3 marks)

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Answers could include 3 of the following points:

Minimise health risks, so tower not erected near high density housing, childcare centres or schools.
Designed so visual pollution reduced.
Positioned so best possible signals are achieved and dead spots are minimised.
Easy accessibility for maintenance without consequences to the community.
Construction completed with least possible disruption to the community.

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Answers could include 3 of the following points:

Minimise health risks, so tower not erected near high density housing, childcare centres or schools.
Designed so visual pollution reduced.
Positioned so best possible signals are achieved and dead spots are minimised.
Easy accessibility for maintenance without consequences to the community.
Construction completed with least possible disruption to the community.

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A smart watch is shown.

Many smart watches have in-built functions that provide useful health and safety features for the wearer, such as heart rate monitoring, location tracking and fall detection.

Discuss ONE legal or ethical implication that the telecommunications engineer would need to consider in the design, function or manufacture of such a device. (3 marks)

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Answers could include one the following.

Functionality:

If the product does not work as advertised/expected, this creates a legal/ethical concern as people’s lives could be at risk.
For example if the location services fail in an emergency situation the user may not be found.

Privacy:

If the user’s privacy is not protected or their data is shared/leaked, there could be legal and/or ethical consequences for the engineer.

Ease of use:

The device should be created with the user in mind. It should be simple to use, accessible, as cheap as possible and come with instructions for use if necessary.

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Answers could include one the following.

Functionality:

If the product does not work as advertised/expected, this creates a legal/ethical concern as people’s lives could be at risk.
For example if the location services fail in an emergency situation the user may not be found.

Privacy:

If the user’s privacy is not protected or their data is shared/leaked, there could be legal and/or ethical consequences for the engineer.

Ease of use:

The device should be created with the user in mind. It should be simple to use, accessible, as cheap as possible and come with instructions for use if necessary.

Mean mark 58%.

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Describe potential legal and ethical implications of a professional engineer failing to undertake ongoing training. (3 marks)

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Engineers have both ethical and legal obligations to keep up to date on safety, design and engineering best practice.
If an engineer fails to undertake required ongoing training they could breach these serious legal and professional obligations.
This exposes the engineer to potential litigation and could possibly expose both them and others to injury or death, which is an ethical issue that must be considered.

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Engineers have both ethical and legal obligations to keep up to date on safety, design and engineering best practice.
If an engineer fails to undertake required ongoing training they could breach these serious legal and professional obligations.
This exposes the engineer to potential litigation and could possibly expose both them and others to injury or death, which is an ethical issue that must be considered.