You are a structural engineer working on the construction of a nuclear power plant in a developing county. After years of construction delays and cost overruns, the plant finally has received its limited operating license from the country's Nuclear Regulatory Commission. During your final inspection of the nuclear core containment unit, on February 15, you discover a ten-foot-long, hairline crack in a section of the reinforced concrete floor, twenty feet from where the cooling pipes enter the containment unit. (The especially cold and snowless winter likely has caused a frost heave beneath the foundation). The crack has either just appeared or was overlooked by the NRC inspectors on February 10.
The crack might be perfectly harmless, caused by normal settling of the structure; and this is, after all, a "redundant" containment system (a shell within a shell). But the crack might also signal some kind of serious stress on the entire containment unit, which could damage the entry and exit cooling pipes or other vital structures.
You phone your boss, who is just about to leave on vacation. He tells you, "Forget it; no problem," and hangs up.
You know that if the crack is reported, the whole start-up process scheduled for February 16 will be delayed indefinitely. More money will be lost; excavation, reinforcement, and further testing will be required, and many people with a stake in this project (from company executives to construction officials to shareholders) will be furious--especially if your report turns out to be a false alarm. Media coverage will be widespread. As the bearer of bad news--and bad publicity--you suspect that, even if you turn out to be right, your own career could be damaged by your apparent overreaction.
On the other hand, ignoring the crack could have unforeseeable consequences. Of course, no one would ever be able to implicate you. The NRC has already inspected and approved the containment unit, leaving you, your boss, and your company in the clear. You have very little time to decide. Start up is scheduled for tomorrow, at which time the containment system will become intensely radioactive.
What would you do?
In 2-3 paragraphs, think out a course of action and justify it on the basis of the obligations, ideals, and consequences involved.