Technology is two edged; great benefits and great dangers.  If everything works right, it’s a better life for everyone, but if something goes wrong the results could be horrendous injuries and fatalities, property destruction and long-term environmental degradation. The 1980’s had some particularly bad examples, Bhopal and Chernobyl. These are more than instances from a past generation. Part of their legacy is the lessons learned, particularly for the engineers who have a duty to the public welfare, health, and Safety.

Dave Russell, PE, Principal of Global Environmental Operations, Inc. will present on Lessons from Mega Technological Failures at the May 8th face-to-face monthly meeting of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers Atlanta Metro Chapter at Piccadilly Cafeteria, 2000 Crescent Centre Blvd., Tucker, GA 30084. Mr. Russell will review the circumstances of the Bhopal and Chernobyl accidents and discuss how these and other events present lessons to be learned, and how these will provide a model for all engineers, regardless of the scope of projects. No engineer wants to be “that guy” who failed to prevent a tragedy. 

The face-to-face gathering will start at 6:00. The meeting presentation will be recorded and available for later viewing at no cost. This presentation, like the previous presentations, will qualify for a required engineering professional development hour (PDH). Currently registered professional engineers, those engineers aspiring to become PEs, and others engaged in engineering would benefit from the presentation. Anyone in the field of engineering and members of the general public are welcome to pose questions and to learn about engineering and public welfare.       

 Both F2F and later archived viewing (www.youtube.com/GSPEng) are FREE.          

Dave Russell, PE, is the Principal of Global Environmental Operations, Inc. in Lilburn. For more than three decades Global Environmental Operations has provided worldwide expertise in air and water pollution and solid and hazardous waste control, process engineering for radioactive and organic contamination remediation.  Mr. Russell is familiar with all aspects of chemical plant, petroleum and agricultural chemicals plants and their environmental challenges, including hazardous wastes and regulatory cleanups.  He has written extensively on subjects dealing with environmental control in the chemical and petroleum industries. He has also authored articles on hazardous waste management, property transfer liabilities and assessments, and on various other environmental topics.  A past Faculty Instructor in Environmental Engineering at Southern Technical Institute (now part of Kennesaw State University), he has provided technical training and addressed conferences in North America, Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Russell has authored several books and numerous technical journal articles. He received an BSCE from University of Illinois, Urbana, and a MSCE from West Virginia University and pursued additional graduate studies at SUNY at Buffalo. Mr. Russell is a registered professional engineer in multiple states and has served as an expert witness. He is listed in Who’s Who in Engineering and is active with numerous professional societies.

About The Meeting

The GSPE Atlanta Metro Chapter meetings are open to engineering professionals, students, and other interested members of the public. The meetings usually take place on the second Monday of each month, September through June. The meetings start with F2F networking at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner and the speaker at 7:00. The presentation will be archived for later viewing on the GSPE video channel, www.youtube.com/GSPEng. Many engineers enjoy the presentations as well as earn a required Professional Development Hour.