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Code of Ethics
 What is a code of ethics ?

– A code provides a framework for ethical judgment for a

professional.

– Code serve as a starting point for ethical decision making.

– A code defines the roles and responsibilities of

professionals.
 Broad Principles

– Ethics is generally understood as the discipline or field of study

dealing with moral duty or obligation. This typically gives rise to a set
of governing principles or values which in turn are used to judge the
appropriateness of particular conduct or behaviour.

– to interpret the essence of the underlying principles within their daily

decision-making situations in a dynamic manner, responsive to the
need of the situation.

– The Code is based on broad principles of truth, honesty and

trustworthiness, respect for human life and welfare, fairness,
openness, competence and accountability.
 Engineering and Engineers

Preamble

– Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members of

this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the highest
standards of honesty and integrity.

– Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for
all people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers require
honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated
to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.

– Engineers must perform under a standard of professional behavior

that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical
conduct.
 The Draft Model Code of Ethics of the World
Federation of Engineering Organizations
(WFEO)
 Prepared by Donald G. Laplant, WFEO Vice-President (it has been scanned
and may include some slight errors) Broad Principles

 Ethics is generally understood as the discipline or field of study dealing with

moral duty or obligation. This typically gives rise to a set of governing
principles or values which in turn are used to judge the appropriateness of
particular conduct or behaviour. These principles are usually presented either
as broad guiding principles of an idealistic or inspirational nature, or
altematively, as a detailed and specific set of rules couched in legalistic or
imperative terms to make them more enforceable.

 Professions that have been given the privilege and responsibility of self-
regulation, including the engineering profession have tended to opt for the
first alternative, espousing sets of underlying principles as codes of
professional ethics which form the basis and framework for responsible
professional practice. Arising from this context, professional codes of ethics
have sometimes been incorrectly interpreted as a set of "rules" of conduct
intended for passive observance.
 Cont.
 A more appropriate use by practicing professionals is to interpret the
essence of the underlying principles within their daily decision-making
situations in a dynamic manner, responsive to the need of the situation. As
a consequence, a code of professional ethics is more than a minimum
standard of conduct, rather, it is a set of principles which should guide
professionals in their daily work.

 In summary, the model Code presented below expresses the expectations

of engineers and society in discharging the engineers' professional
responsibilities. The Code is based on broad principles of truth, honesty and
trustworthiness, respect for human life and welfare, fairness, openness,
competence and accountability. Some of these broader ethical principles or
issues deemed more universally applicable are not specifically defined in the
Code, though they are understood to be applicable as well, only those
tenets deemed particularly applicable to the practice of professional
engineering are specified. Nevertheless, ethical principles or issues not
commonly considered to be part of professional ethics may sometimes have
implications on the engineer's professional role.
 Professional Ethics in
Engineering

 Obligations of Engineers Of particular interest to a beginning

engineer is the obligation of experienced engineers to make
available their knowledge to others

 Only a minute part of your ultimate understanding will come as a

result of your own original work; by far the greatest portion will be
received from others in school, through engineering societies, and
from other engineers. In turn, you will be obligated to make your
contribution to the constantly expanding store of knowledge

 Engineers also have an obligation to remain up-to-date by

participating in continuing professional development.
 The Fundamental Principles of
the Engineers' Code of Ethics

1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare

2. Being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the public, their
employers and clients;

3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering

profession;

4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their

services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
 The Fundamental Principles of the
Engineers' Code of Ethics

6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and

enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession.

7. Engineers shall continue their professional development

throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for
the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision
 Rule of Practice

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public.

a) If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that

endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or
client and such other authority as may be appropriate.

b) Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that

are in conformity with applicable standards.

c) Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without

the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized
or required by law or this Code.
 Rule of Practice

d) Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in

business ventures with any person or firm that they believe are
engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise.

e) Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice of engineering by

a person or firm.

f) Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code

shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when
relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper
authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be
required.
 Rule of Practice

2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their

competence.

a) Engineers shall undertake assignments only when qualified by

education or experience in the specific technical fields involved.

b) Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or documents

dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence, nor to
any plan or document not prepared under their direction and control.

a) Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for

coordination of an entire project and sign and seal the engineering
documents for the entire project, provided that each technical
segment is signed and sealed only by the qualified engineers who
prepared the segment.
 Rule of Practice
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.

a. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports,

statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent
information in such reports, statements, or testimony, which should bear
the date indicating when it was current.

b. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon
knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter.

c. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on technical

matters that are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they
have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying the interested
parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the
existence of any interest the engineers may have in the matters.
 Rule of Practice
4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

a. Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that

could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of
their services.

b. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from

more than one party for services on the same project, or for services
pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully
disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

c. Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable

consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with
the work for which they are responsible
 Rule of Practice

d. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees

of a governmental or quasi-governmental body or department
shall not participate in decisions with respect to services
solicited or provided by them or their organizations in private or
public engineering practice.

e. Engineers shall not solicit or accept a contract from a

governmental body on which a principal or officer of their
organization serves as a member.
 Rule of Practice
5. Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts.

a. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit

misrepresentation of their or their associates' qualifications.
They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in
or for the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or
other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment
shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers,
employees, associates, joint ventures, or past accomplishments.

b. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit or receive, either directly

or indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a
contract by public authority, or which may be reasonably
construed by the public as having the effect of intent to
influencing the awarding of a contract.
 Rule of Practice

c. They shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration

in order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission,
percentage, or brokerage fee in order to secure work, except
to a bona fide employee or bona fide established commercial
or marketing agencies retained by them.
 Example 1:
Obligation to Employers and
Clients
Under what circumstances can a registered engineer sign and seal plans or documents he/she did
not prepare?
A. Registered engineers can coordinate projects that include segments that they are not
competent in if a qualified registered engineer signs and seals plans or documents for those
segments of the project.
B. Under no circumstances.
C. If the plans or documents were prepared by someone under the registered engineer’s direct
supervision and the registered engineer is an expert in the subject matter.
D. When practicing in a state different than the one in which the engineer is registered.
Answer (A) is a true statement, but it has nothing to do with the problem statement. Plans or
documents prepared under the direct supervision of a registered engineer where the engineer is
an expert, can be signed and sealed by the engineer assuming he or she has reviewed the plans or
documents.
Therefore, (C) is correct.
 Example 2:
Obligation to Employers and Clients
You and your design group are competing for a multidisciplinary concept project. Your firm is the
lead group in the design professional consortium formed to compete for the project. Your
consortium has been selected to be the first to enter fee negotiations with the project owner.
During negotiations, the amount you have to cut from your fee to be awarded the contract will
require dropping one of the consortium members whose staff has special capabilities not found in
the staff of the remaining consortium members. Is your consortium response in the negotiations
ethical?
(A) No, not if the owner is left with the impression that the consortium is still fully qualified to
perform all the required tasks.
(B) Yes, if your remaining consortium members hire a few new, lower cost employees to do the
special work originally intended to be provided by the consortium member dropped.
(C) No, because an engineer may not accept a contract to coordinate a project with other
professional firms providing capabilities and services not under the engineer’s direct control.
(D) Yes, if in accepting an assignment to coordinate a project, a single person will sign and seal all
the documents in the entire consortium work.
 Example 2:
Obligation to Employers and Clients
(A) No, not if the owner is left with the impression that the consortium is still fully
qualified to perform all the required tasks.

It is never ethical to accept a contract if you or the organization you are negotiating
for cannot complete the work. Answer (A) does not tell us if the scope of the
contract will be reduced so the consortium can complete the work without the
eliminated partner, or if the consortium has some other way of completing the
work without the special skills of the eliminated partner, so we can’t really say that
answer (A) is correct, but it is the best option provided.
Therefore, the answer is (A).