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Engineering Ethics

Engineering Ethics

Engineering Ethics

(OP)
The following site has links to many interesting sites dealing with ethics.

http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/resources/professionalism/codes/

The below was obtained from this site and is published by the NSPE


               NSPE Code of Ethics for 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.

               I. Fundamental Canons

               Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

               1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
               public.

               2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.

               3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
               manner.

               4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
               trustees.

               5. Avoid deceptive acts.

               6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and
               lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
               usefulness of the profession.

               II. Rules 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.

               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 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.

               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.

               c. 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.

               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.

               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.

               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.

               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
               venturers, 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. 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.

               III. Professional Obligations

               1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the
               highest standards of honesty and integrity.

               a. Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall not
               distort or alter the facts.

               b. Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when
               they believe a project will not be successful.

               c. Engineers shall not accept outside employment to the
               detriment of their regular work or interest. Before accepting
               any outside engineering employment they will notify their
               employers.

               d. Engineers shall not attempt to attract an engineer from
               another employer by false or misleading pretenses.

               e. Engineers shall not actively participate in strikes, picket
               lines, or other collective coercive action.

               f. Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the
               expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.

               2. Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public
               interest.

               a. Engineers shall seek opportunities to participate in civic
               affairs; career guidance for youths; and work for the
               advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their
               community.

               b. Engineers shall not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or
               specifications that are not in conformity with applicable
               engineering standards. If the client or employer insists on
               such unprofessional conduct, they shall notify the proper
               authorities and withdraw from further service on the project.

               c. Engineers shall endeavor to extend public knowledge and
               appreciation of engineering and its achievements.

               3. Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that deceives
               the public.

               a. Engineers shall avoid the use of statements containing a
               material misrepresentation of fact or omitting a material fact.

               b. Consistent with the foregoing, Engineers may advertise for
               recruitment of personnel.

               c. Consistent with the foregoing, Engineers may prepare
               articles for the lay or technical press, but such articles shall
               not imply credit to the author for work performed by others.

               4. Engineers shall not disclose, without consent, confidential
               information concerning the business affairs or technical
               processes of any present or former client or employer, or
               public body on which they serve.

               a. Engineers shall not, without the consent of all interested
               parties, promote or arrange for new employment or practice
               in connection with a specific project for which the Engineer
               has gained particular and specialized knowledge.

               b. Engineers shall not, without the consent of all interested
               parties, participate in or represent an adversary interest in
               connection with a specific project or proceeding in which the
               Engineer has gained particular specialized knowledge on
               behalf of a former client or employer.

               5. Engineers shall not be influenced in their professional
               duties by conflicting interests.

               a. Engineers shall not accept financial or other
               considerations, including free engineering designs, from
               material or equipment suppliers for specifying their product.

               b. Engineers shall not accept commissions or allowances,
               directly or indirectly, from contractors or other parties dealing
               with clients or employers of the Engineer in connection with
               work for which the Engineer is responsible.

               6. Engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or
               advancement or professional engagements by untruthfully
               criticizing other engineers, or by other improper or
               questionable methods.

               a. Engineers shall not request, propose, or accept a
               commission on a contingent basis under circumstances in
               which their judgment may be compromised.

               b. Engineers in salaried positions shall accept part-time
               engineering work only to the extent consistent with policies
               of the employer and in accordance with ethical
               considerations.

               c. Engineers shall not, without consent, use equipment,
               supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of an employer to carry
               on outside private practice.

               7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or
               falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation,
               prospects, practice, or employment of other engineers.
               Engineers who believe others are guilty of unethical or illegal
               practice shall present such information to the proper authority
               for action.

               a. Engineers in private practice shall not review the work of
               another engineer for the same client, except with the
               knowledge of such engineer, or unless the connection of
               such engineer with the work has been terminated.

               b. Engineers in governmental, industrial, or educational
               employ are entitled to review and evaluate the work of other
               engineers when so required by their employment duties.

               c. Engineers in sales or industrial employ are entitled to
               make engineering comparisons of represented products with
               products of other suppliers.

               8. Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their
               professional activities, provided, however, that Engineers may
               seek indemnification for services arising out of their practice
               for other than gross negligence, where the Engineer's
               interests cannot otherwise be protected.

               a. Engineers shall conform with state registration laws in the
               practice of engineering.

               b. Engineers shall not use association with a nonengineer, a
               corporation, or partnership as a "cloak" for unethical acts.

               9. Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those to
   

RE: Engineering Ethics

I'm going to download this post and read it - it is long however.  Here's a shorter version that might be useful:


Faith of the Engineer
I am an engineer. In my profession I take deep pride, but without vain glory; to it I owe solemn obligations that I am eager to fulfill.

As an engineer, I will participate in none but honest enterprise. To those who have engaged my services, as employeer or client, I will give the utmost of performance and fidelity.

When needed, my skills and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good. From special capacity springs the obligation to use it well in the service of humanity; and I accept the challenge that this implies.

Jealous of the high repute of my calling, I will strive to protect the interests of and the good name of the engineer that I know to be deserving; but I will not shrink, should duty dictate, from disclosing the truth regarding anyone who by unscrupulous act, has shown conduct unworthy of the profession.

Since the Age of Stone, human progress has been conditioned by the genius of my professional forebears. By them have been rendered usable to mankind nature's vast resources of material and energy. By them have been vitalized and turned to practical account the principles of science and the revelations of technology. Except for this heritage of accumulated experience, my efforts would be feeble. I dedicate myself to the dissemination of engineering knowledge, and especially to the instruction of younger members of my profession in all its arts and traditions.

Engineer's Code of Ethics

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering profession by:
1. Using their knowledge and skill for the advancement of human welfare;
2. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employeers and clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

Reprinted from The Engineers' Council for Professional Development

Mike Van Voorhis
MJVanVoorhis@CS.com


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