Ethics

[kechha2060]

If I disagree with my supervisor and I am the one signing the engineering plans What is the right way to do? What does ethics say? Just do what my supervisor say or confront him.

 

[msquared48]

What is the disagreement about?

Is this a code related issue disagreement, or just one over a certain design approach?

Makes a big difference...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[IRstuff]

Why is a disagreement an ethics question? It can only be an ethics question if your supervisor is asking you to violate your PE responsibilities, in which case, you know what you should do, and have to weigh that against any possible consequences.

TTFN
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[kechha2060]

Disagreement is about design approach.

 

[msquared48]

Then I agree with IR, then unless something ILLEGAL or ethically questionable is being proposed, it is not an ethics issue, only one of engineering design philosophy.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[glass99]

Keccha2060 What are you being asked to do?

 

[SLTA]

My state licensing board has a lawyer that will answer questions like this, for free. I called a couple times and got prompt, knowledgable, and understandable answers. It would be worth seeing if your jurisdiction has something similar.

 

[IRstuff]

Unless one of you can demonstrate that a particular design approach leads the design down the incorrect path, there's no ethics involved. I'm concerned that you continue to dribble out details, muddling the question.

TTFN
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[jgailla]

Tough decision, but you are the one responsible. It ultimately should be your decision.
However, is your boss's approach completely wrong or just a different way of doing things?
If your boss's approach is an adequate way to solve the problem, why argue?
Your boss, as an engineer, should know that the signing party is the one responsible and should make all pertinent design decisions.
If he doesn't understand this or is not an engineer you should have your resume out.

 

[SNORGY]

One of you owns the design. Whoever owns the design, stamps the design. It might be that if your boss wants to impose his will on your design, you can legitimately ask him or her to provide the corresponding professional endorsement, if you disagree that strongly. It might also just be "right-fighting". What helps me deal with situations like that is adhering to the philosophy, "*Who* is right doesn't matter, *What* is right does matter.". If my boss' idea is safe and will work, even if I like my way better, I have no trouble buying into it and wouldn't withhold my endorsement.

 

[beej67]

Not bent about it or anything, but there's an ethics forum for questions like this:

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=765

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com