Engineering Ethics

CEE100

Engineering ethics
Engineering Ethics is the study of
moral issues and decisions
confronting individuals and
organizations engaged in
engineering.
The Study of related questions about
moral ideals, character, policies and
relationship of people and
corporations involved in
technological activity.

Engineering ethics
Teaching engineering ethics can achieve at
least four desirable outcomes:
a) increased ethical sensitivity;
b) increased knowledge of relevant
standards of conduct;
c) improved ethical judgment; and
d) improved ethical will-power (i.e., a
greater ability to
act ethically when
one wants to).

Examples of Engineering Codes of

Ethics
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology (ABET)
National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE)
American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE)
Board of Accreditation of Engineering and
Technology Education (BAETE)

ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and

Technology) Code of Ethics
The Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity,
honor, and dignity of the engineering
profession by:
I. using their knowledge and skill for the
enhancement of human welfare;
II. being honest and impartial, and serving
with fidelity the public, their employers, and
their clients;
III. striving to increase the competence and
prestige of the engineering profession; and,

ABET Code of Ethics of Engineers

The Fundamental Canons
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public in the performance of their professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client
as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
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.

Ethics in ABET Program Outcomes

Engineering programs must demonstrate that their
graduates have
Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics,
science, engineering
Ability to design and conduct expts, analyze and
interpret data
Ability to design system, component, or process
Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
Ability to identify, formulate, and solve
engineering problems
An understanding of professional and ethical
responsibility
Ability to communicate effectively
Broad education necessary to understand
engineering impact in a global and societal
context
Recognition of need for and ability to engage in

Engineering Ethical Education

Issues to be Considered
Ethical implications of public policy relevant to
engineering:
Sustainable development
Risk to people and environment, product liability
Ethical treatment of the other
Information technology

Culturally embedded engineering practice

(institutional and political aspects of engineering,
such as contracting, regulation, and technology
transfer)
Macroethical issues (e.g., overconsumption)

Sustainable Development

e guiding principle of sustainable development is

velopment that meets the needs of the present witho
mpromising the ability of future generations to meet
eir own needs. Sustainable development recognizes t
terdependence of environmental, social and economic
stems and promotes equality and justice through
ople empowerment and a sense of global citizenship.
hilst we cannot be sure what the future may bring, a
eferable future is a more sustainable one.

Code of Ethics
The main objectives of the
engineering code of ethics are to (i)
protect the public, (ii) protect and
further develop the profession.

Code of Ethics
Engineering Ethics does not have a
single uniform system, or standard,
of ethical conduct across the entire
profession

National Society of Professional Engineers(NSPE)

American Institute of Chemical Engineers(AIChE)
American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers(SME)
IEEE code of ethics (IEEE)

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Code of Professional Ethics

Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the
engineering profession by:
using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human
welfare and the environment;
being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their
employers and clients;
striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering
profession; and
supporting the professional and technical societies of their
disciplines.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Code of Professional Ethics

Fundamental Canons
Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
development in the performance of their professional duties.
Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Code of Professional Ethics

Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their

services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zerotolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.
Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development
of those engineers under their supervision.

1. Safety, health and welfare of the

public
to accept responsibility in making
decisions consistent with the safety,
health and welfare of the public, and
to disclose promptly factors that
might endanger the public or the
environment;

2. Conflicts of interest
to avoid real or perceived conflicts of
interest whenever possible, and to
disclose them to affected parties
when they do exist;

3. Honest and realistic on

claims
to be honest and realistic in stating
claims or estimates based on
available data;

4. Reject bribery
to reject bribery in all its forms;

5. Improve understanding of
technology
to improve the understanding of
technology, its appropriate
application, and potential
consequences;

6. Technical competence
to maintain and improve our
technical competence and to
undertake technological tasks for
others only if qualified by training or
experience, or after full disclosure of
pertinent limitations;

7. Honesty in criticism and

credit
to seek, accept, and offer honest
criticism of technical work, to
acknowledge and correct errors, and
to credit properly the contributions of
others;

8. Fair
to treat fairly all persons regardless
of such factors as race, religion,
gender, disability, age, or national
origin;

9. Truthful
to avoid injuring others, their
property, reputation, or employment
by false or malicious action;

10. Supportive
to assist colleagues and co-workers
in their professional development
and to support them in following this
code of ethics.

Ethical Aspects of Engineering Practice

Conflict of Interest:
to the Public:
Occurs whenever an engineer is
Public Safety and Welfare
in a position to make a decision
Expert Information on Public
that can result in his/her personal
Issues;
gain.
Whistle-blowing
Disclosure of Potential Conflict of
Volunteering
Interest;
to the Client:
Competition with Former
Disclosure of Design Errors
Employer
Confidentiality
Employers Related Private
Fair
Trade Practices:
Adherence to Codes
Consultation After Public
Property Rights
Monitoring of Sub-Contractors Intellectual
Employment
Criticism of Competitors Competenc
Inflated Claims in Advertising
to the Profession:
Shared Credit
Recruiting/Service the Public Maintaining Professional Standards
Institutions for the public good; Letters of Recommendation
Participation in Professional Signing off on Drawing
Societies