CHAPTER 5

The Engineer And Professional Ethics

MEANING OF ETHICS
The science of moral duty or the rules of right living.
Derived from the Greek :
ethikos and ethos custom, usage or character
Pertains to right and wrong in conduct.
The study of the principles of morality, including both the science of
the good and the nature of the right.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Code of Ethics - are adopted by organizations to assist members in

understanding the difference between 'right' and 'wrong' and in
applying that understanding to their decisions.
CODE OF COURTESY AND PERSONAL CONDUCT
The following code of courtesy and personal conduct was taken
from the paper written by Mr. Daniel Mead, and adopted by the
different engineering associations throughout the world including the
Philippines.

The engineer like other professional should conduct himself in

accordance with the following code of courtesy and personal conduct.
 A) The engineer should not take himself or others too seriously. All
men are humans and subject to error.
B) He should cultivate a sense of humor. It brightens life and eases
intercourse. Serious matters, however, should always receive serious
considerations and in such affairs, levity is out of place.
C) He should not fail to smile and use courtesy to all equals and
subordinates as well as superiors. This includes greetings, tone of
voice and consideration for the personal comfort of all who enter his
office whether visitors or employees.
 D) He should not criticize anyone adversely in the presence of others.
E) He should not use ungentlemanly language.
F) He should not fail to respect the authority of others, and the
personal dignity of subordinates.
G) He should not criticize destructively. He should criticize
constructively by suggesting how the error in questions may be
avoided in the future.
H) He should not encourage gossip about fellow workers.
I) He should not countenance animosities or intrigues.
 J) He should not show partiality, favoritism or injustices in any
direction.
K) He should not let personal feelings govern his action against his
better business judgement.
L) He should not fail to be as liberal in praising good performance as
he is in censuring bad performance.
M) He should not belittle to anyone, not even to the humblest worker
with business judgement.
 N) He should not usurp the functions of others or go over their heads,
or undermine the standing of another, or carry tales.
O) He should not carry personal dislike into organization work; if he
does not like as associate, he should subordinate his feeling to the
general good of the organization.
P) He should not fail to be generous if he finds himself in a position to
criticize or upheave another department or individual for the turn of
the wheel of business fortune may place him in a similar position.
 Q) He should not fail, wherever possible, to give the benefit of his
thought, and information to others in an organization with which he is
connected.
R) He should not fail, if he must disagree radically with and associate,
or must fight him on organization, to announce the fact frankly to
him first, and fight clean and with good nature.
S) He should not fail, if he must resign from an organization, to do so
with due regard for his associates whose interests may be affected by
his leaving.
 T) He should not use merely technical advantage over an associate in
an organization. He should guide himself by sound business principles
and the spirit of fairness, even under provocation.
U) He should not take advantage of double meanings of words, or
unsaid things or unknown facts, or hide behind sophistries and cryptic
statement. He should cultivate clearness, letting all know precisely
where he stands. Good strategy in business does not mean stealth
and secrets; speed, analysis, and publicity are better.
V) He should use correct but simple English in speaking and writing.
Proper language is the mark of education, cultivation, and accuracy.
 W) when work is to be done, he should not delay. Putting off to the
future things which should be done at once is one of the habits that
lead to unsatisfactory service and failure.
MULTI-FACET RELATIONS OF AN ENGINEER
The engineer is subject to numerous relations to wit:
First, he is the agent of the client and bound to perform his duties
and functions with utmost confidence, loyalty and good faith.
Second, he is duty-bound to deal with other members of the
profession with consideration and mutual respect.
Third, he is a citizen of the republic and therefore duty-bound to
exercise his right as such with due regard to the right of others.
Fourth, he is bound to treat his employees not as chattels but as
human beings who deserve respect and dignity.
 Fifth, he is duty-bound to deal with contractors with fairness and
respect.
Sixth, he, as one of the factors of production, should deal in business
relations with integrity, fairness, dedicated service and mutual
benefit.
DUTIES OF AN ENGINEER TO THE CLIENTS
Nature of engineer-client relationship
Commencement of the relationship
DUTIES OF AN ENGINEER TO HIS EMPLOYER AND HIS CLIENT

A) Duty to observe devotion and fidelity to clients interest.

B) Duty to refrain from accepting commission or allowances.
C) Duty to be candid regarding his financial interest with vendors and
contractors.
D) Duty to inform the client on the adverse consequences if his
engineering decision or judgement is overruled.
E) Duty to advice the client to engage specialist or expert.
F) Duty to preserve clients secrets.
 G) Duty to refrain from accepting compensation financial or
otherwise from more than one party for the same service, unethical.
H) Duty to refrain from moonlighting.
I) Duty to act with fairness and justice.
J) Duty to guard against conditions that are dangerous to life, limb or
property.
K) Duty to refrain from having pecuniary interest in the bids.