Al Ain University

College of Engineering

Engineering Ethics and

Professional Responsibilities

May 2022
2 Overview

 Why Ethics ?
 Who Defines those ethics ?
 Fundamental Canons
 Rules of Practice
 Professional Obligations
 How do we know we have an ethical problem ?
 How to solve ethical problems ?
3 Why Ethics ?

 Engineering is a vital profession which has a direct impact on the quality of people’s life.

 The services provided by engineers must:

o Reflect their honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity.
o Be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.

 Therefore, Engineers must be guided by a set of standards to regulate their professional behavior and
here where the “Codes of Ethics” come.
4 Who Defines the Engineering Ethics ?

 Ethical Behavior can be defined via:

o Unwritten Agreements.
o Statutes and Rules.
o Codes established by professional societies such as:
o The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
o The National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE)
o The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
o others.
5

IEEE Code of Ethics
On Professional Level, to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical conduct in
professional activities.
 1. to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, to strive to comply with ethical design and
sustainable development practices, to protect the privacy of others, and to disclose promptly factors that
might endanger the public or the environment;
 2. to improve the understanding by individuals and society of the capabilities and societal implications of
conventional and emerging technologies, including intelligent systems;
 3. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties
when they do exist;
 4. to avoid unlawful conduct in professional activities, and to reject bribery in all its forms;
 5. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, to be
honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data, and to credit properly the
contributions of others;

 6. 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;
6

 In personnel Level, to treat all persons fairly and with respect, to not engage in harassment or
discrimination, and to avoid injuring others.

 1. to treat all persons fairly and with respect, and to not engage in discrimination based on characteristics such as
race, religion, gender, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression;

 2. to not engage in harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment or bullying behavior;
 3. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious actions, rumors or any
other verbal or physical abuses;

 support colleagues and co-workers in following this code of ethics, to strive to ensure the code is upheld,
and to not retaliate against individuals reporting a violation.
7 NSPE Fundamental Canons

Engineers should:
 Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
 Perform services only in areas of their competence.
 Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
 Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
 Avoid deceptive acts.
 Conduct themselves honourably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully to enhance the honour,
reputation, and usefulness of the profession.
8 NSPE Rules of Practice

 Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public:

o If engineers’ judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they should
notify their employer or client.
o Engineers should approve only the engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable
standards.
o Engineers must not reveal facts, data, or information without the prior consent of the client or
employer.
o Engineers must not permit the use of their name or associate in business ventures with any person or
firm that they believe is fraud or dishonest.
o Engineers must not aid the unlawful practice of engineering by a person or firm.
o Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code should report it to the appropriate
professional bodies or public authorities.
9 NSPE Rules of Practice

 Perform services only in areas of their competence:

o Engineers should undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the
specific technical fields involved.
o Engineers must not approve any plan that deals with a matter in which they lack competence or sign
any document that is not prepared under their direction and control.
o Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for coordination of an entire project
and sign and seal the engineering documents for the entire project, if each segment is signed and
sealed only by the qualified engineers who prepared the segment.
10 NSPE Rules of Practice

 Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner:

o Engineers should be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony and
include all relevant information.
o Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and
competence in the subject matter.
o Engineers must not issue any statement, criticism, or argument 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.
11 NSPE Rules of Practice

 Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees:

o Engineers should disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to
influence their judgment or the quality of their services.
o Engineers must not accept compensation -financial or other- from more than one party for services
on the same project, unless agreed by all the interested parties. They should also not accept them
from outside agents in connection with the work for which they are responsible.
o Engineers must not accept a contract from a governmental body on which a principal or officer of
their organization serves as a member.
12 NSPE Rules of Practice

 Avoid deceptive acts:

o Engineers should not falsify or exaggerate their qualifications or permit misrepresentation of their
associates’ qualifications.
o Engineers should not give or receive, either directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the
award of a contract by public authority. They should also not pay a commission, percentage, or
brokerage fee to secure work except to a bona fide employee or bona fide established commercial or
marketing agencies retained by them.
13 NSPE Professional Obligations
 Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the highest standards of honesty and
integrity:
o Acknowledge their errors and shall not distort or alter the facts.
o Advise their clients or employers when they believe a project will not be successful.
o Not accept outside employment to the detriment of their regular work or interest. Before accepting
any outside engineering employment, they will notify their employers.
o Not attempt to attract an engineer from another employer by false or misleading pretences.
o Not promote their own interest at the expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.
o Treat all persons with dignity, respect, fairness and without discrimination.
14 NSPE Professional Obligations

 Engineers shall always strive to serve the public interest through:

o Participating in civic affairs, career guidance for youths, and work for the advancement of the safety,
health, and well-being of their community.
o Not completing, signing, or sealing 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.
o Adhering to the principles of sustainable development in order to protect the environment for future
generations.
o Continuing their professional development throughout their careers and keeping up-to-date in their
specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses,
reading in the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.
15 NSPE Professional Obligations

 Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that deceives the public:

o Avoid the use of statements containing a material misrepresentation of fact or omitting a material
fact.
o May prepare articles for the lay or technical press, but such articles shall not imply credit to the
author for work performed by others. (cite others’ works and avoid plagiarism).
16 NSPE Professional Obligations

 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.

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

 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.
17 NSPE Professional Obligations

 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:

o 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.
o In governmental, industrial, or educational employ: are entitled to review and evaluate the
work of other engineers when so required by their employment duties.
o In sales or industrial employ: are entitled to make engineering comparisons of represented
products with products of other suppliers.
18 NSPE Professional Obligations

 Engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or advancement or professional

engagements by untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or by other improper or questionable
methods:

o Shall not request, propose, or accept a commission on a contingent basis under circumstances in
which their judgment may be compromised.
o Shall accept part-time engineering work only to the extent consistent with policies of the employer
and in accordance with ethical considerations.
o Shall not, without consent, use equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of an employer to
carry on outside private practice.
19 NSPE Professional Obligations

 Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and will
recognize the proprietary interests of others:
o Name the person(s) who may be individually responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other
accomplishments.
o Recognise when using designs supplied by a client that the designs remain the property of the client
and may not be duplicated by the engineer for others without express permission.
o Should enter into a positive agreement regarding ownership before undertaking work for others in
connection with which the engineer may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions, or other
records that may justify copyrights or patents.
o Engineers' designs, data, records, and notes referring exclusively to an employer's work are the
employer's property. The employer should indemnify the engineer for use of the information for any
purpose other than the original purpose.
20 Recognizing ethical problems

 We can recognize that we have an ethical problem when we:

o Start rationalizing about a decision.

o Use phrases such as:
“everyone does it”
“It is not that important”
“this could hurt his/ her feelings”
“No one will find out”
o And others.
21 Solving ethical problems

 First, realize that we have a problem.

 Define the problem (by asking the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and Why).
 Identify possible solutions.
 Weigh the consequences (Pros. Vs. Cons.) of the available solutions.
 Compare them to the Code of Ethics.
 Compare them to the law.
 Apply your common sense (Does it feel right?).
 Get others’ opinions (professional people).
 Choose what to do and act on it.
 Learn from the experience.
22 Solving ethical problems

 Always keep in mind that the ethical decisions you may need to take can be tough sometimes
since:

o Personal loyalties/ feelings can be involved.

o No-win situations may exist.
o Job or livelihood may be at stake.

 However, always remember: Do what you feels right and what your professional ethics tells you
to do, keep emotions and personal benefit aside.
23 References

o https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics
o https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html
o Indiana Statues and Rules for Professional Engineering Licensure; Professionalism and Ethics
in the Practice of Professional Engineering, Vincent P. Drnevich, Purdue University.
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Thank You!