MODULE-3

1. Construction Quality Management:

Quality is focused not only on product and service quality but has four major components that have to be achieved
consistently like quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement.
- Quality planning briefs how quality objectives are to be achieved by an organization.
- Process of reviewing the necessities of every factor involved in construction production is called quality
control.
- Avoiding mistakes and defects in products, providing timely service with proper delivery to the client is known
as quality assurance.
- Quality improvement is an approach to examine the performance and organized approach to improve it

• Quality of construction has been recognized by the industry as a weakness. In recent years, some companies have
tried to improve on the quality dimension by actively supporting training and certification of workers, supervisors
and managers.
• The skill up gradation program by construction industry development council (CIDC) is also a sustained effort in
that direction. Use of technology like Ready Mixed Concrete and pre-fab techniques along with more intensive
use of information technology has also helped.
• Many construction companies are working to obtain ISO 9000 series certification. Bureau of Indian Standards has
started formulating performance standards which will gradually supersede prescriptive standards.

Quality management systems serve many purposes, including:

- Improving processes
- Reducing waste
- Lowering costs
- Facilitating and identifying training opportunities
- Engaging staff
- Setting organization-wide direction

Current scenario in INDIA –

• “The construction industry in India is struggling with quality problems for many years. A momentous amount of
the budget is spent each year on infrastructure and other development projects.
• Since, the quality outcomes of the projects are not according to required standards, faulty construction takes place.
Consequently, additional investments are required for removal of defects and maintenance work.
• A construction project in its life span goes through different phases. The main phases of a project can be described
as: conceptual planning, feasibility study, design, procurement, construction, acceptance, operation and
maintenance. And quality dominates all the phases.”
2. Construction Quality Process
The process involves the following below mentioned items:
Program Elements
• Policy and Procedures
• Goals and Objectives
• General Quality Management
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Approvals and Reviews
• Document Control
• Process Improvement
• Project-Specific Quality Management Plan
Preconstruction (some activities may not apply)
• Review of Plans and Specifications
• Quality standards
• Constructability Reviews
• Documenting Existing Conditions
• Material Management
• Subcontractor factors
• Testing
Construction Operations
• Zero Defect Program
• Quality Assurance Administration
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Inspection and Testing Plan
• Inspection Checklists
• Quality Assurance(QA) Process
• Inspections
• Nonconformance Procedures
• Material Verification
• Water Intrusion Prevention
• Protection of the Work
Closeout
• Closeout Procedures
• Systems Turnover Practices
• Final Acceptance
Post construction
• Warranties
• Warranty Management During the Warranty Period
• Warranty Callbacks after the Warranty Period
• Resulting Damage
• Post construction Documentation
Attachments
• Meeting Documentation
• Reports
• Checklists
• Logs
• Sample Plans
• Sample Punch list
3. Inspection
Quality inspection are measures directed at checking, measuring, or testing of one or more product characteristics and to
relate the results to the requirements to confirm compliance. This task is usually performed by specialized personnel and
does not fall within the responsibility of production workers. Products that don't comply with the specifications are
rejected or returned to improve.
OR
Critical appraisal involving examination, measurement, testing, gauging, and comparison of materials or items. An
inspection determines if the material or item is in proper quantity and condition, and if it conforms to the applicable or
specified requirements.
OR
A professional that makes sure any changes or construction is done to the state and central code (Standard).

Role of Inspectors
- Approves incoming materials by confirming specifications; conducting visual and measurement tests; rejecting
and returning unacceptable materials.
- Approves in-process production by confirming specifications; conducting visual and measurement tests;
communicating required adjustments to production supervisor.
- Approves finished products by confirming specifications; conducting visual and measurement tests; returning
products for re-work; confirming re-work.
- Documents inspection results by completing reports and logs; summarizing re-work and waste; inputting data
into quality database.
- Keeps measurement equipment operating by following operating instructions; calling for repairs.
- Maintains safe and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures; complying with legal
regulations.
- Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading technical publications.
- Accomplishes quality and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
Duties of Inspectors in Construction Industry:

- Review plans to ensure they meet building codes, local ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications
- Approve building plans that are satisfactory
- Monitor construction sites periodically to ensure overall compliance
- Use survey instruments, metering devices, and test equipment to perform inspections
- Inspect plumbing, electrical, and other systems to ensure that they meet code
- Verify alignment, level, and elevation of structures to ensure building meets specifications
- Issue violation notices and stop-work orders until building is compliant
- Keep daily logs, including photographs taken during inspections
- Provide written documentation of findings

Functions of Inspectors various works in Construction Industry:

- Building inspectors check the structural quality and general safety of buildings. Some specialize further,
inspecting only structural steel or reinforced-concrete structures, for
example.
- Coating inspectors examine the exterior paint and coating on bridges, pipelines, and large holding tanks.
Inspectors perform checks at various stages of the painting process to ensure
proper coating.
- Electrical inspectors examine the installed electrical systems to ensure they function properly and comply with
electrical codes and standards. The inspectors visit worksites to inspect new and existing sound and security systems,
wiring, lighting, motors, photovoltaic systems, and generating equipment. They also inspect the installed electrical wiring
for HVACR systems and appliances.
- Elevator inspectors examine lifting and conveying devices, such as elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, lifts
and hoists, inclined railways, ski lifts, and amusement rides. The
inspections include both the mechanical and electrical control systems.
- Home inspectors typically inspect newly built or previously owned homes, condominiums,
townhomes, and other dwellings. Prospective home buyers often hire home
inspectors to check and report on a home’s structure and overall condition. Sometimes, homeowners hire a home
inspector to evaluate their home’s condition before placing it on the market.

- Mechanical inspectors examine the installation of HVACR systems and equipment to ensure that they are
installed and function properly. They also may inspect commercial
kitchen equipment, gas-fired appliances, and boilers. Mechanical inspectors should not be confused with quality
control inspectors, who inspect goods at manufacturing plants.

- Plan examiners determine whether the plans for a building or other structure comply with building codes. They
also determine whether the structure is suited to the engineering and
environmental demands of the building site.

- Plumbing inspectors examine the installation of systems that ensure the safety and health of drinking water, the
sanitary disposal of waste, and the safety of industrial piping.

- Public works inspectors ensure that the construction of federal, state, and local government water and sewer
systems, highways, streets, bridges, and dams conforms to detailed contract specifications. Workers inspect
excavation and fill operations, the placement of forms for concrete, concrete mixing and pouring, asphalt paving, and grading
operations.
Public works inspectors may specialize in highways, structural steel, reinforced concrete, or ditches. Others may
specialize in dredging operations required for bridges, dams, or harbors.

- Specification inspectors ensure that construction work is performed according to design specifications.
Specification inspectors represent the owner’s interests, not those of the general public. Insurance companies and
financial institutions also may use their services.
4. Quality Control and Quality Assurance
- Whether you are the project owner, the designer, or the contractor, each has a stake in the effectiveness of the QA/QC
management process.
- If the quality of the product comes into question, and rework is required, it can become a costly proposition and may
become an issue for the contractor.
- Some unacceptable quality issues can lead to costly litigation and damage reputations and relationships. Therefore,
managing quality is an important aspect of a successful project delivery process.
The construction project quality is managed by a program which has two different elements:
Quality Control (QC)
- The quality control element defines how the contractor expects to manage the quality requirements of the project as
defined by the specifications.
- Monitoring specific project result to determine if they comply with relevant quality standards and identifying ways
to eliminate cause of unsatisfied performance Contract documents comprise a clear, complete, and accurate
description of the facility to be constructed, correctly conveying the intent of the owner regarding the characteristics
of the facility needed to serve his or her purposes.
- The contract documents define a constructed facility considered acceptable under the applicable regulatory codes
and standards of professional practice, in terms of its reliability, the ease with which maintenance and repairs can be
performed, the durability of its materials and operating systems, and the life safety provided to its users. The facility
is constructed in accordance with those documents.
- Inputs
Work results, quality management plan, Operational definitions, checklists
- Tools And Technology
Inspection, Control charts, Pareto diagrams, Statistical sampling, flowcharting, Trend analysis
- Outputs
Quality improvement, Acceptance decisions, rework, Completed checklist Process adjustment

Quality Assurance (QA)

The quality assurance element define the steps the contactors will take to ensure it with QC. Evaluating overall project
perform on a regular basis to provide confidence that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards
- Inputs
Quality management plan, Result of quality control measurements, Operational definitions
- Tools And Technology
Quality planning tools and techniques, Quality audits
- Outputs
Quality improvement
 5. ISO Standards

The ISO 9000 addresses various aspects of quality management and contains some of ISO’s best known standards. The
standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services
consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved.

This deals with the fundamental quality management system, including the eight management principles, they are:
1. Customer focus
Organizations can establish this focus by trying to understand and meet their customers’ current and future requirements
and expectations.
2. Leadership
Organizations succeed when leaders establish and maintain the internal environment in which employees can become
fully involved in achieving the organization’s unified objectives.
3. Involvement of people
Organizations succeed by retaining competent employees, encouraging continuous enhancement of their knowledge and
skills, and empowering them, encouraging engagement and recognizing achievements.
4. Process approach
Organizations enhance their performance when leaders manage and control their processes, as well as the inputs and
outputs that tie these processes together.
5. System approach to management
Organizations sustain success when processes are managed as one coherent quality management system.
6. Continuous improvement
Organizations will maintain current levels of performance, respond to changing conditions, and identify, create and
exploit new opportunities when they establish and sustain an ongoing focus on improvement.
7. Factual approach to decision making
Organizations succeed when they have established an evidence-based decision making process that entails gathering
input from multiple sources, identifying facts, objectively analyzing data, examining cause/effect, and considering
potential consequences.
8. Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
Organizations that carefully manage their relationships with suppliers and partners can nurture positive and productive
involvement, support and feedback from those entities.

ISO table for construction quality:

ISO 9000 Explains fundamental quality concepts and provides guidelines for the selection
and application of each standard.
ISO 9001 Model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and
servicing.
ISO 9002 Model for quality assurance in the production and installation of manufacturing
systems.
ISO 9003 Quality assurance in final inspection and testing.

ISO 9004 Guidelines for the applications of standards of standards in quality management
and quality systems.
6. Cost of Quality

Costs of quality or quality costs does not mean the use of expensive or very highly quality materials to manufacture a
product. The term refers to the costs that are incurred to prevent, detect and remove defects from products.

Quality costs are categorized into four main types.

They are:

- Prevention costs
- Appraisal costs
- Internal failure costs and
- External failure costs

Prevention costs
It is much better to prevent defects rather than finding and removing them from products. The costs incurred to avoid or
minimize the number of defects at first place are known as prevention costs.
Some examples of prevention costs are improvement of manufacturing processes, workers training, quality engineering,
statistical process control etc.

Appraisal costs
Appraisal costs (also known as inspection costs) are those cost that are incurred to identify defective products before
they are shipped to customers.

Internal failure costs

Internal failure costs are those costs that are incurred to remove defects from the products before shipping them to
customers. Examples of internal failure costs include cost of rework, rejected products, scrap etc.

External failure costs

If defective products have been shipped to customers, external failure costs arise. External failure costs include
warranties, replacements, lost sales because of bad reputation, payment for damages arising from the use of defective
products etc.
The shipment of defective products can dissatisfy customers, damage goodwill and reduce sales and profits.

Note:
Quality Cost = Control Cost + Failure Cost Failure Cost = Prevention
Cost + Appraisal Cost
Failure Cost = Internal failure costs + External failure costs
7. Total Quality Management (TQM)

Total Quality management is defined as a continuous effort by the management as well as employees of a particular
organization to ensure long term customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.
OR
TQM is a management philosophy, a paradigm, a continuous improvement approach to doing business through a new
management model. The TQM philosophy evolved from the continuous improvement philosophy with a focus on quality
as the main dimension of business.

Let’s be general, one happy and satisfied customer brings ten new customers along with him whereas one disappointed
individual will spread bad word of mouth and spoil several of your existing as well as potential customers.
It has four phase:

- Planning Phase
In this phase employees have to come up with their problems and queries which need to be
addressed. Employees are required to do necessary research and collect relevant data which would help them find
solutions to all the problems.
- Doing Phase
In the doing phase, employees develop a solution for the problems defined in planning phase.
Strategies are devised and implemented to overcome the challenges faced by employees.
- Checking Phase
Checking phase is the stage where people actually do a comparison analysis of before and after
data to confirm the effectiveness of the processes and measure the results.
- Acting Phase
In this phase employees document their results and prepare themselves to address other problems.
8. Construction Safety (HSE)

Safety management is a comprehensive management system designed to manage safety elements in the workplace. It
includes policy, objectives, plans, procedures, organization, responsibilities and other measures.

The SMS is used in industries that manage significant safety risks, including aviation, petroleum, chemical, electricity
generation, construction industry and others. Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises a wide range of
activities involving construction, alteration, and repair.

Examples include residential construction, bridge erection, roadway paving, excavations, demolitions, and large scale
painting jobs.

Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops,
unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos.

The information, tools, and resources provided in the construction industry should be made known for the industry
worker or employer to identify, reduce, and eliminate construction-related hazards.

Importance of Safety in Construction

Providing health & safety information and training helps you to:
• Ensure you or your employees are not injured or made ill by the work they do,
• Develop a positive health & safety culture, where safe & healthy working becomes second
nature to everyone,
• Find out how you could manage health and safety better,
• Meet your legal duty to protect the health & safety of your employees.
Effective training:
• Will contribute towards making your employees competent in health & safety;
• Can help your business avoid the distress that accidents and ill health cause;
• Can help you avoid the financial costs of accidents & occupational ill health.

Safety measures to be taken during Excavation

• Avoid underground services and make sure not to undermine nearby structures – use safe digging practice
and dig away from them.
• Check the excavation each day before starting work and after any event that may affect its stability.
• Provide safe access to get in and out.
• Prevent collapse shore, bench, or batter back. Do not assume ground will stand unsupported.
• Prevent people and materials falling in with barriers strong enough not to collapse if someone falls against
them.
• Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
• Keep surcharge loads at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges.
• Know where underground utilities are located.
• Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases.
• Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.
• Inspect trenches following a rainstorm.
• Do not work under raised loads.
Safety measures to be taken during Explosives, Drilling and Blasting
• Contractor must carry a valid license, with proper safety protections
• Train personnel to follow the manufacturer’s procedures when adding drill steels.
• Never manually thread drill steels when the drill head is rotating.
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working around drills.
• Also be careful of long hair that can become entangled.
• Never over-ride or bypass the safety features on the equipment.
• Know where your emergency stop switches are and ensure they are functional.
• Provide safe routing of hoses and cables so they are not close to the rotation of the drill.
• Shut down the drill when making any repairs to the drill head.
• Make the drill operator aware of your presence when approaching.
• Provide adequate lighting at night when drilling.
• Smoking should be prohibited nearby the blast area.
• Explosives must be transported by well-maintained vehicles (Spark free vehicles).
• The whole are must be isolated from humans and eliminated before the blast operation.

Safety measures to be taken during Hot Bitumen Works

• Asphalt material ready for application can cause serious burns. It will quickly heat metal tools or equipment in contact
with the asphalt. The material itself should be treated as a hazard.
• All personnel must wear required Personal Protective Equipment and approved high visibility warning vests must be worn
at all times.
• Make sure personnel involved in work are well trained for the job assigned and familiar with your crew’s particular
routine.
• Do not move between the paving machine and backing trucks.
• Do not work or stand near the hopper of the paving machine when a materials truck is making its initial dump. Asphalt
packed or settled in the truck bed from travel may suddenly break free and discharge, cresting over the hopper.
• Exercise caution when trucks are delivering asphalt, the truck driver may not be familiar or experience with paving
operations.
• Idle down any piece of equipment and securely set parking brake before leaving the operators station, even if only for a
short time.
• Do not leave paving machine unattended while the screed is heating.
• Paving machine operators must signal any time they intend to resume travel from a stationary position.
• Never operate a paving machine at speeds which will cause ground personnel to work carelessly. If production
requirements demand it, assign more personnel to the paving operations.
• Watch out for co-workers; personnel concentrating on their assigned duties may be completely unaware of possible
hazards.
• Inspect traffic control signs, barricades, and other devices at regular intervals.
• Equipment and systems must be checked for proper operation at the start of each shift.
• All vehicles must be equipment with a manually operated warning device
 Safety measures to be taken during Scaffolding / Platform / Ladder / Formwork
• Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load
without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.
• Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or
planks.
• Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.
• Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails, mid rails and toe boards.
• Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders that are damaged or weakened from any
cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.
• Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.
• A "competent person" must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, re inspect it.
• Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any occurrence
that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage to the rigging has
occurred since its last use.
• Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat- producing sources.
• Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.
• Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells.
• Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area.
• Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or replacement, or destroy them immediately.
• Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity.
• Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including materials and tools.
• Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead power lines.
• Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from electric power lines at all times.
Safety measures to be taken for equipment operation
• Equipment and systems must be checked for proper operation at the start of each shift.
• General repairs must not be made to powered equipment until workers are protected from movement of
equipment or its parts.
• Before repairs are made, workers must comply with lockout requirements.
• Whenever equipment operations encroach on a public thoroughfare, a system of traffic controls must be
used.
• Flaggers are required at all locations where barricades or warning signs cannot control moving traffic.
• Machines must be equipped with operable service, emergency, and parking brakes.
• All vehicles must be equipment with a manually operated warning device.

Safety measures to be taken for Storage of Materials

In adhering to fire safety precautions,
• Employees should note that flammable and combustible materials must be stored according to their fire
characteristics.
• Flammable liquids, must be separated from other material by a fire wall.
• Other combustibles must be stored in an area where smoking and using an open flame or a spark-producing
device is prohibited.
• Dissimilar materials that are dangerous when they come into contact with each other must be stored apart.
9. Safety to Legislation and Campaign
Legislation –
The basic aim of the concerned law making and amending authorities is to devise laws which provide safety standards to
protect the basic needs of workers and take care of their welfare. These laws are flexible enough to create rather than
destroy jobs, and increase the overall wellbeing of workers.

The main objectives of OHS (Occupational health and safety) related legislation are:
- Providing a statutory framework including the enactment of a general enabling legislation on OHS in respect
of all sectors of economic activities, and designing suitable control systems of compliance, enforcement and
incentives for better compliance.
- Providing administrative and technical support services.
- Providing a system of incentives to employers and employees so that they achieve higher
health and safety standards.
- Establishing and developing research and development capabilities in emerging areas of risk and effective
control measures.
- Reducing the incidence of work related injuries, fatalities and diseases.
- Reducing the cost of workplace injuries and diseases.
- Increasing community awareness regarding areas related to OHS.
The laws under this are:
➢ Laws related to working hours, conditions of services and employment
• The Factories Act, 1948
• The Mines Act, 1952
• The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
• The Contract Labour Act, 1970
• The Building & Other Construction Workers Act, 1996
➢ Laws related to equality and empowerment of women
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013
➢ Laws related to equality and empowerment of children
• The Bonded Labour System Act, 1976
• The Child Labour Act, 1986
➢ Laws related to social security
• The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923
➢ Laws related to labour welfare
• The Mica Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1946
• The Limestone & Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1972
➢ Laws related to employment & training
• The Weekly Holiday Act, 1942
• The National and Festival Holidays Act
Safety Campaign-
Working is good for physical and mental health, and good management of occupational safety and health increases
productivity and efficiency. Demographic change can cause problems, but ensuring a sustainable working life helps to
meet those challenges. Campaign information that is vital to keeping you and your loved ones safe. These materials
include websites, articles, social media, infographics, videos and other content.
It includes
• Developing and communicating a safety and health policy statement.
• Providing the resources needed to implement and operate the program.
• Factoring safety and health into operational planning and decisions.
• Recognizing or rewarding safety and health contributions and achievements.
• Leading by example, by practicing safe behaviors and making safety part of daily conversations.
10. Insurances
• Construction works are hazardous by nature and accidents are frequent and often severe. The annual toll of deaths,
bodily injuries and property damage in construction world is very high. Not only this but construction works
involve large amount of investment especially in public projects.
• All of this increases the risk of construction business and makes handling of financial matters more critical.
Insurance and Surety are some of the methods utilized by the contractors and client as risk controlling mechanisms.
• There is a growing body of interests in construction insurance, supporting interactions between the construction
industry and the insurance industry.

Contractor's All Risk Policy (CAR)

This policy is specially designed to give financial protection to the Civil Engineering Contractors in the event of an
accident to the civil engineering works under construction.
In case the policy period exceeds 12 months, the premium can be paid in quarterly instalments with the first instalment
being more by 5% and the last instalment being paid 6 months before expiry of the policy.

Professional Indemnity Policy

This policy is meant for professionals to cover liability falling on them as a result of errors and omissions committed by
them whilst rendering professional service.
The policy offers a benefit of Retroactive period on continuous renewal of policy whereby claims reported in subsequent
renewal but pertaining to earlier period after first inception of the policy, also become payable.
Group policies can also be issued covering members of one profession. Group discount in premium is available depending
upon the number of members covered.

Contractor Plant and Machinery Policy

The sum insured of each item of machinery should represent the current purchase cost of a similar new machine
including all incidental expenses like freight, duty, taxes, cost of erection etc.

Public and Product Liability

It is also known as combined liability or general liability. Public liability is a legal ability to pay compensation to third
parties arising in connection with the business activities of the insured. Product liability is the legal ability to pay
compensation to third parties arising in connection with the insured’s products.

Worker’s Compensation policy

This insurance effectively covers all liabilities whether arising under statute or at common law, in relation to death or
injury of employees or persons demand to be employees.
Compulsory third party motor vehicle insurance policy
Principals often require the inclusion as required by the statute in the relevant jurisdiction for vehicles used in connection
with work under the contractor.
11. Human Values (Morals, Values, Ethics, Integrity, Trustworthiness)
➢ Human values are a set of consistent measures and behaviors that people choose to follow and practice as they strive
to do what is right or what society expects them to do.
➢ Laws and legislative guidelines are generally shaped by a general idea of human values. Parents pass their inherent
value systems to their offspring on an ongoing basis that begins immediately after birth.
➢ As mothers and fathers parent their children, they instill their personal beliefs and values directly and indirectly through
their examples. Children also learn values through teachers, religious leaders, friends, peers and society as a whole.
Human values pass from one generation to the next. Human values include honesty, trustworthiness, diligence,
discipline, fairness, love, peace, justice, empathy and stewardship of the environment.
Morals, Values and Ethics
The three terms: ethics, morals, values are easily confused, they are defined as follows:
➢ Morals describes the goodness or badness or right or wrong of actions.
➢ Values describes individual or personal standards of what is valuable or important.
➢ Ethics describes a generally accepted set of moral principles

Morals
➢ Moral values are relative values that protect life and are respectful of the dual life value of self and others. The
great moral values, such as truth, freedom, charity, etc., have one thing in common.
➢ When they are functioning correctly, they are life protecting or life enhancing for all. But they are still relative
values. Our relative moral values must be constantly examined to make sure that they are always performing their
life-protecting mission.
➢ For example, Our enemies have their own standard of honor, they have courage, and they are surely committed.
What sets us apart? Respect for the universal life value sets us apart from our enemies.

Values
➢ According to the dictionary, values are “things that have an intrinsic worth in usefulness or importance to the
possessor,” or “principles, standards, or qualities considered worthwhile or desirable.”
➢ However, it is important to note that, although we may tend to think of a value as something good, virtually all
values are morally relative neutral, really until they are qualified by asking, “How is it good?” or “Good to
whom?” The “good” can sometimes be just a matter of opinion or taste, or driven by culture, religion, habit,
circumstance, or environment, etc.
➢ Again, almost all values are relative. The exception, of course, is the value of life. Life is a universal, objective
value. We might take this point for granted, but we all have the life value, or we would not be alive. Life is also
a dual value we value our own life and the lives of others.
Ethics
➢ A person who knows the difference between right and wrong and chooses right is moral. A person whose morality
is reflected in his willingness to do the right thing even if it is hard or dangerous is ethical.
➢ Ethics are moral values in action. Being ethical id an imperative because morality protects life and is respectful
of others all others. It is a lifestyle that is consistent with mankind’s universal values.
➢ As warriors it is our duty to be protectors and defenders of the life value and to perform the unique and difficult
mission of taking the lives of those acting immorally (against life) when necessary to protect the lives of innocent
others.
Integrity
➢ Integrity is one of the fundamental values that employers seek in the employees that they hire. It is the hallmark
of a person who demonstrates sound moral and ethical principles at work. Integrity is the foundation on which
coworkers build relationships, trust, and effective interpersonal relationships.
➢ Any definition of integrity will emphasize these factors. A person who has integrity lives his or her values in
relationships with coworkers, customers, and stakeholders.
➢ Honesty and trust are central to integrity. Acting with honor and truthfulness are also basic tenets in a person with
integrity. People who demonstrate integrity draw others to them because they are trustworthy and dependable.
➢ They are principled and you can count on them to behave in honorable ways even when no one is watching or
even knows about their performance.

Trustworthiness (Example: DOG)

➢ Trustworthiness is a moral value considered to be a virtue. A trustworthy person is someone in whom you can
place your trust and rest assured that the trust shall not be betrayed.
➢ A person can prove their trustworthiness by fulfilling an assigned responsibility and as an extension of that, not
to let down expectations.
➢ Trust is considered to be a vital ingredient in the management and delivery of construction projects. It has been at
the core of many reviews on industry performance over the last few years, and we should continually pushed to
develop more of it, in order to improve the reputation of our industry.
➢ Lack of trust is damaging to your business. We all inherit the industry we deserve so it’s up to all of us to change
what we do and build trust.
12. Works Ethics and need for Engineering Ethics
➢ Work ethics is a belief that hard work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value
to strengthen character.
➢ A strong work ethic is vital for achieving goals. People who possess a strong work ethic embody certain principles
that guide their work behavior, leading them to produce high-quality work consistently and the output feeds the
individual to stay on track.
➢ It is considered as a source of self- respect, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Some factors govern ethics

➢ Goal-oriented actions: it is not about making plans or the next logical steps; it's about getting things done so
that the work invested wouldn't be counter-productive.
➢ Prioritized focus: focusing on qualitative activities that a person is capable and in areas where they can make a
difference or a high impact based on objectives.
➢ Being available and reliable: spending time on the work and building oneself up for the task.
➢ Carefulness: a desire to do a task well, being vigilant and organized.
➢ Creating a rewarding routine/system: Engaging in tasks that provide strength and energy which can be
transferred to your ultimate goals, creating a habit and a habitat for success.
➢ Embracing positivism: shape a problem with the statement "good, (action) (problem)",
e.g. "I'm tired and it is time for a workout".

A negative work ethic is a behavior of a single individual or a group that has led to a systematic lack of productivity,
reliability, accountability and a growing sphere of unprofessional/unhealthy relationships (e.g., power politics, lack of
social skills, etc.).

Need for Engineering ethics is “The professional manner and integrity that an engineer is expected to maintain."
OR
It is the study of moral issues decisions confronting individuals and organizations engaged in engineering. Engineering
ethics course is not about preaching virtue rather, its objective is to increase your ability as engineers to responsibly
confront moral issues raised by technological activity.

➢ 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.
13. Professional Duties, Professional and Individual Right Individual rights –
➢ Professional duties is the area of legal practice that encompasses the responsibilities of attorneys to act in a
professional manner, obey the law, avoid conflicts of interest, and put the interests of clients ahead of their own
interests.

➢ Legal and moral duty of a professional to apply his or her knowledge in ways that benefit his or her client, and
the wider society, without causing any injury to either.

➢ The freedom to act, work, think and behave without retribution bestowed upon members of an organization
through legal, regulatory and societal standards and become a better engineer.

Professional rights –
 The right to act in accordance with one’s conscience and to refuse to work on projects that violate their
personal or professional codes.
 The right to publically express one’s professional judgment.
 The right to express personal opinions, and participate in political activities.
 The right not to suffer retaliation for ethical actions.
 The right to personal privacy.
 The right to recognition and fair remuneration.
 The right to protect the clients and public from the danger that might arise from one’s work.
 The right to refuse to carry out illegal and unethical activity.

14. Confidential and Proprietary Information Confidential Information –

➢ Confidential Privileged communication shared with only a few people for furthering certain purposes, such as with
an attorney for a legal matter, or with a doctor for treatment of a disease.
➢ Receiver of confidential information is generally prohibited from using it to take advantage of the giver. Also called
privileged information.

Proprietary Information –
➢ Proprietary information is information such as financial data, test results or trade secrets that is viewed as the
holder’s property and that they wish to keep from becoming public knowledge.
➢ For information to be considered proprietary, it should not be readily available in public sources, it should provide
some sort of competitive advantage, and the company should take every reasonable step to maintain its
confidentiality.
➢ This may include developing security systems to protect proprietary information from the increasing threat of
cyber-hacking. More companies are now appointing information managers to assume responsibility for keeping
such information safe and secure.
➢ This can be an issue on construction projects, where members of the project team, or the client, may learn
information that one party wishes to stay confidential.
➢ Submitting tender proposals for example may require the provision of detailed cost information, and descriptions
of technologies and methodologies. This may include information that suppliers would not wish to be shared with
their competitors.
15. Conflict of Interest Confidentiality
It is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, financial or otherwise, in situations
where serving one the interests could involve working against one of the other interests.

Conflict of Interest means a conflict between a Participant's duties and responsibilities with regard to the Review Process,
and a Participant's private, professional, business or public interests. There may be a real, perceived or potential conflict
of interest when the Participant:
 Would receive professional or personal benefit resulting from the funding opportunity or application being
reviewed,
 Has a professional or personal relationship with an Applicant or the Applicant’s institution,
 Has a direct or indirect financial interest in a funding opportunity or application being reviewed.

16. Whistle Blowing

The act by an employee of informing the public or higher management of unethical or illegal behavior by an employer
or supervisor.
The disclosure by a person, usually an employee in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those
in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing.
Whistle blowing means calling attention to wrongdoing that is occurring within an organization. The Government
Accountability Project lists four ways to blow the whistle:
1. Reporting wrongdoing or a violation of the law to the proper authorities such as a supervisor, a hotline or an
Inspector General
2. Refusing to participate in workplace wrong doing
3. Testifying in a legal proceeding
4. Leaking evidence of wrongdoing to the media They are of two types:
Internal: An engineer reports within the company.
External: An engineer goes outside of the company.
 17. Gifts, Bribes and Price Fixing Gifts and Bribes –
➢ A gift is something of value given without the expectation of return; a bribe is the same thing given in the hope of
influence or benefit.
➢ Gift and bribery in construction industry is the act of giving or receiving something of value in exchange for some
kind of influence or action in return.
➢ Gifts and bribes can be actual items, or they can be tickets to a sporting event, travel, rounds of golf, or restaurant
meals.

The consequences of a successful criminal action can be dramatic and may include:
• The imposition of unlimited fines;
• Imprisonment;
• Director disqualification;
• The confiscation of assets;
• Debarment from participating in, or tendering for, government contracts;
• A diversion of management and board time; and
• Reputational damage and adverse media attention.

Price fixing –
➢ Price fixing is an agreement (written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or
stabilizes prices or competitive terms. Generally, the antitrust laws require that each company establish prices
and other terms on its own, without agreeing with a competitor.
➢ When consumers make choices about what products and services to buy, they expect that the price has been
determined freely on the basis of supply and demand, not by an agreement among competitors. When competitors
agree to restrict competition, the result is often higher prices.
➢ Price fixing relates not only to prices, but also to other terms that affect prices to consumers, such as shipping
fees, warranties, discount programs, or financing rates. Antitrust scrutiny may occur when competitors discuss
the following topics:
• Present or future prices
• Pricing policies
• Promotions
• Bids
• Costs
• Capacity
• Terms or conditions of sale, including credit terms
• Discounts
• Identity of customers
• Allocation of customers or sales areas
• Production quotas
• R&D plans