Fundamental Canon of Ethics

Ethics Defined

A concept or study of morality within a context established by

 cultural values,
 professional values,
 social norms, and
 accepted standards of behavior.

Definitions

Values

 Beliefs which guide direct and motivate opinions, attitudes, and moral
obligations

Ethics

 The study of good and bad, of moral duty, and moral obligation

Ethical Standards

 Principles of conduct, how people ought to behave in a certain situation

Why Study Ethics

 Increased awareness of importance due to publicity surrounding high profile

engineering failures
 Engineering decisions can impact public health, safety, business practices and
politics
 Engineers should be aware of moral implications as they make decisions in the
workplace.

Study of ethics helps engineers develop a moral autonomy:

 Ability to think critically and independently about moral issues

 Ability to apply this moral thinking to situations that arise in the course of
professional engineering practice

Ethical problems in engineering are often complex and involve conflicting ethical principles.
Engineers must be able to intelligently resolve these conflicts and reach a defensible
decision

Ethics and the Law

 Following the requirements of the law provides protection from prosecution

 Since engineering work utilizes new technology before experience and laws can
catch up, ethics seeks to go beyond the dictates of current law.
 Ethical behavior provides protection from civil suits, from damage to reputation, or
from loss of professional licensure and encompasses ways engineers should
conduct themselves in their practice
  Legal acts are not necessarily ethical; Acts which are ethical are not necessarily
legal.
 Not legally binding – an engineer cannot be arrested for violating an ethical code,
but may be expelled from or censured by the engineering society.

ETHICAL VALUES

 Integrity
 Honesty
 Fidelity
 Responsibility

Fundamental Principles

Excerpt from Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Manual of Professional Practice
for Civil Engineers

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of civil 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 civil engineering
profession; and
 supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF ETHICS

Canon

o from the Greek word kanōn, meaning “rule”

o an accepted principle or rule
o a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms

CANON 1

Civil 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.

a. Civil Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the
general public are dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions and
practices incorporated into structures, machines, products, processes and devices.
b. Civil Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or
prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in
conformity with accepted engineering standards.
c. Civil Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances
where the safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the
principles of sustainable development ignored, shall inform their clients or
employers of the possible consequences.
 d. Civil Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or
firm may be in violation of any of the provisions of canon 1 shall present such
information to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper
authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required.
e. Civil Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic
affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their
communities, and the protection of the environment through the practice of the
sustainable development.
f. Civil Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adherence
to the principles of sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life of
the general public.

CANON 2

Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

a. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when

qualified by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.
b. Civil Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience
outside of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to
those phases of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of such
project shall be performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees.
c. Civil Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any civil engineering plan
or document dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue
of education or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed or
prepared under their supervision and control.
d. Civil Engineers shall not use The Specialty Engineering Title such as Structural
Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer,
Construction Engineer, etc. without the PICE Specialist Accreditation.

CANON 3

Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.

a. Civil Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of civil

engineering and sustainable development, and shall not participate in the
dissemination of untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements regarding civil
engineering.
b. Civil Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements,
or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such
reports, statements, or testimony.
c. Civil Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express civil engineering
opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a
background of technical competence, and upon honest conviction.
d. Civil Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on civil
engineering matters which are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless
they indicate on whose behalf the statements will be.
e. Civil Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit,
and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the
 integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering profession and/or other related
professions.

CANON 4

Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or clients as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflict of interest.

a. Civil Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their
employers or clients.
b. Civil Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party or
services on the same project.
c. Civil Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities directly or indirectly from their
clients or other parties in connection with work.
d. Civil Engineers in public services as member of a governmental department shall
not participate in consideration with respect to services provided by them in private
or public engineering practice.
e. Civil Engineer shall advise their clients or employers when they believe a project
will not be successful.
f. Civil Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them as a means
of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients,
employers or the public.
g. Civil Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular
work.

CANON 5

Civil Engineers shall advise their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

a. Civil Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any
political contribution, gratuity o unlawful consideration in order to secure work,
exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.
b. Civil Engineers shall not satisfy or permit misinterpretation of their academic or
professional qualifications or experience.
c. Civil Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom
credit is due, and shall recognize the propriety interests of others. Whenever
possible, they shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for
designs, inventions, writing or others accomplishments.
d. Civil Engineers may advertise professional services that does not contain
misleading language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the
profession.
e. Civil Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the
professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer or
indiscriminately criticize another’s work.
f. Civil Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office of their
employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their
employers.

CANON 6
 Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.

a. Civil Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner which will be derogatory to the
honor, integrity, or dignity of the civil engineering profession or knowingly engage
in business or professional practices of the fraudulent, dishonest or unethical
nature.

CANON 7

Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their

careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those Civil
Engineers under their supervision.

a. Civil Engineers should keep current 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.
b. Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become
registered at the earliest possible date.
c. Civil Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present
papers at professional and technical society meetings.
d. Civil Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships
between employers and employees with respect to terms of employment including
professional grade descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.

Sample Cases

Case 1:

The client plans a project and hires Engineer A to furnish complete engineering
services for the project. Because of the potentially dangerous nature of implementing the
design during the construction phase, Engineer A recommends to the client that a full-time,
on-site project representative be hired for the project. After reviewing the completed project
plans and costs, the client indicates to Engineer A that the project would be too costly if
such a representative were hired. Engineer A proceeds with his work on the project.

Question: Was it ethical for Engineer A to proceed with his work on the project knowing
that the client would not agree to hire a full-time project representative?

Code of Ethics:

“Engineers shall at all times recognize that their primary obligation is to protect the
safety, health, property, and welfare of the public. If their professional judgment is
overruled under circumstances where the safety, health, property, or welfare of the public
are endangered, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may
be appropriate.”

“Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when they believe a project will
not be successful.”

Case 2

Engineer B submitted a proposal to a county council following an interview

concerning a project. The proposal included technical information and data that the council
requested as a basis for the selection. Smith, a staff member of the council, made
Engineer B’s proposal available to Engineer A. Engineer A used Engineer B’s proposal
without Engineer B’s consent in developing another proposal, which was subsequently
submitted to the council. The extent to which Engineer A used Engineer B’s information
and data is in dispute between the parties.

Question: Was it unethical for Engineer A to use Engineer B’s proposal without Engineer
B’s consent in order for Engineer A to develop a proposal which Engineer A subsequently
submitted to the council?

Code of Ethics:

“Engineers shall not compete unfairly with other engineers by attempting to obtain
employment or advancement or professional engagements by taking advantage of a
salaried position, by criticizing other engineers, or by other improper or questionable
methods.”

“Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and will
recognize the proprietary interests of others.”

“Engineers shall, whenever possible, name the person or persons who may be individually
responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments.”