Ethics in Engineering
©2009 Dr. B. C. Paul
Note – The contents of these slides is drawn heavily from the National Society of Professional
Engineers and includes specific quotes from their Creed and Code.
A Moral Obligation to Society
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Engineers are professionals and are trusted
by society to use their knowledge for the
good and betterment of society
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Engineers must actively watch out for public
safety
Engineers are to be honest in their dealings.
Ethics
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the study of moral issues and decisions confronting
individuals and organizations involved in
engineering
the study of related questions about moral conduct,
character, ideals and relationships of peoples and
organizations involved in technological development
Define Ethics as a subject
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As a practice Ethical is to be honest and conduct one’s self
with professional integrity
Development of a Code
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Growing Boards and Societies became interested in having a
creed similar to the Hippocratic Oath of medicine
 Efforts out of the 1930’s and 40’s developed a creed to define
what had long been sensed
 Officially Adopted in 1954
Soon became clear that brief ceremonial nature of the creed
needed a whole lot more explanation for real life
 Code of Ethics was created
 1946 Code was put under the National Society of Professional
Engineers
Need to have consistent guidance on interpretation led the
Society to form Board of Ethical Review
 7 member panel that reviews cases and renders decisions
The Engineer’s Creed
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As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional
knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of
human welfare.
I pledge:
To give the utmost of performance;
To participate in none but honest enterprise;
To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest
standards of professional conduct;
To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the
profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare
above all other considerations.
In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this
pledge.
Continuing Development
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Soon became clear that brief ceremonial nature of
the creed needed a whole lot more explanation for
real life
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Code of Ethics was created
1946 Code was put under the National Society of
Professional Engineers
Need to have consistent guidance on interpretation
led the Society to form Board of Ethical Review

7 member panel that reviews cases and renders decisions
Basic Cannon for Being Ethical Engineer
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Fundamental Canons
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional
duties, shall:
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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 honorably, responsibly, ethically, and
lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
usefulness of the profession.
Rules of Practice Further Elaborate What
these Things Mean
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The Cannon Says - Engineers shall hold
paramount the safety, health, and welfare of
the public.
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If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that
endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client
and such other authority as may be appropriate.
Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without the
prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or
required by law or this Code.
Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code
shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when
relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper
authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be
required.
The Dilemma
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Engineers have a duty to both society and
their client.
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Part of the Cannon says - Act for each employer
or client as faithful agents or trustees
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If you do work for a client, making their work public is a
violation of trust
Some work that you may do will form the information
advantage of a business
Public release of data could undermine trade secrets,
business plans etc.
So what do you do if someone is going ahead with
something dangerous
Suggestions from the Code
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You can report the existence of the situation to your
employer or client’s superiors
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Of course if you are freelance and your client is the one
doing it this might not work.
The code does allow you to report to professional
bodies or other authorities as appropriate
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It also allows you to cooperate with them which could mean
giving them data they ask for
Have been cases where subject of debate is
appropriateness of who was contacted and what was
released
An Incident
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Engineers at a rocket manufacturing firm were
concerned about a rocket launch at freezing
temperatures
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O rings on rocket seals were never tested below 50
degrees
They were concerned they might not seal
They contacted NASA and their employer with the concern
The Engineers employer gathered them and
chastised them for delays when they really had no
data to support what they were saying
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Engineers were challenged to put up justification or shut up
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In fact all the engineers had was that they were going to rely
on an o ring design that was being used way out of design
specification
Managers at NASA launched the
Challenger Anyway
Make Sure Projects Are Up to Standard
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Engineers shall approve only those
engineering documents that are in conformity
with applicable standards.
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Certainly related to the idea that you police
yourself to make sure you only do work you are
trained for (wouldn’t know standards otherwise)
Note that these standards could be basic
standards of sound design or regulatory
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You will note other points of the code about honoring the
laws of the lands in which you practice.
Holding Up Standards of Honesty
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As part of First Rule of Practice -Hold paramount the
safety, health, and welfare of the public.
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Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or
associate in business ventures with any person or firm that
they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest
enterprise.
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Prohibition against being part of what sounds like a dirty deal
Note too that simply believing it is dishonest is enough you
should disqualify yourself.
Example of a Mine Manager who left a very lucrative job
because he would not certify false financials and designs
Honesty Continued
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Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful
practice of engineering by a person or firm.
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Sometimes engineers may simply be ask to stamp
the work of others they did not supervise.
Should not help people try and get around
registrations laws or practice what they are not
trained to do.
The Code Details Professional Obligations
and Honesty is one of the most paramount
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Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the
highest standards of honesty and integrity.
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Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall not
distort or alter the facts.
As a related obligation the code states 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.
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Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when they
believe a project will not be successful.
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Some projects may be a work gravy-train, milking more money
by leading people on is dishonest
Honesty to Your Employer
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Engineers shall not accept outside employment to the detriment
of their regular work or interest. Before accepting any outside
engineering employment, they will notify their employers.
 Outside work can compromise your time
 May lead to situations in which you compete with your employer
or lure clients away from your firm
 Need to be aware that some contracts contain non-competition
clauses that
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Limit your ownership of client lists
Limit other firms you can work for in exactly the same field
Engineers shall not attempt to attract an engineer from another
employer by false or misleading pretenses.
Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the expense of
the dignity and integrity of the profession.
Some Case Illustrations
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ATS was started as a repair and service group at
Caterpillar
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Caterpillar wanted to spin-off some functions that were not
considered core business
Company transferred clients and business to ATS, provided
starter financing, and took a part ownership interest
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Quite appropriate under engineering code
Google hired some top software engineering talent
from Microsoft
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Microsoft sued that non-competition clauses prohibited
people from working in same kind of work in competition
Some ethical question here although courts let Google
proceed
Engineering Ethics Code also contains
Prohabitions
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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, without the consent of all interested parties,
promote or arrange for new employment or practice in connection
with a specific project for which the engineer has gained
particular and specialized knowledge.
 Engineers shall not, without the consent of all interested parties,
participate in or represent an adversary interest in connection
with a specific project or proceeding in which the engineer has
gained particular specialized knowledge on behalf of a former
client or employer.
Basically – Taking conflicting employment where your
performance is influenced by internal knowledge not just
professional ability is dishonest.