15-11-2012, 02:33 PM
Engineering ethics
Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics which examines and sets standards for engineers' obligations to the public, their clients, employers and the profession. This article addresses the subject for both professional engineers and other engineers.
Engineering does not have a single uniform system, or standard, of ethical conduct across the entire profession. Ethical approaches vary somewhat by discipline and jurisdiction, but are most influenced by whether the engineers are independently providing professional services to clients, or the public if employed in government service; or if they are employees of an enterprise creating products for sale.
In the United States the first are usually licensed Professional engineers, are governed by statute, and have generally consistent codes of professional ethics. The latter, working as engineers in industry, are governed by various laws including whistleblowing, and product liability laws, and often rely on principles of business ethics rather than
Whistleblower
A basic ethical dilemma is that an engineer has the duty to report to the appropriate authority a possible risk to others from a client or employer failing to follow the engineer's directions. According to first principles, this duty overrides the duty to a client and/or employer.[15] An engineer may be disciplined, or have their license revoked, even if the failure to report such a danger does not result in the loss of life or health.[16]
In many cases, this duty can be discharged by advising the client of the consequences in a forthright matter, and assuring the client takes the engineer's advice. However, the engineer must ensure that the remedial steps are taken and, if they are not, the situation must be reported to the appropriate authority.[17] In very rare cases, where even a governmental authority may not take appropriate action, the engineer can only discharge the duty by making the situation public.[18] As a result, whistleblowing by professional engineers is not an unusual event, and courts have often sided with engineers in such cases, overruling duties to employers and confidentiality considerations that otherwise would have prevented the engineer from speaking out.[19]
Other ethical issues
There are several other ethical issues that engineers may face. Some have to do with technical practice, but many others have to do with broader considerations of business conduct. These include:
• Relationships with clients, consultants, competitors, and contractors
• Ensuring legal compliance by clients, client's contractors, and others
• Conflict of interest
• Bribery and kickbacks, which also may include:
• Gifts, meals, services, and entertainment
• Treatment of confidential or proprietary information
• Consideration of the employer’s assets
• Outside employment/activities (Moonlighting)
Some engineering societies are addressing environmental protection as a stand-alone question of ethics.[8]
The field of business ethics often overlaps and informs ethical decision making for engineers.
Current ethical issues
Efforts to promote ethical practice continue. In addition to the professional societies and chartering organizations efforts with their members, the Canadian Iron Ring and American Order of the Engineer trace their roots to the 1907 Quebec Bridge collapse. Both require members to swear an oath to uphold ethical practice and wear a symbolic ring as a reminder.
Currently, bribery and political corruption is being addressed very directly by several professional societies and business groups around the world.[34][35] However, new issues have arisen, such as offshoring, sustainable development, and environmental protection, that the profession is having to consider and address.