Engineering: issues, challenges and opportunities for development ...

AN OVERVIEW OF ENGINEERING4.6.3 WFEO Model Code of EthicsSince 1990, WFEO has worked to prepare a Code of Ethics asa model to help defi ne and support the creation of codes inmember institutions. The fi nal version reproduced here wasadopted in 2001.Broad principlesEthics is generally understood as the discipline or field of studydealing with moral duty or obligation. This typically gives riseto a set of governing principles or values, which in turn areused to judge the appropriateness of particular conducts orbehaviours. These principles are usually presented either asbroad guiding principles of an idealistic or inspirational natureor, alternatively, as a detailed and specific set of rules couched inlegalistic or imperative terms to make them more enforceable.Professions that have been given the privilege and responsibilityof self regulation, including the engineering profession, havetended to opt for the first alternative, espousing sets ofunderlying principles as codes of professional ethics which formthe basis and framework for responsible professional practice.Arising from this context, professional codes of ethics havesometimes been incorrectly interpreted as a set of ‘rules’ ofconduct intended for passive observance. A more appropriateuse by practicing professionals is to interpret the essence ofthe underlying principles within their daily decision-makingsituations in a dynamic manner, responsive to the need of thesituation. As a consequence, a code of professional ethics ismore than a minimum standard of conduct; rather, it is a setof principles, which should guide professionals in their dailywork.In summary, the model Code presented herein expresses theexpectations of engineers and society in discriminating engineers’professional responsibilities. The Code is based on broadprinciples of truth, honesty and trustworthiness, respect forhuman life and welfare, fairness, openness, competence andaccountability. Some of these broader ethical principles orissues deemed more universally applicable are not specificallydefined in the Code although they are understood to beapplicable as well. Only those tenets deemed to be particularlyapplicable to the practice of professional engineering arespecified. Nevertheless, certain ethical principles or issues notcommonly considered to be part of professional ethics shouldbe implicitly accepted to judge the engineer’s professional performance.Issues regarding the environment and sustainable developmentknow no geographical boundaries. The engineers andcitizens of all nations should know and respect the environmentalethic. It is desirable therefore that engineers in eachnation continue to observe the philosophy of the Principlesof Environmental Ethics delineated in Section III of thisCode.Practice provision ethicsProfessional engineers shall:■■■■■■■■■hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the publicand the protection of both the natural and the built environmentin accordance with the Principles of SustainableDevelopment;promote health and safety within the workplace;offer services, advise on or undertake engineering assignmentsonly in areas of their competence and practice in acareful and diligent manner;act as faithful agents of their clients or employers, maintainconfidentially and disclose conflicts of interest;keep themselves informed in order to maintain their competence,strive to advance the body of knowledge withinwhich they practice and provide opportunities for theprofessional development of their subordinates and fellowpractitioners;conduct themselves with fairness and good faith towardsclients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is dueand accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional criticism;be aware of and ensure that clients and employers aremade aware of societal and environmental consequences ofactions or projects and endeavour to interpret engineeringissues to the public in an objective and truthful manner;present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequencesof overruling or disregarding of engineering decisionsor judgement; andreport to their association and/or appropriate agencies anyillegal or unethical engineering decisions or practices ofengineers or others.Environmental engineering ethicsEngineers, as they develop any professional activity, shall:■■try with the best of their ability, courage, enthusiasm anddedication to obtain a superior technical achievement,which will contribute to and promote a healthy and agreeablesurrounding for all people, in open spaces as well asindoors;strive to accomplish the beneficial objectives of their workwith the lowest possible consumption of raw materials andenergy and the lowest production of waste and any kind ofpollution;189