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

ENGINEERING: ISSUES CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT■■■■■discuss in particular the consequences of their proposalsand actions, direct or indirect, immediate or long term,upon the health of people, social equity and the local systemof values;study thoroughly the environment that will be affected,assess all the impacts that might arise in the structure,dynamics and aesthetics of the ecosystems involved, urbanizedor natural, as well as in the pertinent socio-economicsystems, and select the best alternative for developmentthat is both environmentally sound and sustainable;promote a clear understanding of the actions required torestore and, if possible, to improve the environment thatmay be disturbed, and include them in their proposals;reject any kind of commitment that involves unfair damagesfor human surroundings and nature, and aim for thebest possible technical, social, and political solution; andbe aware that the principles of ecosystemic interdependence,diversity maintenance, resource recovery and interrelationalharmony form the basis of humankind’s continuedexistence and that each of these bases poses a threshold ofsustainability that should not be exceeded.ConclusionAlways remember that war, greed, misery and ignorance,plus natural disasters and human induced pollution anddestruction of resources are the main causes of the progressiveimpairment of the environment, and that engineers, asactive members of society deeply involved in the promotion ofdevelopment, must use their talent, knowledge and imaginationto assist society in removing those evils and improving thequality of life for all people.Interpretation of the Code of EthicsThe interpretive articles that follow expand on and discusssome of the more difficult and interrelated components of theCode especially related to the Practice Provisions. No attemptis made to expand on all clauses of the Code, nor is the elaborationpresented on a clause-by-clause basis. The objective ofthis approach is to broaden the interpretation, rather than narrowits focus. The ethics of professional engineering is an integratedwhole and cannot be reduced to fixed ‘rules’. Therefore,the issues and questions arising from the Code are discussedin a general framework, drawing on any and all portions of theCode to demonstrate their inter-relationship and to expandon the basic intent of the Code.Sustainable development and environmentEngineers shall strive to enhance the quality of the biophysicaland socio-economic urban environment of buildings andspaces, and to promote the principles of sustainable development.Engineers shall seek opportunities to work for the enhancementof safety, health and the social welfare of both their localcommunity and the global community through the practiceof sustainable development.Engineers whose recommendations are overruled or ignoredon issues of safety, health, welfare or sustainable developmentshall inform their contractor or employer of the possible consequences.Protection of the public and the environmentProfessional Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, healthand welfare of the public and the protection of the environment.This obligation to the safety, health and welfare of thegeneral public, which includes one’s own work environment,is often dependent upon engineering judgements, risk assessments,decisions and practices incorporated into structures,machines, products, processes and devices. Therefore, engineersmust control and ensure that what they are involved with is inconformity with accepted engineering practice, standards andapplicable codes, and would be considered safe based on peeradjudication. This responsibility extends to include all and anysituation which an engineer encounters and includes an obligationto advise the appropriate authority if there is reason tobelieve that any engineering activity, or its products, processesand so on, do not conform with the above stated conditions.The meaning of paramount in this basic tenet is that all otherrequirements of the Code are subordinate if protection ofpublic safety, the environment or other substantive publicinterests are involved.Faithful agent of clients and employersEngineers shall act as faithful agents or trustees of their clientsand employers with objectivity, fairness and justice to all parties.With respect to the handling of confidential or proprietaryinformation, the concept of ownership of the informationand protecting that party’s rights is appropriate. Engineersshall not reveal facts, data or information obtained in a professionalcapacity without the prior consent of its owner. Theonly exception to respecting confidentially and maintaininga trustee’s position is in instances where the public interestor the environment is at risk, as discussed in the precedingsection; but even in these circumstances, the engineer shouldendeavour to have the client and/or employer appropriatelyredress the situation, or at least, in the absence of a compellingreason to the contrary, should make every reasonable effort tocontact them and explain clearly the potential risks, prior toinforming the appropriate authority.Professional Engineers shall avoid conflict of interest situationswith employers and clients but, should such conflict190