Engineers’ Code of Ethics: Importance, Canons, and Challenges

This article discusses the importance of the Engineers’ Code of Ethics, its canons, and the challenges that engineers face in adhering to it. It also highlights the impact of technology and sustainability on the implementation of the code of ethics.

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ENGINEERS’ CODE OF ETHICS
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Engineers’ Code of Ethics
1. Introduction
Our role as engineers in the society cannot be overemphasized [1]. We are
professionals who make decisions that have huge impacts on people’s day-to-day life
[2]. We are responsible for planning, designing, construction, manufacturing, operation
and maintenance of different structures and products that are used by people every
day, all over the world [3]. As a result, our work should benefit humanity and avoid or
minimize any likelihood of causing harm to the people or the environment [4]. Engineers
possess great power to bring real change to the society. However, the great power goes
together with great responsibility [5]. This is where the code of ethics becomes very
crucial in engineering. The code of ethics basically entails the attributes of conduct and
morals of engineers both as individuals and as professionals. Most societal problems
have numerous possible solutions and therefore it is the responsibility of engineers to
make the best decisions based on integrity, honesty, equity, justice and without bias. In
general, engineers should perform their duties by strictly observing the upmost
principles of morals and ethical conduct [6].
2. Canons of Engineers’ Code of Ethics
Engineers’ code of ethics has five fundamental canons [7]. First, engineers should
consider the health, safety and welfare of the general public when making decisions and
also comply with sustainable development principles. This means that engineers should
always give health, safety and well-being of people and environment a top priority in
their decisions and actions [8]. Second, engineers should only perform services in fields

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of their competence. This means that engineers should only accept and perform
engineering assignments which they have adequate knowledge and competence. Third,
engineers should ensure that any public statements they issue are true and objective.
This means that before engineers share information with the public in form of public
statements, reports, testimony, etc., they should ensure that the information is true and
not exaggerated for whatever reasons.
Fourth, engineers should act for every client or employer as faithful trustees or
agents, and should avoid potential or identified conflicts of interest. It means that
engineers have to be open, loyal, truthful and faithful to their clients or employers as
long as they are working for and/or with them. This can be achieved through disclosure
of any relevant information, not accepting or soliciting any “gifts” from parties dealing
with the employer or client, using clients/employer’s confidential information
appropriately and not accepting any other professional employment with their current
clients/employer’s consent. Fifth, engineers should shun away from deceptive acts. This
means that engineers should not secure work or contracts through false means such as
using fake qualifications, giving bribes or competing unfairly. They should also not
falsely or maliciously injure their colleagues’ professional reputation, employment or
prospects, or criticize the work of other engineers indiscriminately. Sixth, engineers
should act in a manner that upholds and improves the integrity, dignity and honor of the
engineering profession by avoiding corruption, bribery, fraud, dishonest and improper
utilization of resources.
In 2017, engineers’ code of ethics was updated and three more canons were added
to make them eight canons [9]. Therefore the seventh canon is that engineers should

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continue with professional development and encourage those working under them to
follow suit throughout their careers. One of the requirements for professional engineers
to maintain their license is a particular number of professional development hours. Out
of this number of hours, at least two are in ethics [10]. This further emphasizes the
importance of ethics for practicing engineers. Last but not least, engineers should
promote equality, equity and fair treatment of all persons irrespective of their gender,
national origin, race, age, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, disability, sex orientation,
economic status or marital status. This code of ethics is applicable across all fields of
engineering [11].
3. Importance and Issues Related to Engineers’ Code of Ethics
The code of ethics is very essential in the engineering profession [8]. It provides a
guideline on how engineers should behave and conduct themselves both as individuals
and professionals [13]. Engineers must observe their conduct at all times because the
society does not separate their individualism from professionalism. For instance, if an
engineer is found to be mischievous in his individual life, the public is likely to be
suspicious about his integrity and capability to make critical engineering decisions that
have huge impacts on the society. This is a tall order for engineers because just like any
human being, they have a private life to live. Nevertheless, balance between
personal/private life and being a professional is not a very difficult task for engineers
who adhere to the code of ethics. This is because they are in full support of the code of
ethics, they understand its importance and integrate it in their lifestyle. As a result, their
personal life is not in any way affected by adherence to the engineers’ code of ethics.

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Another major challenge that engineers face every other day is the aspect of money.
It is worth noting that engineers are among professionals that work in very challenging
and tempting environments. It is very common for parties involved in a project, whether
public or private project, to try and influence engineers’ decisions and actions indirectly.
For example, a key stakeholder’s representative may invite an engineer for a meeting to
discuss genuine issues related to the project. Since the meeting is organized by the
stakeholder’s representative, he organizes for everything related to the meeting,
including paying for the venue, meals and drinks, and facilitating the engineer’s
transportation. But there is nothing for free in this world and in most cases, such
representatives end up trying to bribe the engineer by offering incentives, “gifts”, etc.
The incentives or “gifts” are usually hefty and it only takes an engineer who is guided by
the code of ethics to turn down the offer. Those who give in eventually compromise their
decisions and actions in favor of the people from whom they received the deals.
Engineers who strictly observe the code of ethics will always avoid such circumstances
by ensuring that there is no room to find themselves in such circumstances. For
example, they should make it clear to all stakeholders involved in the project that there
shall be no private meetings between two parties only. If any meeting related to the
project has to be organized, then all parties involved should be informed and requested
to attend. At no point should a practicing engineer put personal interests or gains before
public interest. In fact, employment opportunities, contracts and opportunities always
come along the way of engineers who never violate code of ethics between at point is
their reputation dented.

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The engineers’ code of ethics also helps in whistleblowing. Although this is a
controversial issue, whistleblowing can help prevent engineering disasters. There are
situations where engineers have no other option but to blow the whistle. This has to be
done when the engineer believes beyond reasonable doubt that there is a misconduct
happening or has happened. If the However, the misconduct must be justifiable and
should be reported to a suitable third party in a proper manner [14]. An example of a
misconduct is a small error that is discovered during the late stage of design, mostly
during approval of the designs. Considering the urgency of producing the product so
that it can be delivered to the market or client earlier and also to avoid costs and delays
associated with correcting the error, the management of a company may be curious to
ignore the error on the basis that its consequences are insignificant. But from an
engineering perspective, ignoring such an error is a looming disaster. In such a case,
engineers who strictly adhere to the code of ethics should gather enough evidence to
convince the company management to correct the error so as to prevent. If they do not
get audience from the company then they should go ahead and report the matter to a
relevant third party for an appropriate action to be taken. Unfortunately, many
whistleblowers end up being victims of their decisions to raise the issue. There are
several engineering case studies where whistleblowers ended up losing their jobs as
part of the whistleblowing consequences [15]. Therefore engineers should promote
adherence to code of ethics by all their colleagues at workplaces so that when such a
case arises, they solve it together as a team instead of reaching a point where external
third parties have to be involved [16].

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The code of ethics is also important in engineering profession because it helps in
holding engineers accountable for their decisions and actions. Engineers are
responsible for making critical decisions that have huge impacts on people’s lives. As a
result, they must be responsible for their actions. If they make wrong decisions, people’s
lives will be greatly affected. This may include destruction of property, inconveniences
or loss of life. Violation of any of the engineers’ code of ethics has consequences. The
consequences may include: losing trust from employers, clients or colleagues, losing
your practicing license, losing a job or contract, damaging your reputation, etc. As
aforementioned, the code of ethics prescribes a guide for engineers’ conduct. The code
of ethics is also accepted by almost all professional engineering bodies, organizations
and societies. This means that if engineers violate any of the canons itemized in the
code of ethics, they may be deregistered from the relevant professional societies,
organizations or bodies and therefore may find it difficult to get employed or continue
with their professional development in their careers.
Another issue of interest to me is the impact of technology and sustainability on
implementation of and adherence to the engineers’ code of ethics. These are two critical
issues today and must be considered in almost all aspects of our life. We should use
modern technology to enhance adherence to the engineers’ code of ethics and also
ensure that these ethics make it easier to make engineering projects and products more
sustainable.
4. Conclusion
As a practicing engineer, the code of ethics demands me to act and conduct myself
in a certain manner so that the decisions I make will improve people’s lives and protect

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the environment for present and future generations. The code of ethics gives me a
guideline on what I should do and not do as a practicing engineer. It is therefore my
responsibility to ensure that I do not violate these ethics so as to avoid consequences
and the impacts of the violation on humanity and the environment. The code of ethics
reminds me that I should put public interest first and not my personal interests or gains.
Most importantly is that it reminds me of consequences of violating any of the principles
in the engineers’ code of ethics. The best way to adhere to the engineers’ code of ethics
is to make it your lifestyle. Doing so ensures that all decisions I make are guided by the
code of ethics hence the probability of violating any of them is almost zero. It is also
important to learn and start practicing the engineers’ code of ethics during training so
that once you start practicing, you are fully aware of all the ethics, their importance to
yourself and the engineering profession, and also the consequences of violating them.
As engineers, it is our responsibility to make decisions based on integrity, transparency,
equity and equality, prioritizing the public interest, and be accountable for our decisions
and actions.

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