1. CVE 4070 Construction Engineering Professional Ethics
Prof. Ralph V. Locurcio, PE

2. Schedule

3. Professional Ethics 101
1/11/2019

4. Engineering “Profession”
Special knowledge
Broad knowledge base vs. specific training
Skills essential to the well being of society
Special privileges
Self-regulating
Control admissions process
Autonomy in the workplace
Independent judgment
Special responsibilities
Regulated by ethical standards
1/11/2019

5. Ethical judgments Factual issues Conceptual issues
Typically engineering design factors
Contractual questions of fact
Conceptual issues
May be vague
Interpretation of rules or definitions
Standards not clearly defined
“Valuable consideration”
“Adequate knowledge”
Tradeoffs
Cost vs. safety issues
Risk vs. benefit issues
1/11/2019

6. NCEE Code of Ethics Obligation to Society Employers & Clients
other Professionals
1/11/2019

7. PE Rules of Professional practice(1)
OBLIGATION TO SOCIETY
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS SHALL:
Honor their responsibility for public welfare
Seal only designs that conform to accepted standards
Inform employer or authority when overruled
Be objective & truthful in professional reports & testimony
Express public opinion only when founded on facts
Not express an opinion inspired by interested parties
Shall not engage in fraudulent or dishonest ventures
Provide information of violations to Board of Practice
1/11/2019

8. PE Rules of Professional Practice(2):
OBLIGATION TO EMPLOYER & CLIENTS
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS SHALL:
Undertake assignments only when qualified
Not seal designs when outside qualifications
Not seal designs they have not directly supervised
Coordinate entire design if other professionals seal
Not reveal proprietary data unless required by law
Not accept consideration from contractors
Fully reveal any conflict of interest to employers
Not accept compensation from more than one party
Not accept assignment from govt body if advisor
1/11/2019

9. PE Rules of Professional Practice(3):
OBLIGATION TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS:
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS SHALL:
Not misrepresent own or colleagues qualifications
Not overstate degree of personal responsibility
Not misrepresent facts pertinent to employers or work
Not engage in bribery or offer gifts to obtain work
Not seek to falsely injure the reputation of another PE
Not indiscriminately criticize work of another PE
1/11/2019

10. Example - 1
1/11/2019

11. Solution - 1
1/11/2019

12. Now it’s your turn Read these 4 examples
Pick the most ethical answer, based on the NCEE rules of ethics
We’ll go over the answers here in class
1/11/2019

13. Example - 2
1/11/2019

14. Solution - 2
1/11/2019

15. Example - 3
1/11/2019

16. Solution - 3
1/11/2019

17. Example - 4
1/11/2019

18. Solution - 4
1/11/2019

19. Example - 5
1/11/2019

20. Solution - 5
1/11/2019

21. Example - 6
1/11/2019

22. Solution - 6
1/11/2019

23. Summary of Ethics Obligation to Society
Do no harm
Uphold public welfare & safety
Obligation to Employers & Clients
Be trustworthy
Honor the employer’s property & reputation
Obligation to Other Professionals
Be fair & forthright
Be truthful
Honor the profession
1/11/2019