Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Introduction

The Engineer, to uphold and advance the honor and dignity of the engineering profession and in keeping with high standards of ethical conduct:

1. Will be honest and impartial, and will serve employer, clients, and the public with devotion;

2. Will strive to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession;

3. Will apply knowledge and skill to advance human welfare.

Relations with the Public

1. Engineers will hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, including that of future generations.

2. Engineers will endeavor to extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering and its achievements, and will oppose any untrue, unsupported, or exaggerated statements regarding engineering.

3. Engineers will be dignified and modest, ever upholding the honor and dignity of their profession, and will refrain from self-laudatory advertising.

4. Engineers will express an opinion on an engineering subject only when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

5. Engineers will issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on engineering matters which are inspired or paid for by an interested party or parties, unless they preface their comments by identifying themselves, by disclosing the identities of the party or parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest they may have in matters under discussion.

6. Engineers will approve or seal only those documents, reviewed or prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted engineering and economic standards.

7. Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences.

8. Engineers will work through professional societies to encourage and support engineers who follow these concepts.

9. Engineers will work only with those who follow these concepts.

10. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony.

Relations With Employers and Clients

1. Engineers will act in professional matters as a faithful agent or trustee for each employer or client.

2. Engineers will act fairly and justly toward vendors and contractors, and will not accept any commissions or allowances from vendors or contractors, directly or indirectly.

3. Engineers will inform their employer or client of financial interest in any potential vendor or contractor, or in any invention, machine, or apparatus, which is involved in a project or work of either employer or client. Engineers will not allow such interest to affect any decisions regarding engineering services which they may be called upon to perform.

4. When, as a result of their studies, Engineers believe a project(s) will not be successful or, if their engineering or economic judgment is overruled, they shall so advise their employer or client.

5. Engineers will undertake only those engineering assignments for which they are qualified. Engineers will engage or advise their employers or clients to engage specialists whenever their employer's or client's interests are served best by such an arrangement. Engineers will cooperate fully with specialists so engaged.

6. Engineers shall treat information coming to them in the course of their assignments as confidential, and shall not use such information as a means of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients, their employers, or the public.

1. They will not disclose confidential information concerning the business affairs or technical processes of any present or former employer or client or bidder under evaluation, without consent, unless required by law.

2. They shall not reveal confidential information or finding of any commission or board of which they are members unless required by law.

3. Designs, calculations, sketches, etc., supplied to Engineers by clients shall not be duplicated by the Engineers for others without the express permission of the client(s).

4. Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of their assignments as a means of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients, employers or the public.

7. Engineers will not accept compensation-financial or otherwise-from more than one party for the same service, or for other services pertaining to the same work, without the consent of all interested parties.

8. Employed Engineers will engage in supplementary employment or consulting practice only with the consent of their employer.

9. Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities of their employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their employers.

10. Engineers shall not solicit an engineering contract from a governmental body on which a principal, off icer, or employee of their organization serves as a member.

11. The Engineer shall act with fairness and justice to all parties when administering a construction (or other) contract.

12. Before undertaking work for others in which the Engineer may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions, or records which may justify copyrights or patents, the Engineer shall enter into a positive agreement regarding the rights of respective parties.

13. Engineers shall admit and accept their own errors when proven wrong and refrain from distorting or altering the facts to justify their decisions.

14. Engineers shall not attempt to attract an employee from another employer by false or misleading representations.

15. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

1. Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business association, interests, or circumstances which could influence their judgment or the quality of their services.
   

2. Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employers in connection with work for which they are responsible.

3. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental body or department shall not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organization in private or public engineering practice.

Relations With Engineers

1. Engineers will take care that credit for engineering work is given to those to whom credit is properly due.

2. Engineers will provide a prospective engineering employee with complete information on working conditions and their proposed status of employment. After employment, they will keep the employee informed of any changes in status and working conditions.

3. Engineers will uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for those engaged in engineering work, including those in subordinate capacities.

4. Engineers will endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development and advancement of engineers in their employ or under their supervision.

5. Engineers will not attempt to supplant other Engineers in a particular employment after becoming aware that definite steps have been taken toward the others' employment or after they have been employed.

6. Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another Engineer, nor shall they indiscriminately criticize another's work. Proof that another Engineer has been unethical, illegal, or unfair in his practice shall be cause for advising the proper authority.

7. Engineers will not compete unfairly with other Engineers.

8. Engineers will cooperate in advancing the engineering profession by interchanging information and experience with other engineers and students, by contributing to public communication media, and to engineering and scientific societies and schools.

9. Engineers will not request, propose, or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis under circumstances under which their professional judgments may be comprised.

10. Engineers will not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their, or their associates', academic or professional qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degrees of responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, past accomplishments, or membership in technical societies.

11. Engineers will prepare articles for the lay or technical press which are only factual, dignified and free from ostentatious or laudatory implications. Such articles shall not imply other than their direct participation in the work described unless credit is given to others for their share of the work.

12. Engineers will not campaign, solicit support, or otherwise coerce other engineers to support their candidacy, or candidacy of a colleague, for elective office in a technical association.

Standards of Professional Performance

1. Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit, and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity, honor and dignity of the profession.

2. Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express an engineering opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of technical competence, and upon honest conviction.

3. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

1. Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.

2. Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the earliest possible date.

3. Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at professional and technical society meetings.

4. Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships between employers and employees with respect to terms of employment including professional grade descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.