Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

The highest type of engineer is proud of his profession. He is proud of his competence, proud of what he can do. He captures the forces of nature and puts them to work for the improvement of industry, and finally for a better life for the people. He is proud to be able to do things with
materials and forces which astound lay people.

But the highest type of engineer is proud of something else which is more important. He is proud of the good he does in the world. He is proud that he serves the people; he is proud that ministry in the community is his principle objective; that he is not merely a "laborer for hire."

His ministry in the community is not haphazard. He serves the people in compliance with severe standards of honor and deportment. These standards are expressed in canons and codes. These have been formulated, adopted and published by a number of the strong national engineering societies, and by Engineers' Council for Professional Development. The canons and codes are jealously administered by commissions, boards and. committees in the several societies. They serve to strengthen the confidence of the public in the engineering profession. People trust the engineer because he knows his business, but more particularly because they know that he will not cheat them. One reason why he will not cheat them is because he complies with the canons and codes of professional ethics.

The Canons of ECPD are designed to be a summation of the codes of' the several engineering societies. However, the Canons are no more than statements of a number of directions to govern the engineer in his professional life, and in his relations with the public, clients and employers, and with other engineers. The directions are not amplified to explain their meaning in full. No graphic or illustrative data have been available.

Commentaries on the Canons of ECPD would be useful., not only to engineers and engineering commissions, committees and boards, but especially to faculties in the colleges and schools of engineering. The faculties recognize that they should instruct students in engineering ethics, but the Canons, without development of any kind, have been inadequate for this purpose.

The Committee on Ethical Practices of the National Society of Professional Engineers have been at work for a number of years in the formulation of explanations for the several Canons of ECPD. These explanations have been assembled in this brochure. It is hoped that the brochure will be helpful to engineers, engineering societies and engineering educators.

Introduction
Creeds, canons and codes of ethics have been used by many people for many years.
An Engineers' Creed was developed several years ago by NSPE. It is a brief presentation of the principles that should govern every engineer's
conduct.
The "Canons of Ethics for Engineers" were prepared during many years of effort by the Engineers' Council for Professional Development and were published in October, 1947.
The purpose of the Canons was to combine, in one document of reasonable length, the thoughts contained in then existing codes of ethics of various engineering societies.
Following a brief foreword, the Canons are presented in twenty-eight sections divided into the classifications of Professional Life; Relations with the Public; Relations with Clients and Employers; and Relations with Engineers.
The Canons have been adopted by most engineering societies and are used as standards of ethical practices by a number of state registration boards. (A number of other states require that every applicants for registration as a professional engineer agree to abide by a code of ethics established by that state.)
Now, less than ten years after the Canons were published, conditions have changed. There are many younger engineers who have no knowledge of the background of the Canons and there have been numerous requests for explanations and clarifications.
The purpose of this booklet is to supply supplementary statements that will serve to explain and clarify the Canons.
Codes of ethics and suggestion from the following engineering societies and statements of policy published by NSPE have been used as sources for these supplementary statements which are called, "Rules of Professional Conduct. "

American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society for Engineering Education
American Society of Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
California Society of Professional Engineers
Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers
Ohio Society of Professional Engineers
The Engineering Institute of Canada

The Rules were developed during a two-year period by the Ethical Practices Committee of NSPE with the help of a conference of engineers interested in ethics at Charleston, South Carolina on February 14, 1957 . The Rules should help everyone to understand the Canons better and they are presented immediately following the section of the Canons to which they refer.
An expression heard frequently is, "The intent of this section of the Canons is ------ ." The guiding principle behind the phrasing of the "Rules" is that the words mean exactly what they say - that there is no concealed, hidden, or obscure "intent."
It is hoped that this booklet will promote serious, thoughtful consideration that will lead to a better and more uniform understanding of the "Canons of Ethics for Engineers."
National Society of Professional Engineers
Ethical Practices Committees

1955-1956
B. H. Backlund, P. E.
Bruce P. Barber, P. E.
E. M. Buckingham, P. E.
C. H. Durham, P. E.
O. O. Phillips, P. E.
John R. Snell, P. E.
Otto H. Eall, P. E., Chairman

1956-1957

Bruce P. Barber, P.E.

Otto H. Hall, P.E.

Roy W. Johnson, P.E.

Alex S. Nadelle, P.E.

O. O. Phillips, P.E.

Ezra K. Nicholson, P.E., Chairman

Engineer's Creed

As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.

I pledge:

To give the utmost of performance;

To participate in none but honest enterprises;

To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct;

To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other consideration.

In humility and with the need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

Canons of Ethics for Engineers
Foreword
Honesty, justice and courtesy form a moral philosophy which, associated with mutual interest among men, constitutes the foundation of ethics. The engineer should recognize such a standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles guiding his conduct and way of life. It is his duty to practice his profession according to these Canons of Ethics.
As the keystone of professional conduct is integrity, the engineer will discharge his duties with fidelity to the public, his employers and clients, and with fairness and Impartiality to all. It is his duty to interest himself in public welfare and to be ready to apply his special knowledge for the benefit of mankind. He should uphold the honor and dignity of his profession and avoid association with any enterprise of questionable character. In his dealings with fellow engineers he should be fair and tolerant.

Professional Life

Section 1. The engineer will co-operate in extending the effectiveness of the engineering profession by interchanging information and experience with other engineers and students and by contributing to the work of engineer societies, schools and the scientific and engineering press.
Rule 1. He will be guided in all his relations by the highest standards.
Rule 2. He will not lend his name to any questionable enterprise.
Rule 3. He should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of his community.
Rule 4. He will not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, or a gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.

Section 2. He will not advertise his work or merit in a self-laudatory manner and he will avoid all conduct or practice likely to discredit or do injury to the dignity and honor of his profession.
Rule 5. Circumspect advertising may be properly employed by the engineer to announce his practice and availability. The form and manner of such advertising shall satisfy in all respects the dictate and intent of the Canons. Only those media shall be used as are necessary to reach directly an interested and potential market, and such media shall In themselves be dignified, reputable and characteristically free of any factor or circumstance that would bring disrepute to the profession or to the professional using them. The substance of such advertising shall be limited to fact and shall contain no statement or offer intended to discredit or displace another engineer, either specifically or by implication.
Rule 6. Telephone listings shall be limited to name, address and telephone number under each branch listing in which he qualifies.
Rule 7. He will not allow himself to be listed for employment using exaggerated statements of his qualifications.

Relations with the Public

Section 3. The engineer will endeavor to extend public knowledge of engineering, and will discourage the spreading of untrue, unfair and exaggerated statements regarding engineering.
Rule 8. He will avoid belittling the necessity for engineering services.

Section 4. He will have due regard for the safety of life and health of public and employees who may be affected by the work for which he is responsible.

Rule 9. He will regard his duty to the public welfare as paramount.

Section 5. He will express an opinion only when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction while he is serving as a witness before a court, commission, or other tribunal.

Section 6. He will not issue ex parte statements, criticisms or arguments on matters connected with public policy which are inspired or paid for by private interests, unless he indicates on whose behalf he is making the statement.

Rule 10. He will not advocate or support enactment of community laws, rules, or regulations that he believes are not in the public interest.

Section 7. He will refrain from expressing publicly an opinion on an engineering subject unless he is informed as to the facts relating thereto.

Relations with Clients and Employers

Section 8. The engineer will act in professional matters for each client or employer as a faithful agent or trustee.
Rule 11. He will not undertake or agree to perform any engineering service on a free or contingent basis.
Rule 12. He will be conservative and honest in all estimates, reports, statements, and testimony.
Rule 13. He Kill advise his client when he believes a project will not be successful.
Rule 14. His plans or specifications will not be such as to limit free competition, except with his client's consent.
Rule 15. He will associate himself only with projects of a legitimate character.
Rule 16. He will not solicit or accept employment to the detriment of his regular work or interest.
Rule 17. An engineer in private practice may be employed by more than one party when the interests and time schedules of the several parties do not conflict.

Section 9. He will act Kith fairness and justice between his client or employer and the contractor when dealing with contracts.
Rule 18. He will insist on contractor compliance with plans and specifications.
Section 10. He will make his status clear to his client or employer before undertaking an engagement if he may be called upon to decide on the use of inventions, apparatus, or any other thing in which he may have a financial interest.
Rule 19. Before undertaking work for others in connection with which he may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions or other records which may justify copyrights or patents, the engineer should enter into a positive agreement regarding the ownership.
Rule 20. If an engineer uses information which is not common knowledge or public property, but which he obtains from a client or employer, the results in the form of plans, designs, or other records, should not be regarded as his property, but the property of his client or employer.
Rule 21. If an engineer uses his own knowledge only, or information which by prior publication, or otherwise, is public property and obtains no engineering data from a client or employer, except performance specifications or routine information, then in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the results in the form of inventions, plans, designs, or other records, should be regarded as the property of the engineer.
Rule 22. When an engineer or manufacturer builds apparatus from designs supplied to him by a customer, the designs remain the property of the customer and should not be duplicated by the engineer or manufacturer for others without express permission.
Rule 23. A clear understanding should be reached before the beginning of the work regarding the respective rights of ownership when an engineer or manufacturer and a customer may jointly work out designs and plans or develop inventions.
Rule 24. Designs, data, records, notes made by an employee and referring exclusively to his employer's work are his employer's property.
Rule 25. A customer, in buying apparatus, does not acquire any right in its design but only the use of the apparatus purchased. A client does not acquire any right to the ideas developed and plans made by a consulting engineer, except far the specific case far which they were made.

Section 11 He will guard against conditions that are dangerous or threatening to life, limb, or property on work for which he is responsible, or if he is not responsible, will promptly call such conditions to the attention of those who are responsible.
Rule 26, He will not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or specifications that are not of a design safe to the public health and welfare. If the client or employer insists on such unprofessional conduct, he shall call building authorities' attention to the case and withdraw from further consulting business or service on the project.

Section 12. He will present clearly the consequences to be expected from deviations proposed if his engineering judgment is overruled by non-technical authority in cases where he is responsible for the technical adequacy of engineering work.
Rule 27. He will not apply his signature of approval or seal on plans that do not meet accepted engineering standards.

Section 13.He will engage, or advise his client or employer to engage, and he will co-operate with, other experts and specialists whenever the client's or employer's interests are best served by such service.
Rule 28. He will not undertake responsible engineering work for which he is not qualified by experience and training.

Section 14. He will disclose no information concerning the business affairs or technical processes of clients or employer without their consent.

Section 15, He will not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service, or for services pertaining to the same work, without the consent of all interested parties.

Section 16. He will not accept commission or allowances, directly or indirectly, from contractors or other parties dealing with his clients or employer in connection with work for which he is responsible.

Rule 29 He will not accept financial or other considerations, including free engineering designs, from material or equipment suppliers for specifying their product.

Section 17. He will not be financially interested in the bids as or of a contractor on competitive work for which he is employed as an engineer unless he has the consent of his client or employer.
Rule 30. He will not accept personal consideration in any form. This assures that his recommendations for the award of a contract cannot be influenced.

Section 18. He will promptly disclose to his client or employer any interest in a business which may compete with or affect the business of his client or employer. He will not allow an interest in any business to affect his decision regarding engineering work for which he is employed, or which he may be called upon to perform.

Relations with Engineers

Section 19. The engineer will endeavor to protect the engineering profession collectively and individually from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.
Rule 31. The engineer will insist on the use of facts in reference to an engineering project or to an engineer in a group discussion, public forum or publication of articles.

Section 20. He will take care that credit for engineering work is given to those to whom credit is properly due.
Rule 32. Whenever possible, he will name the person or persons who may be individually responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments, in order that due credit may be given.
Rule 33. He will not accept credit rightfully due another engineer by voice or silence.
Rule 34. He will not sign or seal plans or specifications prepared by someone other than himself or an employee under his supervision.
Rule 35. He will not represent as his own the plans, designs, or specifications supplied to him by a manufacturer or supplier of equipment or material.

Section 21. He will uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for those engaged in engineering work, including those in subordinate capacities, as being in the public interest and maintaining the standards of the profession.
Rule 36. He will not undertake work at a fee or salary that will not permit professional performance, according to accepted standards of the profession.
Rule 37. He will not accept work in the geographic areas in which he practices or intends to practice at a salary or fee below that recognized as a basic minimum in that area.
Rule 38. He will not accept remuneration from either an employee or employment agency for giving employment.

Section 22. He will endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development and advancement of engineers in his employ.
Rule 39. He will encourage attendance at professional and technical society meetings by his engineer employees.
Rule 40. He should not unduly restrict the preparation and presentation of technical papers by his engineer employees.
Rule 41. He will encourage an employee's efforts to improve his education.
Rule 42. He will urge his engineer employees to became registered at the earliest possible date.
Rule 43. He will assign a professional engineer duties of a nature to utilize his full training and experience, insofar as possible, and delegate lesser functions to sub-professionals or to technicians.
Rule 44. He will not hold an employee from obtaining a better position with another employer by offers of short-term gains or by belittling his qualifications.

Section 23. He will not directly or indirectly injure the professional reputation, prospects or practice of another engineer. However, if he considers that an engineer is guilty of unethical, illegal or unfair practice, will present the information to the proper authority for action.
Rule 45. He will report unethical practices of another engineer with substantiating data to his professional or technical society, and he will to appear as a witness.

Section 24. He will exercise due restraint in criticizing another engineer's work in public, recognizing the fact that the engineering societies and the engineering press provide the proper forum for technical discussions and criticism.
Rule 46. He not review the work of another engineer for the same client, except with the knowledge or consent of such engineer, or unless the connection of such engineer with the work has been terminated.

Section 25. He will not try to supplant another engineer in a particular employment after becoming aware that definite steps have been taken toward the other's employment.
Rule 47. He will not attempt to inject his services into a project at the expense of another engineer who has been active in developing it.

Section 26. He will not compete with another engineer on the basis of charges for work by underbidding, through reducing his normal fees after having been informed of the charges named by the other.
Rule 48 . The practice of engineering is a learned profession, requiring of its members sound technical training, broad experience, personal ability, honesty and integrity. The selection of engineering services by an evaluation of these qualities should be the basis of comparison rather than competitive bids.
Rule 49. Competition between engineers for employment on the basis of professional fees or charges is considered unethical practice by all professional engineering groups. Hence, the announced intent of an owner or governmental body to request such competitive bids removes from consideration many engineers who may be the best qualified to be entrusted with the proposed work.
Rule 50. It shall be considered ethical for an engineer to solicit an engineering assignment, either verbally or written. Such solicitation may be in the form of a letter or a brochure setting forth factual information concerning the engineer's qualifications by training and experience and reference to past accomplishments and clients.
Should the engineer be asked for a proposal to perform engineering services for a specific project, he should set forth in detail the work he proposes to accomplish and an estimate of the time required. The engineer's qualifications may be included if appropriate. A statement of monetary remuneration expected should be avoided if possible. Should such a statement be deamed necessary, the proposed fee shall be equal to
or more than the fees prescribed as minimum for the particular type of service required, as established by fee schedule or practice in the geographical area where the work is to be done. Where a fee cannot be established in this manner, the ethical fee shall be equal to actual cost plus overhead plus a reasonable profit.
Rule 51. He Kill take a professional attitude in negotiations for his services and shall avoid all practices which have a tendency to affect adversely the amount, quality, or disinterested nature of professional services such as charging inadequate fees for preliminary work or full services, competing for an engineering assignment on a price basis, spending large amounts of money in securing business or consenting to furnish monetary guaranties of cost estimates.

Section 27. He will not use the advantages of a salaried position to compete unfairly with another engineer.
Rule 52. While in a salaried position, he will accept part-time engineering work only at a salary or fee not less than that recognized as standard in the area.
Rule 53. An engineer will not use equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of his employer to carry on outside private practice without consent.

Section 28. He will not became associated in responsibility for work with engineers who do not conform to ethical practices.
Rule 54. He will conform with registration laws in his practice of engineering.
Rule 55. He will not use association with a non-engineer, a corporation, or partnership, as a "cloak" for unethical acts; but must accept personal responsibility for his professional acts.

Miscellaneous

Rule 56. An engineer who is in sales or industrial. employ is entitled to make engineering comparisons of the products offered by various suppliers, but will avoid aspersions upon their character, standing, or ability.
Rule 57. If, in sales employ, he will not offer, or give engineering consultation, or designs, or advice other than specifically applying to the operation of the equipment being sold.
Rule 58. No engineer in the employ of equipment or material supply companies will tender designs, plans, specifications, advice or consultation to operations beyond the limits of a machine or item of material or supply, except as is required for proper functioning of the particular item.
Rule 59. He will not use his professional affiliations to secure the confidence of other engineers in commercial enterprise and will avoid any act tending to promote his own interest at the expense of the dignity and standing of the organization.
Rule 60. He will admit and accept his own errors when proven obviously wrong and refrain from distorting or altering the facts in an attempt to justify his decision.
Rule 61. Any firm offering engineering services must, in conformance with the laws of the state in which it operates, have its operations and control under the direction and responsibility of registered professional engineers.
Rule 62. He will not attempt to attract an engineer from another employer by methods such as offering unjustified salaries or benefits.