Code of Conduct in Engineering

Code of Conduct in Engineering

Though engineering light not seem like a profession that requires a strict ethical code of conduct on the surface, a brief examination of the many roles engineers play in our society reveals how essential it is for a code of conduct to be developed for this field. Especially given the high level of expertise and specialized knowledge many engineers possess that their client -- both those paying for the project and those who will utilize it in what are often life-and-death situations such as bridges and skyscrapers -- means there must be a high level of trust regarding these engineers. More mundane issues such as conflicts of interest and "padding" projects for personal benefit are also real concerns within the engineering world, and it is for these reasons that the development of ethical practices and a clear and strict code of conduct for engineers of all stripes is necessary (NSPE 2007).

One of the great strengths of this code of conduct is its comprehensiveness; though brief, the NSPE code of conduct broadly covers all imaginable aspects of engineering in any field, dictating how engineers must interact with clients and with society at large, serving the interests of the latter first and the former second without compromising personal integrity, public safety, or full disclosure for the purposes of personal gain (or for any other reason, for that matter (2007). This is also, unfortunately, the code of conduct's greatest weakness, as it does not allow for specific discussions of various ethical behaviors and practices in specific, real-world engineering situations. The complexity of ethical engineering practices has been explored in more detail in recent years, and requires still more inspection and detailed examination and analysis (TAMU 2008).

Most (if not all) of the legal issues described in the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers are also ethical concerns; there is a specific non-disclosure clause in the code that would be legally enforceable in most situations even if the code did not exist; issues of public safety and other controls on the physical effects of engineering practice are also backed up by many legislative codes (NSPE 2007). Falsifying qualifications and other paperwork, which is also expressly forbidden in the code, would qualify as legal fraud in most instances, and would be punishable through both criminal and civil actions (NSPE 2007). Other provisions of the code are more purely ethical; the disclosure of conflicts of interest, even seemingly minor ones, would not always be a legal requirement (especially when the engineer is engaged in private projects with non-publicly traded companies/entities). The maintenance of public welfare that is the preeminent and paramount duty of engineers according to the code is also above and beyond the purely legal requirements (NSPE 2007).