TOPIC
TOPIC OUTCOME
1
Background of Engineering
Ethics
Explain the code of ethics for
engineers according to those
defined by IEM.
2
Codes of Engineering Ethics
Problems identification in engineering
ethics and handling them systemically
and professionally.
3
Professional Engineering
Ethics
Solve the problems occurred in
engineering in ethical senses,
systemically and professionally.
Background of Engineering Ethics
Codes of Ethics
Issues in Ethical Problems
Professional Ethics
Whistle blowing
To think critically and independently about moral
issues and to apply this moral thinking to situations
arise in the course of professional engineering practice
MORAL AUTONOMY
The Case: On August 10, 1978, a Ford Pinto was hit
from behind on a highway in Indiana. The impact of
the collision caused the Pinto's fuel tank to rupture
and burst into flame, leading to the deaths of three
teenage girl riding in the car.
A case against Ford hinged on charges that it was
known that the gas-tank design was flawed and
was not in line with accepted engineering standard.
The dilemma faced by the design engineers who
worked on the Pinto was to balance the safety of
the people against the need to produce Pinto at a
competitive price!
Background of Engineering
Ethics
 Why Study Engineering Ethics?
o
o
o
o

The Pinto case is just one example of ethical problems faced by
professional engineers.
The work of engineers can affect public health and safety and also
can influence business practices and even politics.
So, the goal of Eng Ethics is to sensitize you to important ethical
issues before you have to confront them.
Why should a future engineer bother studying ethics at all?
The ethical problems encountered in engineering practice are very
complex and involve ethical problems. So, the goal is to train you
to analyze complex problems and learn to resolve them in the
most ethical manner.
Background of Engineering
Ethics
 Engineering is Managing The Unknown
➢
➢
Engineers often encounter situations in which they don't have all of the
information that is needed.
By its nature, engineering design is about creating new devices and
products, whereby many questions need to be answered:
1. How well does it work?
2. How will it affect people?
3. What changes will this lead to in society?
4. Is it safe?
5. What are the effects of doing nothing?
The three major Professional Engineering bodies to which engineers may
be affiliated are:
1.
The Board of Engineers (BEM), which is a statutory body governed by
the Engineer’s Act 1967 and with which an Engineer must registered
before he/she can be employed or practise as an Engineer.
2.
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM). which is a learned society
registered under the Society’s Act. Membership is voluntary but the
professional standards set by IEM for membership are accepted by BEM
as qualifications for registration as a Professional Engineer (PE). Most PE
are IEM members.
3.
The Association of Consulting Engineers, Malaysia (ACEM), is a nonprofit organisation comprising of Consulting Engineers. Its objective is to
promote the interest of Consulting Engineering as a profession.
All the three bodies have their own Code of Ethics designed too suit their
specific requirement according to the objectives of each body constituted.
In today's specialised technologically based society there is a great dependence
on the sound judgment and integrity of the professional engineer. The further
development of civilisation, the conservation and management of natural
resources, and the improvement of the standards of living of mankind are greatly
affected by the work of the engineer. For that work to be fully effective it is
necessary not only that engineers strive constantly to widen their knowledge and
improve their skill but also that the community be willing to recognise the integrity
and trust the judgment of members of the profession of engineering. For this to
happen the profession must be recognised in the community for:
 its skill in using technical expertise for the enhancement of human welfare;
 its loyalty to the community, to employers and clients;
 its honesty and impartiality in professional practice.
Because of the importance on these matters the Institution has a Code of Ethics.
The preamble to the Code states:
... members are required to order their conduct in accordance with the
principle that, in any conflict between a member's personal interest and
fair and honest dealing with other members of the Community, his duty to
the Community must prevail.
Codes of Engineering Ethics
 Primarily, a code of ethics provides a framework for
ethical judgement for a professional.
 No code can be totally comprehensive and cover all
possible ethical situations that a professional
engineer is likely encounter.
 Codes serve as a starting point for ethical decision
making.
 It is important to note that ethical codes do not
establish new ethical principles.
 A code also defines the roles and responsibilities of
professionals.




Engineers shall hold paramount the health, safety and welfare
of the public in the practice of their profession.
Engineers shall practice only in their areas of competence, in
a careful and diligent manner and in conformance with
standards, laws, codes, and rules and regulations applicable
to engineering practice.
Engineers shall examine the societal and environmental
impact of their actions and projects, including the wise use
and conservation of resources and energy, in order to make
informed recommendations and decisions.
Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective
and truthful manner. If representing a particular interest, the
engineer shall clearly identify that interest.



Engineers shall sign and take responsibility for all
engineering work which they prepare or directly
supervise.
Engineers shall act as faithful agents for their
employers or clients and maintain confidentiality;
they shall avoid conflicts of interest whenever
possible, disclosing unavoidable conflicts.
Engineers shall ensure that a client is aware of the
engineer's professional concerns regarding particular
actions or projects, and of the consequences of
engineering decisions or judgments that are
overruled or disregarded. An employee engineer shall
initially express those concerns to the employer.



Engineers shall appropriately report any public works,
engineering decisions, or practice that endanger the health,
safety and welfare of the public. When, in an engineer's
judgment, a significant risk to the public remains unresolved,
that engineer may ethically make the concerns known
publicly.
Engineers shall commit to life-long learning, strive to
advance the body of engineering knowledge and should
encourage other engineers to do likewise.
Engineers shall promote responsibility, commitment, and
ethics both in the education and practice phases of
engineering; they should enhance society's awareness of
engineers' responsibilities to the public and encourage the
communication of these principles of ethical conduct among
engineers
Issues in Engineering Ethical
Problems
 In general, there are theories that help us to frame
our understanding of the problem, but there are no
formulas and no easy 'plug-in' methods for reaching a
solution.
 Therefore, the first step in solving any ethical problem
is to completely understand all of the issues involved.
 Once these issues are determined, frequently a
solution to the problem becomes apparent.
 The issues can be divided into three categories:
factual, conceptual and moral.
Issues in Engineering Ethical
Problems (cont.)
 How can these controversies be resolved?



Factual issues can often be resolved through research
to establish the truth.
Conceptual issues are resolved by agreeing on the
meaning of terms and concepts.
Moral issues are resolved by agreement as to which
moral principles pertinent and how they should be
applied.
Professional Engineering
Ethics
 Confidentiality and Proprietary Information





Confidentiality is mentioned in most engineering
codes of ethics.
Why must some engineering information be kept
confidential?
Most information about how a business is run, its products and
its suppliers, directly affects the company's ability to compete in
the marketplace.
Such information can be used by a competitor to gain advantage
or to catch up.
Types of information should be kept confidential: test
results data; upcoming products; and designs or
formulas of products.
Professional Engineering
Ethics (cont.)
 Social-Contract Model

Engineering is service-oriented profession => to
further the public good (as described in the definition
of profession previously).
 Professional Societies As A Protector

Professional societies may use codes as a protector
rights of employees who are being pressured by their
employer to do something unethical or who are
accusing their employers of the government of
unethical conduct.
Whistle blowing
 Whistle blowing is the act by an employee of informing the public
of higher management of unethical or illegal behaviour by an
employer or supervisor.
 Types of whistle blowing:




Internal => when an employee goes over the head of an
immediate supervisor to report a problem to a higher level of
management.
External => when an employee goes outside the company and
reports wrong-doing to newspapers or law-enforcement
authorities.
Anonymous => when the employee who is blowing the whistle
refuses to divulge his name when making accusations.
Acknowledge => when the employee puts his name behind the
accusations and is willing to withstand the scrutiny brought on by
his accusations.
Whistle blowing
 When should whistle blowing be attempted?




Need: There must be a clear and important harm that
can be avoided by blowing the whistle.
Proximity: The whistleblower must be in a very clear
position to report on the problem.
Capability: The whistleblower must have a reasonable
chance of success in stopping the harmful activity.
Last resort: Whistle blowing should be attempted only if
there is no one else more capable or more proximate to
blow the whistle and if you feel that all other lines of
action within the context of the organization have been
explored and shut off.
 It is important for the whistleblower to understand his
motives before undertaking this step.
CONCLUSION
Engineering Ethics is the study of moral
decisions that must be made by engineers
in the course of engineering practise.
It is important for engineering students
to study ethics so that they will be
prepared to respond appropriately
to ethical challenges during their careers.