Engineering Ethics

Question 1

What is ABET and what do they do?

Answer 1

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

ABET is a non-profit and non-governmental accrediting agency for academic programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET is a recognised accreditor in the United States by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Question 2

What is the difference between a profession and a trade?

Answer 2

A profession is a vocation founded upon specialised
educational training, the purpose of which is to supply counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation

Question 3

What is the status symbol of being in a profession?

Answer 3

Professions enjoy a high social status, regard and esteem conferred upon them by society

Question 4

A profession is a group that …

Answer 4

• claims special knowledge or expertise

* warrants special privileges and trust from the public

Question 5

What is a Professional Engineer?

Answer 5

➢ Has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited school
➢ Performs engineering work
➢ Is a registered P.E. or given authority to certify work carried out
➢ Acts in a morally responsible way while practicing engineering

Question 6

Ethics is part of engineering for two main reasons, what are the two reasons?

Answer 6

➢ Engineers need to be socially responsible when building
products and processes for society. Social Responsibility
requires taking into consideration the needs of society.
➢ Social responsibility requires professional
responsibility (duties and obligations on us individually).

Question 7

What are the technical and ethical responsibilities of Engineers?

Answer 7

Most of an engineer’s education focuses on technical
matters, that is “how to do things right”, and most of
engineer’s professional practice is devoted to applying this technical knowledge in service to the need of society.
However, another important element of both education and practice involves ethics, or “how to do the right thing”.

Question 8

What is etiquette

Answer 8

➢ Rules of acceptable personal behaviour and courtesy
when interacting with others in a social setting.
➢ Table manner, dress codes, seating arrangements,
party manner
➢ Violation doesn’t cause jail term, but can hurt professionalism

Question 9

What is law

Answer 9

➢ A system of rules and punishments clearly defined and
established by a society to maintain a safe and orderly
social environment
➢ Established by authority, society, or custom
➢ Violations carry penalties
➢ Could be arbitrary, such as drinking age
➢ Legal rights are “just claims” given to all human within
a government jurisdiction, and/or by constitution

Question 10

What is morality

Answer 10

➢ Personal rules of right and wrong behaviour derived
from a person’s upbringing, religious beliefs, and
societal influences
➢ Cultural or religious; gambling, alcohol, meat, coffee,
cigarette, etc immoral?
➢ Morality – making choices with reasons (Ethics – the
study of HOW the choices are made)

Question 11

What is ethics

Answer 11

➢ A code or system of rules defining moral behaviour for a particular society.
➢ Ethics is the study of the morality of human actions.
➢ Professional ethics guide the conduct of a professional.
➢ Most professional societies have written codes of
ethics.
➢ One requires strength of character to behave in an
ethical manner.

Question 12

Ethical Problems are …

Answer 12

➢ Ethical problems are open-ended and there is no formula for an
answer
➢ These problems rarely have a correct answer that will be arrived
to by EVERYONE
➢ However, these problems are similar to Engineering Design

Question 13

Who decides Professional Ethics?

Answer 13

➢ Standards adopted by professional community and
established companies
➢ USA NSPE, Singapore Professional Engineers Board, etc

Case studies usually used to set examples

Question 14

What are the PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS (CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICS) RULES

Answer 14

A set of rules relating to the code of professional conduct and ethics that applies to a registered professional engineer, licensed corporation or partnership

Question 15

Who is the Singapore Professional Engineers Board

Answer 15

A PE is governed mainly by the PE Act, the PE Rules as well as the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.
When you become a PEB Board member, the PE Board Rules also apply to you.

Question 16

What is the professional engineers act?

Answer 16

An Act to establish the Professional Engineers Board, to provide for the registration of professional engineers, to regulate the qualifications and conduct of professional engineers and to regulate corporations, partnerships limited liability which supply professional engineering services

Question 17

What are the two responsibilities of professional engineers?

Answer 17

➢Engage in PE work
If you want to engage in PE work you must be a registered PE
➢ Supply PE services
If you want to supply or offer to supply PE services as an individual, you must be a registered PE on your own or as partner in a partnership ( licensed partnership, LLP or partnership of all PEs)

Question 18

How do you register to be a professional engineer?

Answer 18

1. Qualification
2. Experience
3. Examinations
4. Interview

Hold an approved degree or qualification

4 Years of relevant practical experience

a. Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FEE)
b. Professional Practice Exams (PPE)

Question 19

What is the FEE exam?

Answer 19

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam FEE

Which tests the applicant’s knowledge of fundamental engineering subjects in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering

Question 20

What is the Professional Practice Examination PPE

Answer 20

Professional Practice Examination PPE

1. Ability to apply knowledge and experience in professional engineering practice.
2. Knowledge of the rules and regulations in the practice of professional engineering in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering.

Question 21

What is the PPE Examination – Common Paper

Answer 21

This is a common paper which has 6 questions comprising:
• 1 on the Professional Engineers Act and
• 5 on Professional Conduct and Ethics

Candidates are required to answer 4 questions during the 2- hour examination period. The candidates must answer the only question on the Professional Engineers Act which is compulsory and can choose to answer 3 out of the 5 questions on Professional Conduct and Ethics

Question 22

USA National Society of Professional Engineers
What are the NSPE Code of Ethics / fundamental principles?

(there are 6)

Answer 22

1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competency
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful
   manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and
   trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honourably, responsibly, ethically
   and lawfully so as to enhance the honour, reputation
   and usefulness of the profession.

Question 23

What is the Paramountcy Principle?

Answer 23

NSPE Code of Ethics
Engineers, in the fulfilment of their professional duties, shall: Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public

ABET Code of Ethics for Engineers
Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.

Question 24

What role does public interest play in engineering ethics?

Answer 24

This means that an engineer must hold paramount the
safety, health and welfare of the public.

This principle overrides all other considerations.

Much of the work in the construction industry, especially
heavy construction work, carry risks to public safety,
health and welfare.

Laws and regulations are put in place to minimise these
risks.

Question 25

Why is conscience not Enough?

Answer 25

The code is to protect each professional from certain
pressures (for example, the pressure to cut corners to save money) by making it reasonably likely (and more likely than otherwise) that most other members of the profession will resist those pressures, too.

A code prevents the engineer from acting to serve
➢ His/her self-interest
➢ Her/his selfless devotion to employer’s self-interest

Question 26

Case 1 : Ford Pinto

What happened? And who was held responsible?

Answer 26

➢ On August 10, 1978, a Ford Pinto was hit (25 mph)
from behind on a highway in Indiana. The impact of
the collision caused the Pinto’s fuel tank to rupture
and burst into flames, leading to the deaths of three
teenage girls riding the car.
➢ Ford was charged in a criminal court for the deaths of
the passengers and found negligent.
➢ The gas tank design was flawed and was not in line
with accepted engineering standards, even though it
did meet applicable federal safety standards at the
time.

➢ Ford engineers were aware of the dangers of this design. Following crash tests, the conclusion was that the rear end structure was not satisfactory.
➢ Ford figured they would kill 180 people with the pinto,
which would cost them 49.5 million dollars.

➢ Suggested changes would have cost about $11 per car (12.5 million cars = $137 million). A confidential company memo directed that the safety features not be adopted at that time until required by law.
➢ Management concerned with getting the Pinto to market rapidly at a price competitive with others, had constrained the engineers to use the design.

Question 27

What was the dilemma faced by the ford engineers in case 1?

Answer 27

The dilemma faced by the design engineers who worked on the Pinto was to balance
➢ the safety of the people who would be riding the car
against
➢ the need to produce the Pinto at a price that would be
competitive in the market.

They had to attempt to balance
➢ their duty to the public against
➢ their duty to their employer

Question 28

Case 2 : Therac-25

What happened?

Answer 28

Radiation therapy machine in use from 1982-
➢ Software (computer) controlled, few hardware safety
interlocks
• Multiple design errors and safety mechanism failures
➢ One related to arithmetic overflow, which disabled safety interlock
• Led to at least 6 radiation overdoses, 3 patients died

Conclusions
• Insufficient resources to develop software (1 engineer)
• Insufficient testing, inappropriate reuse of prev-gen control software
• Initial denial, slow reaction to reports of problems

Question 29

What are the area of competence of engineers?

Answer 29

➢ An engineer should offer services, advice or undertake professional assignments only in their areas of competence.
➢ This includes exercising care and communicating clearly when accepting or interpreting assignments and when setting expected outcomes.
➢ It also includes the responsibility to call for and to obtain the services of a specialist or an expert if required. If a certain technique, tool or software to be used is questionable, the experimental nature of the activity should be disclosed fully to all parties concerned.
➢ This requirement is not just about maintaining a proper standard of care, it actually involves honesty with one’s client or employer and oneself.

Question 30

What about signing plans, what should engineers do in this situation?

Answer 30

➢ Professional Engineer (PE) should therefore not sign
documents such as specifications, reports etc unless
he has actually prepared them or they are prepared
under his direct supervision.

➢ A professional engineer shall not sign any plans or
calculations that neither he nor any member of his
staff under his supervision verified, checked or
prepared. This is clearly stated in the Professional
Engineers ( Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics)
Rules.

Question 31

Who is considered a qualified person?

Answer 31

This means that Singapore’s building control regime makes the basic assumption that a professional engineer acting as a Qualified Person, can be relied upon for his
professional integrity and for his commitment to protect
public interest and safety

Question 32

Case 3 : Hotel New World Disaster, 15 Mar 1986

What happened?

Answer 32

➢ Originally Lian Yak Building, previously known as New
Serangoon Hotel. Built in 1971
➢ 36 reinforced concrete columns supporting 6 concrete floors
➢ 33 deaths, 17 survivors

Question 33

What should engineers do about conflicts of interest?

Answer 33

Engineers shall disclose all known or potential
conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to
influence their judgment or the quality of their
services.

Question 34

Should engineers accept compensations or bribes?

Answer 34

Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or
otherwise, from more than one party for services on
the same project, or for services pertaining to the
same project.

Question 35

What is a conflict of interest for engineers?

Answer 35

A situation in which an engineer’s loyalties and

obligations may be compromised because of self-interest or other loyalties and obligations

Question 36

What are the deceptive acts that engineers may commit?

Answer 36

1. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit
   misrepresentation of their or their associates’ qualifications.
2. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit or receive, either directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the public as having the effect of intent to influencing the awarding of a contract. They shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in order to secure work.
3. An ethical engineer should never attempt to deliberately deceive the customer/client

Question 37

What is the role of trust with professional engineers?

Answer 37

This trust bestows an honour and privileges on the
professional engineer but at the same time, it also
imposes legal and professional responsibilities on the
professional engineer.

Question 38

What is whistle blowing? And when should it be used?

Answer 38

“Whistle-blowing” - the act of one who, believing that the
public interest overrides the interest of the organisation
he serves, publicly “blows the whistle” if the organisation
is involved in corrupt, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful
activity.

Always the LAST RESORT, it indicates serious corporate
culture problems.

Question 39

What are some problems that may warrant whistle blowing?

Answer 39

➢Incompetence
➢Criminal Behaviour
➢Unethical Policies
➢Threat to Public Safety or environment
➢Injustices to Workers

Question 40

What are the two types of whistle blowing?

Answer 40

Internal Whistle-Blowing
➢ When an individual advocates beliefs or revelations within the organisation.

External Whistle-Blowing
➢ When and individual advocates beliefs or revelations outside the organidation (proper authorities, media)

Question 41

What are some laws protecting whistle blowers?

Answer 41

U.K. Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

Protected disclosures:
➢ making a qualifying disclosure made to the
employer or through internal procedures, a
prescribed person, a legal adviser or a Minister
➢ making a qualifying disclosure about an
exceptionally serious failure
➢ making a qualifying disclosure more generally
➢ disclosure about health and safety matters

Question 42

Moral Guidelines to External Whistle-Blowing. When is it morally permissible for employees to whistle blow?

Answer 42

1. If the harm that will be done by the product to the public is serious and considerable
2. If they make their concerns known to their superiors
3. If getting no satisfaction from their immediate superiors, they exhaust the channels available within the corporation, including going to the board
   of directors.
4. They must have documented evidence that would convince a reasonable, impartial observer that their view of the situation is correct and the company policy wrong.

Internal whistle blowing before external whistle blowing