Ethics and Professionalism

Merriam Webster Definitions

Engineering Ethical Standards

• Each engineering organization has its own set of ethical standards or canons.

• Overlap between organizations’ codes:– Do not mislead– Do not take bribes– Do not work in areas outside ones expertise– Avoid any conflict of interest

American Society of Civil EngineersFundamental Canons:

a. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable in the performance of their duties.

b. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.c. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.d. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful

agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.e. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services

and shall not compete unfairly with others.f. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,

integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.

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

American Society of Mechanical EngineersThe Fundamental Canons:

• Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.

• Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.• Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their

careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional and ethical development of those engineers under their supervision.

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

• Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

• Engineers shall associate only with reputable persons or organizations.• Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful

manner.• Engineers shall consider environmental impact in the performance of their

professional duties.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)We do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and

agree:1. to accept responsibility in making decisions consistent with the safety, health and

welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;4. to reject bribery in all its forms;5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.

What else might be considered unprofessional?

• Not shaking hands with people you meet• Not standing up when people you respect enter the room• Chewing gum while talking to clients• Yawning, spitting• Obviously not listening during meetings• Missing appointments or showing up late for meetings• Lying or white lies told for your convenience• Cutting safety corners to save money and/or time• Rushing to meet a deadline when there is evidence of

unresolved safety issues.• Doing what the boss says when you know it is wrong• Breaking the law

Where do students learn to behave in a professional manner?

• Parents?• Teachers?• Role-Models?• Employers?• Clergy?• Clients?• Special Classes?

Why be Professional and follow ethical codes?

• Promote public welfare *

• Protect the environment• Provides a clear definition of

what is to be expected from responsible engineers *

• To gain Trust• To avoid legal problems

* the most important

Case Study #1

Kansas City Hyatt walkway collapse, July 1981– 114 dead, 200 injured

How it should have been constructed

Case Study #2

Union Carbide Chemical Plant leak, December 1984 – 2,000 dead and 200,000 injured

Case Study #3

Proctor and Gamble’s Rely Tampon, 1980 (After 20 years of development)

- 40 dead, 942 sick- Rely was unique: it used

carboxymethylcellulose and compressed beads of polyester for absorptionhttp://brandfailures.blogspot.com/2006/12/brand-pr-failures-rely-tampons.html

Carboxymethylcellulose has features which effectively filter the toxins of Staphylococcus which cause TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome)

Rely was designed to hold 20X its own weight, hold more fluid, and not leak.Many women loved RelyMany women did not change their tampon because the tampon was so absorbent.

Case Study #4

Space Shuttle Challenger, January 1986

- Seven dead

A combustion gas leak through the right Solid Rocket Motor aft field joint initiated at or shortly after ignition eventually weakened and/or penetrated the External Tank initiating vehicle structural break-up and loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger during STS Mission 51-L.

In-Class Problems

• 15.2 (page 412)• 15.10 (page 414)• 15.6 (page 413)• 15.3 (page 412)