Civil Engineering

Laws, Ethics, and

Contracts
01 – Ethics and Professionalism
What is Engineering Ethics?
• Ethics is synonymous with morality. It refers to
the moral values that are sound or reasonable,
actions, or policies that morally required (right),
morally permissible (all right) or morally
desirable (good).
• Ethics can be the activity of studying morality,
it studies which actions, goals, principles,
policies, and laws are morally justified.
• Engineering Ethics it consists of the
responsibilities and rights that ought to be
endorsed by those engaged in engineering.
• Engineering Ethics is the study of the
decisions, policies, and values that are
morally desirable in engineering practice and
research.
Moral Challenges for
Engineers

Lack of Vision

• This is in the form of tunnel vision

biased toward traditional pursuits
overlooks suitable alternatives, and
in the form of groupthink promotes
acceptance at the expense of
critical thinking.

Incompetence

• This is present among engineers

carrying out technical tasks.
Lack of Time

• Lack of time or Lack of

proper materials are both
ascribable to poor
management.

Silo Mentality

• Information are kept

compartmentalized rather
than shared across different
differements.
Safety Engineers

• A notion that there is

someone somewhere down
the line to catch potential
problems

Improper use

• Improper use or disposal of

the product by an unwary
owner or user.
Dishonesty

• Commonly occurs when

pressured by management
to take shortcuts

Inattention

• Inattention to how the

product is performing after
it is sold and when in use.
Scenario
A trusted supplier sends you a case of wine
each Christmas.

What will you do?

a) Keep it
b) Send a picture of it to your other suppliers to
demonstrate how you should be treated
c) Returning it explaining why you cannot
accept it
 Engineering tasks and Possible problem
TASKS A SELECTION OF POSSIBLE PROBLEM

Conceptual Design Blind to new concepts. Violation of Patents. Products to

be used illegally
Goals or Performance Specifications Unrealistic assumptions. Designs depends on
unavailable or untested material.
Simulation or Prototyping Testing of prototype done only under most favorable
conditions
Detailed Analysis Uncritical use of handbook data and computer
programs based on unidentified methodologies
Purchasing Specifications written to favor one vendor. Bribes,
kickbacks. Inadequate testing of purchased parts
Advertising and Sales False advertising. Product oversold beyond client’s
needs or means
Assembly or Construction Workplace Safety. Disregard of repetitive-motion stress
on workers. Poor control of toxic wastes
Why Study Engineering
Ethics?
• As an engineer, the direct aim is
to increase our ability to deal
effectively with moral
complexity in engineering.
The study of engineering ethics
strengthens our ability to
reason clearly and carefully
about moral questions.
• Moral Autonomy can be viewed
as the skill and habit of thinking
rationally about ethical issues
on the basis of moral concern
and commitment.
• Improving the ability to reflect
carefully on moral issue can be
accomplished by improving
various practical skill that will
help produce autonomous
thoughts about moral issue.
as related to engineering ethics,
these skills include the following:
• Moral Awareness
• Cogent Moral Reasoning
• Moral Coherence
• Moral Imagination
• Moral Communication
• Moral Reasonableness
• Respect for Person
• Tolerance of diversity
• Moral Hope
• Integrity
Moral Awareness

• Proficiency in recognizing moral

problems and issues in
engineering

Cogent Moral Reasoning

• Comprehending, Clarifying, and

assessing arguments on
opposing sides of moral issues.
Moral Coherence

• Forming consistent and comprehensive view-

points based on consideration of relevant
facts.

Moral Imagination

• Discerning alternative responses to moral

issues and finding creative solutions for
practical difficulties

Moral Communication

• Precision in use of a common ethical language,

a skill needed to express and support one’s
moral views adequately to others.
Moral Reasonableness

• The willingness and ability to be

morally reasonable

Respect for persons

• Genuine concern for the well-being

of the others as well as oneself

Tolerance of diversity

• Within a broad range, respect for

ethnic and religious differences and
acceptance of reasonable
differences in moral respectives
Moral Hope

• Enriched appreciation of the

possibilities of using rational
dialogue in resolving moral
conflicts

Integrity

• Maintaining moral integrity

and integrating one’s
professional life and personal
convictions.
Scenario
You have discovered an error in the
calculations that show a tall building
designed by your firm would be at serious
risk of collapse in a 50 year wind. The
building is complete and occupied. The
possibility exists of strengthening the
building but at very significant cost to your
firm.
What will you do?
a. Assess and conclude that the likelihood of a 50 year wind is
sufficiently remote and accordingly is not a practical risk?
b. Tell the client that the building and the surrounding area
should be evacuated until the building has been strengthened.
c. Discuss the problem with the client and your professional
indemnity insurers and agree to proceed with the
strengthening in as discreet manner as possible accepting the
financial consequences.
Responsible Professionals, Professions, and
Corporations
Moral Responsibility
is an idea that
applies to individual •Obligations
engineers, groups •Conscientious
of engineers, and
the corporations in •Accountable
which most
engineers do their •Blameworthy/Praiseworthy
work.
Obligations
• Responsibilities are
obligations type of actions
that are morally mandatory.

Conscientious
• By definition, it is the desire
to accomplish what is right or
to do one's work or duty
completely.
 “Responsible” becomes
Blameworthy/Praiseworthy
blameworthy or
praiseworthy depending
on the context.

Being responsible means

being morally accountable.
Accountable Wrongdoing takes in two
forms: Voluntary wrongdoing
and unintentional negligence
• Engineering as a Profession
1. Advance expertise – Profession require
sophisticated skills and theoretical
knowledge.
2. Self-regulation – Well-established
societies of professionals are allowed by
the public to play a major role in setting
standards for admission.
3. Public Good – The occupation serves
some important public good, or aspect of
the public good, and it does so by
making a concerted effort to maintain
high ethical standards.
Senses of Corporate
Responsibility
• Responsibilities also applies in a corporation,
1. Corporations have internal structures
consisting of policy manuals and flowcharts
assigning responsibilities to individuals
2. Corporations are also accountable to the
general public, to their employees and
customers, and to their stockholders.
3. Corporations manifest the virtue of
responsibility when they routinely meet their
obligations.
4. In aspects that accountability for wrongdoing
is at issue, responsible becomes a synonym
for blameworthy. In context where it is clear
that right conduct is at issue responsible is a
synonym for praiseworthy.
 • Introduction to Engineering Ethics by
M. Martin
References • Professional Ethics in Engineering by
W.Frey