1. Engineering Ethics

2. Ethics, Morals, and the Law
Principles of right and wrong
Ethics
A set of moral principles guiding behavior and action
Laws
Binding codes of conduct; formally recognized and enforced
Company Policies
Unethical
Ethical
Legal
Illegal
Unethical but Legal
Ethical but Illegal

3. What is Engineering Ethics*
The study of the moral issues and decisions confronting individuals and organizations engaged in engineering
The study of related questions about the moral ideals, character, policies, and relationships of people and corporations involved in technological activity.
* from Martin. M. & Schinzinger, R. Ethics in Engineering (3rd Ed.) (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996, pp. 2-3.

4. Examples of Engineering Codes of Ethics
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

5. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics - 1
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

6. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics - 2
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Perform services only in areas of their competence.

7. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics - 3
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

8. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics -4
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

9. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics - 5
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Avoid deceptive acts.

10. NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics - 6
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully, so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

11. Two Objectives of Engineering Ethics
The main objectives of the engineering code of ethics are to:
(i) protect the public
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
(ii) protect and further develop the profession
to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist

12. Products and processes have consequences for society:
If the bridge has an inadequate support, it will fail.
If the gas tank is positioned too close to the bumper, it might explode from a small accident.
If the process for recycling bottles produces too much pollution, then it is counterproductive.
If the process for refining gas produces too much toxins, it harms the local community.

13. Typical Ethical Issues that Engineers Encounter
Safety
Acceptable risk
Compliance
Confidentiality
Environmental health
Data integrity
Conflict of interest
Honesty/Dishonesty
Societal impact
Fairness
Accounting for uncertainty

14. What Should You Do?
You are supervising a product with specifications that only U.S. made parts may be used.
Late in the project you discover a sub-contractor has supplied a part with foreign-made bolts.
They aren’t very noticeable and would function identically to U.S.-made bolts.
Your customer urgently needs the finished product.

15. Should you:
Say nothing and deliver the product with the foreign bolts, hoping the customer won’t notice.
Find some roughly equivalent violation of the contract/specs for which the customer is responsible and tell them you will ignore their violation if they ignore yours.
Tell the customer about the problem, and let them decide what you should do next.
Find legal loopholes in the original specifications so that your company doesn’t appear to have violated the specs.

16. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees
C (tell the customer) allows the customer to decide what is in their best interest given new information.
This may be tough, because your job may be on the line and your company’s reputation may be at stake.
Avoid deceptive acts
Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees

17. Ethics Case Study – Bridge Collapse
Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse in 1940.
The bridge was only 4 months old at the time of collapse
Caused by gale force winds and a phenomenon called aeroelastic flutter.
Prior to the collapse, the bridge was known as "Galloping Gertie," due to the movement it was known to have during winds, but at the time, it was unknown that a collapse could occur.
I-35 bridge in Minneapolis in 2007 during rush hour.
13 people were killed and 145 injured as a result.
At the time the bridge was 40 years old.
Collapse occurred due to corrosion, poor welds, and bridge maintenance.
It had been deemed "structurally deficient" in a 1990 inspection, and again in It was scheduled for replacement in 2020.

18. Group Assignment Collaborate within your assigned group
Read only one section of your scenario at a time.
After reading a section, write a detailed response, including justification of your decisions
Explain why these decisions might be difficult.
Write all team members’ names on your assignment and turn in.