Ethical guideline for engineers
1. Are engineers interested in ethics?
Anyone, whether individually or as a group, who openly discusses his or her ethical standards is often met with suspicion. Why should such discussion be necessary? Surely it is self-evident for people to live according to a certain code of honour? Surely it is only natural to try to act in a responsible way? Indeed, if it does not arouse the impression that the speaker has something to hide, it definitely sounds rather boastful : “Just see how good we are…” Personal ethics are not a topic of conversation.
However, the demands for ethical justification have never been more outspoken than nowadays. Political institutions, businesses and organisations are being questioned regarding their conduct and their attitudes. They have to be prepared to justify themselves at all times. In order to do so effectively, it is advisable to have pondered the issues beforehand.
Many people today no longer have an unequivocally positive perception of technology. Engineers, both individually and as a group, are being questioned regarding their conduct, since they are the technical experts by definition. Within this context and following the lead of other professional associations, it is advisable for an engineering society such as the K VIV to consider the ethical accountability of its members’ professional activities.
With its newly conceived “K VIV Ethical Guideline for Engineers”, the K VIV wishes to testify to its awareness of the role and responsibility of engineers in our society. It arose from a wave of self-reflection and invites engineers to consider the ethics of their own jobs from time to time.
This document is no mandatory code of conduct. It would be utterly misplaced or pretentious for the K VIV to try and dictate how its members should behave. Quite the contrary: true ethics demand the individual to take on his or her responsibility. One’s personal conscience is the ultimate authority to be accounted to.
The text has been composed around a set of ideals and because of this idealism will appear unrealistic to a majority of people. However, a code of ethics might very well consist of keeping one’s sights set on a number of ideals and trying to translate them in good conscience to actual real-life situations. At times this will mean that one ideal will have to be sacrificed for the other.
By testifying realistically to a number of ideals, the K VIV wishes to stress its belief in the value of ethical conduct whilst expressing understanding for situations where one is obliged to choose “the lesser evil”.../p>
By necessity, a document such as this must remain fairly general. It is impossible to draw up a complete and concrete survey of all the situations engineers could be confronted with. Besides, the diversity of actual jobs in which engineers are active is enormously wide. It will remain up to everyone to interpret these guidelines to their individual situations. Let us hope that this can occur in consultation with colleagues, other co-workers and parties involved. Perhaps in the future, by making a compilation of its members’ actual experiences and testimonies, the K VIV could offer more concrete support to those who still believe in the future of ethic...
2. Ethical guideline for engineers
Science, technology and society
The judicious application of science and technology helps to ensure our society’s survival and to improve its citizens’ quality of life. By participating in this effort, engineers render a service to their fellow men.
In this role, engineers design, manufacture or operate a.o. products, processes and systems, infrastructures, buildings and industrial plants. To this end, engineers continually qualify themselves in the developments and applications of science and technology. They may act as consultants or tutors in this capacity, or hold an executive post. They perform these tasks with the necessary team spirit and sociable behaviour.Responsibility
During the course of their duties, engineers take full responsibility for their personal decisions – as an individual, in a group, as members of a professional team and as members of society.Integrity
Engineers make an honest assessment of their own talents. Engineers strive to establish loyal relationships. Engineers report conflicts of interest to the parties involved. Engineers respect confidentiality of information, provided that this does not lead to general injustice.Openness
Engineers are prepared to listen and can accept fair criticism of their opinions and of the techniques they employ in the course of their work.
Engineers recognise the importance of multidisciplinary co-operation and value the contributions by other professional teams.
Engineers admit and correct their mistakes.Reasonableness
Engineers are well aware of the influence exerted by their professional activities and therefore act with due caution. This entails giving priority to the mental and physical integrity of all those involved and to technology on a human scale.Public-spiritedness
Technological developments emanate from the actions of the entire society.
Engineers actively participate in this process of raising awareness. This implies that they explain the diverse aspects of any technology or technique, that they point out the possible risks and suggest possible solutions.
Engineers advocate that all social choices should be based on the most complete possible information and will voice their opinion at the opportune moment. This implies that they have the right to be heard and deserve protection if necessary.Engineers care for durability, not only with regard to their own work but also to the environment where their products end up and to the raw materials from which they were manufactured.
Engineers pro-actively formulate proposals to improve the quality of standards and regulations.
Engineers respect the different cultures to which they are exposed in the course of their working assignments. If possible, and if so desired by their environment, they will integrate themselves without however giving up their own identity.Collegiality
B a c k . . .
Engineers support colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and ethical behaviour, even while maintaining a healthy form of competition in the course of their job activities. They respect others’ discoveries as the latter’s intellectual property and recognise the essential value of their contributions.
Engineers are aware that they belong to a profession with a specific vocation. Their loyalty and collegiality stems from this conviction. They realise that the are personally responsible in upholding the reputation of their profession.