Chapter 2

Ethics in Engineering
Notes for Tutorials
(C3-Application
C4-Analysing)
 ETHICS IN ENGINEERING

SUB- TOPIC
2.2 Code of Professional Conduct - (C3)
a) Explain the 5 tenets code of professional conduct.
b) Explain codes of professional conduct in
engineering as stipulated in the BEM document.
(Do’s and Don’ts)

2.3 Sustainable Development - (C4)

a) Define sustainability.
b) Explain sustainability based on Brundtland
Commission.
c) Explain the types of Sustainable Development.
d) Describe the importance of sustainability.
e) Determine how sustainability is important in any
engineering projects.
 2.2 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
a) Explain the 5 tenets code of professional conduct.

THE 5 TENETS ENGINEERING CODE OF ETHICS

1. Engineer shall at all times hold paramount of the

safety, health and welfare of the public.
2. Engineer shall perform their services only in the area
of their competence.
3. Engineer shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner.
 CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

THE 5 TENETS ENGINEERING CODE OF ETHICS (contd..)

4. Engineer shall act for each employer of clients as

faithful agent or trustee.
5. Engineer shall conduct himself honourably,
responsibly, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the
honour, reputation and usefulness of the profession.
Engineer shall at all times hold paramount of the safety,
health and welfare of the public

1. If an engineer judgment is overruled under circumstances

that endanger life or property, they shall notify their
employer or client and such other authority as may be
appropriate.
2. Engineers shall approve only those engineering
documents that are in conformity with applicable
standards.
3. Engineers shall not reveal facts, data or information
without the prior consent of the client or employer except
as authorized or required by law or this Code.
Engineer shall at all times hold paramount of the safety,
health and welfare of the public (continued...)

4. Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or

associate in business ventures with any person or firm
that they believe are engaged in dishonest enterprise.

5. Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice of

engineering by a person or firm.

6. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of

this Code shall report thereon to appropriate professional
bodies and cooperate with the proper authorities in
furnishing such information or assistance as may be
required.
Engineer shall perform their services only in the area of
their competence

1. Engineers shall undertake assignments only when qualified by

education or experience in the specific technical fields
involved.

2. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or

documents dealing with subject matter in which they lack
competence, nor to any plan or document not prepared under
their direction and control.

3. Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility

for coordination of an entire project and sign and seal the
engineering documents for the entire project, provided that
each technical segment is signed and sealed only by the
qualified engineers who prepared the segment.
Engineer shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner

1. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional

reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all
relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements,
or testimony, which should bear the date indicating when it
was current.
2. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are
founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the
subject matter.
3. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments
on technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested
parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly
identifying the interested parties on whose behalf they are
speaking, and by revealing the existence of any interest the
engineers may have in the matters.
Engineer shall act for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees

1. 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.
2. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or
otherwise, from more than one party for services on the
same project, unless the circumstances are fully
disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.
3. Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other
valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside
agents in connection with the work for which they are
responsible.
Engineer shall act for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees (continued...)

4. Engineers in public service as members or employees of

a governmental body or department shall not participate
in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided
by them or their organizations in private or public
engineering practice.

5. Engineers shall not accept a contract from a

governmental body on which a principal or officer of their
organization serves as a member.
Engineer shall conduct himself honourably, responsibly,
ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honour, reputation
and usefulness of the profession.

1. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit

misrepresentation of their or their associates' qualifications.
They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility
in or for the subject matter of prior assignments.

2. Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of

employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning
employers, employees, or past accomplishments.
Engineer shall conduct himself honourably, responsibly,
ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honour, reputation
and usefulness of the profession (continued...)

3. Engineers shall not offer, 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.

4. They shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in

order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission,
percentage, or brokerage fee in order to secure work.
2.2 Code of Professional Conduct
b) Explain codes of professional conduct in engineering as
stipulated in the BEM document. (Do’s and Don’ts)

❖ An engineer is expected to uphold the integrity of the

profession by behaving in a manner expected of him in the
Code of Conduct of Engineers.
B.E.M. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT (DO’s)
1. An engineer must be conversant with the Code of Conduct of
Engineers.

2. An engineer must understand the need for responsibility and

liability as stipulated in the Code of Conduct.

3. An engineer must respond promptly to complaints and

enquiries by clients /authorities. 13
 B.E.M. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
B.E.M. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT(DONT’s)
1. An engineer should not solicit/ tout.

2. An engineer should not knowingly mislead the public by

giving misrepresented information so as to gain
commercial advantage/mileage.

3. An engineer should not respond to an open advertisement

to bid for provision of professional service if such provision
for the service requires bidding fees or equivalent as is
usually imposed on contractors.

4. An engineer should avoid favoritism among vendors and

other suppliers.
14
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGISTRATION

1. Under the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Act 138)

and subsequent amendments, it is a requirement of the
Law that any person providing engineering services be a
qualified person and registered with the Board of
Engineers Malaysia.

2. This requirement extends to foreigners who are required to

seek registration as Temporary Engineers.

3. The Do’s and Dont’s below relate to the requirement of

this Act.

15
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s

LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s of BEM

1. Registration

2. Consultancy

3. Supervision

4. Regulatory requirements

5. Code of Ethics

16
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGISTRATION (DO’s)

1. An engineering graduate with accredited engineering

degree must register with the Board of Engineers to take
up employment as an engineer

REGISTRATION (DONT’s)

1. An engineer should not be the Submitting Person for

designs beyond his/her area of competency

2. An engineer should not endorse his PE Stamp and sign on

reports or plans not prepared by him.

17
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGISTRATION (DONT’s) – (continued…)

3. An Engineering Consultancy Practice should not provide

professional services in any branch of engineering where
none of its directors are registered to practise in that
branch of engineering.

4. An engineer must not practise in the branch of engineering

he is not registered in.

5. An engineer should not enter into partnership with any

party not permitted under the Engineers Act.

18
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
CONSULTANCY

❖ An engineer should be transparent and receptive to peer

review or checking of his work if requested/required by the
client/authorities.

CONSULTANCY (DO’s)

1. A checker engineer must be open to the views and design

concept of the original designer and in areas of
disagreement, the checker must give justification for his
disagreement.

2. A checker engineer should take full responsibility for the

checking of the work himself.

19
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
CONSULTANCY (DO’s)
3. An engineer should undertake continuing professional
development to enhance his knowledge and capability.
4. An employer engineer should ensure that his employee
engineers are bona fide engineers registered with BEM.
5. An engineer should report unethical practice to BEM.
6. An engineer who is a Submitting Person must ensure the
accuracy of and be responsible for all works delegated to
others by him.
7. An engineer should make optimum use of manpower,
materials and money.
8. An engineer should be aware of Government requirement to
use local materials, wherever possible. 20
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
CONSULTANCY (DONT’s)
1. A checker engineer should not accept checking of work
not within his area of competency as well as work that he
is not
2. familiar with.
3. An engineering consultant should not carry out projects for
fees below the minimum outlined in the scale of fees.
4. An engineer should not endorse any work not performed
and/or supervised by him.
5. An engineer should not supplant another engineer.
6. An engineer should not compromise on public safety.

21
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
CONSULTANCY (DONT’s)
7. An engineer should not offer his opinion on engineering
matters unless he has full facts to support the opinion.
8. An engineer should not base his design on
unsubstantiated data, for example designing foundation
without soil investigation.
9. An engineer should not have any conflict of interest
whatsoever in connection with the work he is undertaking
unless prior approval from BEM and client are obtained.
10. An engineer should not accept work outside his regular
work without the expressed permission of his employer.

22
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
SUPERVISION

1. The supervision of works designed by the Submitting

Engineer is a requirement under the Uniform Building By-
Law 5 (UBBL 5).

2. This By- Law states that supervision must be provided by the

Submitting Engineer to ensure that the works carried out are
as intended in the design.

3. Delegation of supervision is permitted but the responsibility

of this supervision still rests with the Submitting Engineer.

23
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
SUPERVISION (DO’s)

1. An engineer who is the Submitting Person should be

responsible for the project regardless of whether it is
self-supervised and/or delegated supervision.

2. An engineer must be meticulously proper and correct in

certification of works.

3. An engineer must be familiar with and knowledgeable in

the work he is to supervise.

24
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
SUPERVISION (DO’s)

4. An employer engineer shall ensure that his staff

undergoes regular and proper skills-training.

5. An engineer supervising a project shall keep proper

records of all documents and correspondence
pertaining to the project.

6. An engineer must be conversant with time and cost

implications in the issuance of any instruction.

25
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
SUPERVISION (DONT’s)

1. An engineer must not over or under certify progress of

works.

2. An engineer must not make wrongful certifications.

3. An engineer must not certify work not within his expertise.

4. An engineer must not accept site supervisory staff who are

not qualified or are incompetent.

5. An engineer must not delay approvals without justification.

6. An engineer must not intentionally delay inspection of

works.
26
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGULATORY REQUIREMENT

1. All engineers registered with the Board of Engineers

Malaysia must be familiar with the requirements of the
Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Act 138) and its
subsequent amendments.

2. Ignorance of the requirements of this Act is no defense

in the Courts of Law in Malaysia.

27
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGULATORY REQUIREMENT (DO’s)

1. An engineer should notify the relevant authorities (within

reasonable/statutory time limit) on changes in designs
or withdrawal of services.
2. An engineer should submit completed forms in time for
inspection and approval for Certificate of Fitness /
Certificate of Completion and Compliance.
3. An engineer should be aware of environmental, health
and safety matters during and after construction.
4. An engineer should ensure that environmental, health
and safety measures are implemented as per drawings
and specifications. 28
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s
REGULATORY REQUIREMENT (DONT’s)

1. An engineer should not allow works to proceed before

plans are submitted to and/or approved by the relevant
authorities.

2. An engineer should not undertake a project for which

the client is not going to fulfill statutory requirements.

29
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s

CODE OF ETHICS

All engineers are expected to uphold the integrity of the

profession by behaving in a manner expected of him in the
Code of Engineers
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s

CODE OF ETHICS (DO’s)

• An engineer must be conversant with the Code of Conduct of
Engineers.
• An engineer must understand the need for responsibility and
liability as stipulated in the Code of Conduct.
• An engineer must respond promptly to complaints and
equiries by clients / authorities.
 BEM LIST OF DO’s & DONT’s

CODE OF ETHICS (DONT’s)

• An engineer should not solicit / tout
• An engineer should not knowingly mislead the public by giving
misrepresented information so as to gain commercial
advantage / mileage.
• An engineer should not respond to an open advertisement to
bid for provision of professional service if such provision for
the service requires bidding fees or equivalent as is usually
imposed on contactors.
• An engineer should avoid favoritism among vendors and other
suppliers.
 2.3 Sustainable Development
a) Define sustainability.

"Sustainable development is development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within
it two key concepts:

The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of

the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;

and

The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology

and social organization on the environment's ability to meet
present and future needs."
2.3 Sustainable Development
b) Explain sustainability based on Brundtland
Commission.

By the Brundtland Commission.

Sustainable development is the kind of development

that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.

34
 OTHER DEFINITION ABOUT
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ?

"Sustainable development is development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within
it two key concepts:

The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of

the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;

and

The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology

and social organization on the environment's ability to meet
present and future needs."
 In other word
•Sustainability could be defined as an ability or
capacity of something to be maintained or to
sustain itself.
•It's about taking what we need to live now, without
jeopardising the potential for people in the future to
meet their needs.
•If an activity is said to be sustainable, it should be
able to continue forever
SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES

• Meet human needs fairly & efficiently.

• Effective protection of the environment.

• Prudent use of natural resources.

• Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, underground

metals, and minerals.

• Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemicals and other

unnatural substances.

• Maintenance of high & stable levels of economic growth &

employment.
37
 Strategic Responses to Sustainability
• Waste elimination & reduction: zero waste
• Reduction of toxic dispersion: zero emissions
• Enhanced resource productivity: Factor 10
• Clean production processes, technologies & products.
• Increased energy efficiency.
• Closed loops: reuse. Remanufacturing, recycling
• Eco-design
• Extended product durability, functionality, flexibility.

38
 2.3 Sustainable Development
c) Explain the types of Sustainable Development.

• Types of Sustainability / Human

• Types of Sustainability / Economic

• Types of Sustainability / Social

• Types of Sustainability / Environmental

Types of Sustainability / Human

•The very basic need of human sustainability is good

reproductive health and safe childbearing.
•Those that reproduce have the responsibility of caring for
their children, giving them access to proper education, and
promoting their health and wellness.
Types of Sustainability / Human cont…

•At some point, the children should have enough skills and
knowledge such that they can sustain their own way of life.
•It is at that point that they become considered as
productive human capital as well as individuals that can go
through the process of reproduction and rearing.
•As long as this process is maintained at a rate that all
human systems can support, human sustainability should
be no cause for concern.
Types of Sustainability / Economic

•In simple terms, economic sustainability is having a set

amount of capital for a certain period.

•Those who consume that capital must also conserve it so

that they will continue to enjoy it towards the end of the
specified period.

•This means that we must preserve all our resources as

we consume them so that human beings in the future can
enjoy them as well.

•To achieve this, we must regenerate our resources at a

rate that is equal to or faster than our consumption.
Types of Sustainability / Social
•Social capital is an important aspect of sustainability
because it is through communities and civil societies that
humankind can easily and inexpensively work together.

•Without proper levels of social capital, it can easily

deplete and violence as well as mistrust can take over.

•When that happens, societies and everything else that

depends on them will be destroyed.

•Through proper maintenance of and adherence to laws,

rules, and values that societies have developed for the
common good, social sustainability can be achieved.
Types of Sustainability / Environmental
•Environmental sustainability is important because it
involves natural resources that human beings need for
economic or manufactured capital.

•Materials taken from nature are used for solutions that

address human needs.

•If nature is depleted faster than it can regenerate, human

beings will be left without raw materials.
 • 2.3 Sustainable Development
• d) Describe the importance of sustainability.

IMPORTANT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Future Generation Depends Upon It
• All the choices that make today will affect everything in the future and need to
make sound decisions at present in order to avoid limiting the choices of
generations to come.

Environmental Resources Are Limited

• Knowledge the principles of sustainability to all aspects lives to ensure the
needs of current and future generations will continue to be met.
• It refers to whether or not we can maintain our current use of our resources
without running out.

Extinction Will Prevail

• In the past, the entire human population was small and civilizations had very
few needs. At that time the capacity of nature to regenerate was much higher
than the rate at which human beings used up resources.
2.3 Sustainable Development
e) Determine how sustainability is important in any engineering
projects.

Importance Of Sustainable Any Engineering Projects

• Sustainability can be defined as the ability of an ecosystem to
maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity
into the future.

• For humans to live sustainably, the Earth's resources must be used at

a rate at which they can be replenished.

• However, there is now clear scientific evidence that humanity is living

unsustainably due to poor human awareness of our world limited
resources.

46
Sustainable Engineering

• It is the process of designing or operating systems such that they use

energy and resources sustainably at a rate that does not compromise the
natural environment or the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
• Engineers should focus on processes rather than endpoints, as the
solutions to engineering problems will change over time as our
understanding improves because most engineers currently in practice
have not been effective in making progress on some of the world’s most
pressing problems.
• Sustainable Engineering is important so the world’s engineers can start
practice by making appropriate engineering decisions.