Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards and Ethics flashcards as text
An AEP is asked to conduct a 'rapid ergonomic audit' using a tool they have no training on. The ethical response is to:
Answer: Decline or obtain appropriate training before using the unfamiliar tool
Using assessment tools without adequate training risks inaccurate findings and violates the competence standard required by BCPE's Code of Ethics.
A client requests that an ergonomic consultant keep all findings strictly confidential, including from the workers whose jobs were assessed. Which ethical tension does this create?
Answer: Tension between client confidentiality and workers' right to safety information
Ergonomists owe duties to both clients and the public/workers; complete concealment of safety-relevant findings from affected workers may conflict with public safety obligations.
How does the concept of 'due diligence' apply to an AEP accepting a new project?
Answer: It requires assessing whether one has the competence and resources to perform the project adequately before accepting
Due diligence before accepting work ensures the ergonomist can deliver competent services, protecting both the client and the professional's integrity.
When an ergonomist's personal values conflict with a legal but ethically questionable client request, the preferred course of action is to:
Answer: Discuss the concern with the client and, if unresolved, consider withdrawing from the engagement
When legal work conflicts with professional ethics, ergonomists should first address concerns directly with the client and may ethically withdraw if the conflict cannot be resolved.
An AEP publishes an article citing research that they did not directly read, relying instead on a summary by another author. This practice is ethically problematic because:
Answer: It increases the risk of propagating errors from the secondary source
Citing secondary summaries without reading primary sources risks perpetuating errors or misrepresentations, undermining scientific accuracy and intellectual honesty.
Which of the following is an example of maintaining professional boundaries in an ergonomic consulting engagement?
Answer: Limiting recommendations to ergonomic solutions within one's area of expertise and referring medical concerns to appropriate clinicians
Professional boundaries require ergonomists to stay within their discipline and refer matters outside their expertise—such as medical diagnosis—to appropriate professionals.
What does 'evidence-based practice' require of an AEP when making ergonomic recommendations?
Answer: Grounding recommendations in current scientific research and validated ergonomic principles
Evidence-based practice requires that ergonomic recommendations be supported by current, credible scientific evidence rather than anecdote, tradition, or commercial influence.