Ethics and Professional Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real EIT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Professional Practice flashcards as text
An engineer discovers that a colleague falsified test data in a submitted report. What is the engineer's primary ethical obligation?
Answer: Report the falsification to the appropriate authority or supervisor
Engineers are obligated to report known violations of ethical standards, including data falsification, to protect public safety and professional integrity.
A licensed PE signs and seals drawings prepared entirely by an engineer not under their supervision. This practice is known as:
Answer: Plan stamping
Plan stamping (or rubber stamping) is the unethical practice of sealing documents the engineer did not prepare or supervise, violating licensing laws.
Which of the following best describes 'responsible charge' as it applies to professional engineering?
Answer: Direct control and personal supervision of engineering work
Responsible charge means direct control and personal supervision over engineering decisions, not just reviewing finished work.
An engineer is asked to provide an expert opinion in a legal case outside their area of expertise. The ethical course of action is to:
Answer: Decline and refer the attorney to a qualified expert
Engineers should only express professional opinions in areas where they are competent, and should decline engagements outside their expertise.
Under the NSPE Code of Ethics, an engineer's loyalty to an employer:
Answer: Is subordinate to the engineer's duty to protect public safety
The NSPE Code explicitly states that engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, which takes precedence over employer loyalty.
A firm offers an engineer a significant bonus if a project is completed two weeks early, requiring them to skip certain safety inspections. The engineer should:
Answer: Decline and insist on completing all required safety inspections
Financial incentives do not justify bypassing safety inspections; engineers must uphold safety standards regardless of economic pressure.
When an engineer signs a contract that includes a clause requiring them to indemnify the client for all damages regardless of fault, the ethical concern is:
Answer: It may compromise the engineer's independent professional judgment
Open-ended indemnity clauses can pressure engineers to avoid raising safety concerns for fear of financial liability, compromising their independent judgment.