Ethics and Practice Flashcards

An engineer discovers that a colleague's sealed structural design contains a significant error that could lead to building collapse. The colleague is unavailable. What should the engineer do?

Answer: Report the error to the responsible authority to protect public safety

Engineers must prioritize public safety above professional courtesy, and reporting a dangerous error to the responsible authority is ethically required.

Under the NCEES Model Law, which of the following activities requires a PE license in most U.S. jurisdictions?

Answer: Signing and sealing construction documents for a public building

Signing and sealing (stamping) engineering documents for public projects is a licensed practice act that requires a PE in virtually all U.S. states.

An engineer employed by a consulting firm is asked by her employer to certify test results she did not personally supervise. She should:

Answer: Refuse to certify results she did not directly supervise or fully verify

Engineers may only certify work they have personally performed or directly supervised and verified; certifying unverified work violates ethical and legal standards.

A PE is offered a gift worth $500 from a contractor whose bid she is evaluating for a public client. The most ethical course of action is to:

Answer: Decline the gift and disclose the offer to her client

Accepting gifts from parties with a financial interest in the engineer's decision creates a conflict of interest; the offer must be declined and disclosed to maintain impartiality.

Which of the following best describes 'responsible charge' as defined in most state engineering practice acts?

Answer: Direct control and personal supervision of engineering work

Responsible charge means direct control and personal supervision of engineering work, not merely holding a senior title or performing a cursory review.

An engineer's PE license in State A is revoked for gross negligence. He then applies for a PE license in State B without disclosing the revocation. This constitutes:

Answer: Fraud and grounds for denial or revocation of the State B license

Failing to disclose a license revocation on a new application is fraudulent misrepresentation and constitutes a serious ethical and legal violation.

When an engineer provides a professional opinion in a legal proceeding, she must:

Answer: Provide an objective, technically accurate opinion regardless of who hired her

Expert witnesses must provide objective, truthful testimony; an engineer's duty to the court and the truth overrides the interests of the retaining party.