Ethics and Practice Flashcards

An engineer learns that a competitor obtained a contract by misrepresenting qualifications. The most appropriate ethical response is to:

Answer: Report the misrepresentation to the appropriate professional or regulatory body

Engineers are obligated to report known unethical conduct by other professionals to uphold the integrity of the profession.

A PE is asked to review and approve a design created by an unlicensed engineer. Under most state laws, the PE may legally do this only if she:

Answer: Has exercised responsible charge and fully understands the technical basis of the design

A PE may supervise and take responsible charge over work by unlicensed individuals, but she must thoroughly understand and be responsible for the technical content, not merely spot-check it.

Which of the following best describes an engineer's obligation regarding continuing education?

Answer: Engineers must maintain and improve their competency throughout their careers

The NCEES Code of Ethics requires engineers to maintain competency by engaging in continuing professional development throughout their careers.

A client instructs an engineer to omit a required safety feature from a design to reduce costs. The engineer should:

Answer: Refuse and explain the safety and legal reasons for the required feature

Engineers must not omit code-required safety features regardless of client instructions; protection of public safety overrides client cost preferences.

An engineer suspects that inferior materials were substituted during construction, deviating from the approved design. Her primary obligation is to:

Answer: Investigate immediately and report findings to the project owner and relevant authorities

Suspected material substitutions that could compromise safety must be investigated and reported promptly to protect occupants and the public.

Which of the following situations most clearly represents a conflict of interest for a PE?

Answer: Providing engineering services to a company in which she holds a financial stake without disclosure

Having an undisclosed financial interest in a company for which you provide engineering services is a textbook conflict of interest that must be disclosed.

A PE is approached to provide engineering services in a foreign country where professional engineering licensure does not exist. The PE should:

Answer: Apply the same ethical standards she would apply in the United States

Engineers must uphold their professional ethical obligations regardless of where they practice; the absence of local regulation does not suspend ethical responsibilities.