Professional Accountability and Duties Flashcards

An engineer is asked to write a reference letter for a colleague applying for a senior position. The engineer has concerns about the colleague's professional conduct in a previous project. What should the engineer do?

Answer: Decline to write the reference if they cannot provide an honest and positive assessment

An engineer who cannot honestly and fully support a colleague's application should decline to write the reference rather than provide a misleading positive assessment that could harm the employer or public who rely on the reference.

A professional engineer discovers that technical information in their field has changed significantly since they obtained their licence 15 years ago, making some of their standard practices outdated. What professional obligation does this create?

Answer: An obligation to update their knowledge and practices through CPD or by declining work in areas where they are no longer current

The obligation to maintain competence is continuous. Engineers must stay current with developments in their field or decline to practise in areas where their knowledge has become outdated.

What is the professional engineering obligation when an engineer is asked to provide a second opinion that contradicts a previous engineer's opinion?

Answer: Provide an honest independent opinion based on the engineer's own professional assessment, even if it contradicts the prior opinion

Engineers may provide second opinions and have an obligation to be honest in those opinions. Professional solidarity does not require agreement with a prior opinion that the engineer does not share.

Which obligation does an engineer have when they identify an error in work that has already been certified by another engineer, and the error could affect public safety?

Answer: Notify the certifying engineer, and if they do not act, escalate to the provincial regulator or other appropriate authority

When an engineer identifies a potentially unsafe error in another engineer's certified work, they must first notify the certifying engineer. If no corrective action is taken and public safety remains at risk, the engineer must escalate the concern to the appropriate authority.

An engineer retires from practice. Which professional obligations, if any, continue after retirement?

Answer: Confidentiality obligations regarding prior client information continue; the engineer must not mislead about retired status

After retirement, an engineer's contractual and ethical confidentiality obligations regarding client information from prior practice continue. The engineer must also not misrepresent their active status or provide professional opinions as a licensed engineer if their licence has lapsed.

What is the professional obligation of an engineer who receives instructions from a client that would require them to act contrary to their professional code of ethics?

Answer: Refuse to follow the instructions, explain the professional obligation, and consider withdrawing if the client insists

Professional obligations supersede client instructions. If a client instructs an engineer to act contrary to professional ethics, the engineer must refuse, explain the conflict, and withdraw from the engagement if the client insists.