Canons

Kathleen Kay E. Araja

BSCE V

CE LAWS AND ETHICS

Civil Engineering Fundamental Canons of Ethics

We have already discussed the fundamental code of ethics of civil engineering. These are divided into seven canons namely (1) Engineers shall not gold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties; (2) Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence; (3) Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner; (4) Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest; (5) Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others; (6) Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption; and (7) Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

A professional code of conduct or code of ethics is the standard adopted by professionals to govern their own professional conduct. It provides a framework for the professional's ethical judgment. The code simply reiterates principles and standards that constitute accepted and responsible practices, which define the roles and obligations of design professionals. It tries to articulate the ways in which moral and ethical principles apply to unique situations encountered in professional practice. It indicates to others that the profession is seriously concerned about responsible and professional conduct. The Code of Ethics provides guidance for engineers’ personal and professional conduct. The first canon of the code of...