Capstone Design Engineering Ethics I

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Wikipedia Ethics Definition • Ethics, a major branch of philosophy, encompasses right conduct and good living. It is significantly f broader than the common conception of analyzing right and wrong.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Engineering Ethics (Wikipedia) • Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics which examines and sets standards for engineers' obligations to – – – –

the public, their clients, employers, and the profession

• E Engineering i i does d nott have h a single i l uniform if system, t or standard, of ethical conduct across the entire profession Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Engineering Ethics (Wikipedia -- continued) • Ethical approaches vary somewhat by discipline and jurisdiction, but are most influenced by whether – the engineers are independently providing professional services to clients, – or the public if employed in government service; – or if they are employees of an enterprise creating products for sale

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Engineering Ethics (Wikipedia -- continued) • In the United States the first are usually licensed Professional engineers – are governed by statute – have fairly consistent codes of professional ethics

• The latter, working as engineers in industry, – are governed by various laws including • whistleblowing, • and product liability laws, laws

– and often rely on principles of business ethics rather than engineering ethics

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Codes of Ethics (IEEE) • To accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment; • To avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist; • To be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data; • To reject bribery in all its forms; • To improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences; Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Codes of Ethics (IEEE -- continued) • To maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations; • To seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others; • To treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin; • To avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action; • To assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Other Codes of Ethics • National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) • Other professional societies – ASME – ASCE – AiChE

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Online Engineering Ethics Resources • http://www.onlineethics.org – Composite site referencing several professional engineering i i societies i i websites b i and d their h i code d off ethics hi

• http://www.nspe.org – National Society of Professional Engineers: comprehensive code of ethics upon which many professional societies codes are based

• http://repo-nt.tcc.virginia.edu/ethics/ http://repo nt tcc virginia edu/ethics/ – A collection of engineering ethics case studies

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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General Principles (Wikipedia) • Codes of engineering ethics identify a specific precedence with respect to the engineer's consideration for: f – the public, clients, employers, and the profession.

• First principle: – Generally focused on safety/well being of general public

• Whistleblowing

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Whistleblowing • A basic ethical dilemma: – An engineer has the duty to report to the appropriate authority h i a possible ibl risk i k to others h ffrom a client li or employer failing to follow the engineer's directions.

• According to first principles, this duty overrides the duty to a client and/or employer • An engineer may be disciplined, or have their license revoked revoked, even if the failure to report such a danger does not result in the loss of life or health

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Whistleblowing (continued) • In many cases, this duty can be discharged by advising the client of the consequences in a forthright matter, and assuring the client takes the engineer's advice – However, the engineer must ensure that the remedial steps are taken and, if they are not, the situation must be reported to the appropriate authority

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Whistleblowing (continued) • In very rare cases, where even a governmental authority may not take appropriate action, the engineer can only discharge the duty by making the situation public – Whistleblowing by professional engineers is not an unusual event, and courts have often sided with engineers in such cases, overruling duties to employers and confidentialityy considerations that otherwise would have prevented the engineer from speaking out

Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Other Ethical Issues • • • • • • •

Quality Ensuring legal compliance Conflict of interest Bribery and kickbacks Treatment of confidential or proprietary information Consideration of the employer’s assets Relationships with clients, consultants, competitors, and contractors • Gifts, meals, services, and entertainment • Outside employment/activities (Moonlighting) Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Some Notable Examples of Engineering Failures With Ethics Issues • Boston molasses disaster (1919) • Chevrolet Corvair safety problems (1960s), Ralph Nader, and Unsafe at Any Speed • Ford Pinto safety problems (1970s) • Three Mile Island accident (1979) • Love Canal (1980) • Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse (1981) • Bhopal disaster (1984) • Space S Sh ttl Ch Shuttle Challenger ll di disaster t (1986) • Chernobyl disaster (1986) • Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (2003) • Taser devices in law enforcement (2007) Electrical & Computer Engineering

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