AE 184 – Eng’g Specifications,

Contracts & Ethics

“ ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES “

Prepared by: Cristobal M. Tardo
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Case Problem:
Steph, an engineer, is hired to confirm the
structural integrity of an apartment building
that Steph's client, Cristine, is going to sell.
According to an agreement with Cristine,
Steph will keep the report confidential. Cristine
makes it clear to Steph that the building is
being sold in its present condition without any
further repairs or renovations.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Steph determines that the building is structurally

sound, but Cristine confides to Steph that violations
of electrical and mechanical engineering codes do
exist. While Steph is not an electrical or mechanical
engineer, he realizes that the problems could result
in injury and informs Cristine of this fact. In the
report, Steph briefly mentions the conversation with
Cristine about these deficiencies, but he does not
report the violations to a third party.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

QUESTIONS:

• Were Steph's obligations to Cristine

fulfilled? What about Steph's professional
responsibility for public safety? Must he
accept the duty given by his client to
pertaining to the problem of the
structure?
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Were Steph's obligations to Cristine fulfilled?

As stated in the problem that Engr.
Steph follow his client wishes to confides
the violations related to electrical and
mechanical codes of the building
therefore Steph’s duty to his client
Cristine is fulfilled.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

What about Steph's professional responsibility for

public safety?
DISCUSSION:
According to the handouts given to us
entitled ‘’Engineering Ehtics’’ one of the rules of
practice for Engineers is to hold paramount of the
safety, health, and welfare of the public. If so, that
Steph does not report the violations and
deficiencies that are present in the building
therefore he violates his responsibility for public
safety.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Also, based on engineers creed from the

given handouts, that Engineers must uphold and
advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the
engineering profession by:
• Using their knowledge and skill for the
enhancement of human welfare;
• Being honest and impartial and serving with
fidelity the publics, their employees;
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

CONCLUSION:

Therefore, Engr. Steph disobey his

integrity, honor and dignity related to his
engineering profession since he let his
client’s decision to be first fulfilled even he
knows that some violations mostly related to
public safety were violated.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Must he accept the duty given by his client

to pertaining to the problem of the
structure?
Discussion:

Based on the Rules of Practice for

Engineers in the given handouts that:
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

Engineers shall perform services only

in areas of their competence :
–Engineers shall undertake assignments
only when qualified by education or
experience in the specific technical
fields involved.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

– Engineers may accept assignments and

assume responsibility for coordination of an
entire project and sign and seal the
engineering documents for the entire
project, provided that each technical
segment is signed and sealed only by the
qualified engineers who prepared the
segment.
 ENGINEERING ETHICS CASES

CONCLUSION:

Since the problem in the structure is

related to electrical and mechanical
engineering codes and Engr. Steph is not an
electrical nor mechanical engineer therefore
he must refuse the project since the problem
pertaining in the integrity of the structure is
out of his competency.