ASCE Guidelines to Practice Under the Fundamental Canons
of Ethics
CANON 1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health
and welfare of the public in the performance of their
professional duties.
- Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety,
health and welfare of the general public are dependent upon
engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated
into structures, machines, products, processes and
devices.
- Engineers shall approve or seal only those design
documents, reviewed or prepared by them, which are
determined to be safe for public health and welfare in
conformity with accepted engineering standards.
- Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled
under circumstances where the safety, health and welfare of
the public are endangered, shall inform their clients or
employers of the possible consequences.
- Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that
another person or firm may be in violation of any of the
provisions of Canon I shall present such information to the
proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the
proper authority in furnishing such further information or
assistance as may be required.
- Engineers should seek opportunities to be of
constructive service in civic affairs and work for the
advancement of the safety, health and wellbeing of their
communities.
- Engineers should be committed to improving the
environment to enhance the quality of life.
CANON 2. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of
their competence.
- Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering
assignments only when qualified by education or experience
in the technical field of engineering involved.
- Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education
or experience outside of their own fields of competence,
provided their services are restricted to those phases of
the project in which they are qualified. All other phases
of such project shall be performed by qualified associates,
consultants, or employees.
- Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to
any engineering plan or document dealing with subject
matter in which they lack competence by virtue of education
or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed
or prepared under their supervisory control.
CANON 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in
an objective and truthful manner.
- Engineers should endeavor to extend the public
knowledge of engineering, and shall not participate in the
dissemination of untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements
regarding engineering.
- Engineers shall be objective and truthful in
professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall
include all relevant and pertinent information in such
reports, statements, or testimony.
- Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall
express an engineering opinion only when it is founded upon
adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of
technical competence, and upon honest conviction.
- Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or
arguments on engineering matters which are inspired or paid
for by interested parties, unless they indicate on whose
behalf the statements are made.
- Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining
their work and merit, and will avoid any act tending to
promote their own interests at the expense of the
integrity, honor and dignity of the profession.
CANON 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for
each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and
shall avoid conflicts of interest.
- Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts
of interest with their employers or clients and shall
promptly inform their employers or clients of any business
association, interests, or circumstances which could
influence their judgment or the quality of their
services.
- Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than
one party for services on the same project, or for services
pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances
are fully disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested
parties.
- Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities,
directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or
other parties dealing with their clients or employers in
connection with work for which they are responsible.
- Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or
employees of a governmental body or department shall not
participate in considerations or actions with respect to
services solicited or provided by them or their
organization in private or public engineering
practice.
- Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when,
as a result of their studies, they believe a project will
not be successful.
- Engineers shall not use confidential information coming
to them in the course of their assignments as a means of
making personal profit if such action is adverse to the
interests of their clients, employers or the public.
- Engineers shall not accept professional employment
outside of their regular work or interest without the
knowledge of their employers.
CANON 5. Engineers shall build their professional
reputation on the merit of their services and shall not
compete unfairly with others.
- Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either
directly or indirectly, any political contribution,
gratuity, or unlawful consideration in order to secure
work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through
employment agencies.
- Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional
services fairly and on the basis of demonstrated competence
and qualifications for the type of professional service
required.
- Engineers may request, propose or accept professional
commissions on a contingent basis only under circumstances
in which their professional judgments would not be
compromised.
- Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation
of their academic or professional qualifications or
experience.
- Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work
to those to whom credit is due, and shall recognize the
proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they
shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for
designs, inventions, writings or other
accomplishments.
- Engineers may advertise professional services in a way
that does not contain misleading language or is in any
other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession.
Examples of permissible advertising are as follows:
-
Professional cards in recognized, dignified
publications, and listings in roster directories
published by responsible organizations, provided that the
cards or listings are consistent in size and content and
are in a section of the publication regularly devoted to
such professional cards.
Brochures which factually describe experience,
facilities, personnel and capacity to render service,
providing they are not misleading with respect to the
engineer's participation in projects described.
Display advertising in recognized dignified business
and professional publications, providing it is factual
and is not misleading with respect to the engineer's
experience and participation in projects described.
A statement of the engineers' names or the name of the
firm and statement type of service posted on projects for
which they render services.
Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles
for the lay or technical which are factual and dignified.
Such articles shall not imply anything more than
participation in the project described.
Permission by engineers for their names to be used in
commercial advertisements such as may be published by
contractors, material suppliers, etc., only by means of a
modest, dignified notation acknowledging the engineers'
participation in the described. Such permission shall not
include public endorsement of proprietary products.
- Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or
indirectly, injure the professional reputation, prospects,
practice or employment of another engineer or
indiscriminately criticize another's work.
- Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory
or office facilities of their employers to carry on outside
private practice without the consent of their
employers.
CANON 6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold
and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the
engineering profession.
- Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner which
will be derogatory to the honor, integrity, or dignity of
the engineering profession or knowingly engage in business
or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or
unethical nature.
CANON 7. Engineers shall continue their professional
development throughout their careers, and shall provide
opportunities for the professional development of those
engineers under supervision.
- Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields
by engaging in professional practice, participating in
continuing education courses, reading in the technical
literature, and attending professional meetings and
seminars.
- Engineers should encourage their engineering employees
to become registered at the earliest possible date.
- Engineers should encourage engineering employees to
attend and present papers at professional and technical
society meetings.
- Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually
satisfying relationships employers and employees with
respect to terms of employment including professional grade
descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.