Ethics in Engineering

Engineering is a discipline which has many old traditions and many rules guiding the conduct of its practitioners. It has a very strict and structured code of ethics set out by the IEI (the governing body for engineering in Ireland). One of the most important sub-sets of these codes of ethics is regarding the social and environment obligations of Engineers.

Code 2.1 Members shall exercise due consideration of the effects of their work on the health and safety of individuals and on the welfare of society and on its impacts of the natural environment.

Now while in theory this seems like a very obvious and straight forward rule to adhere to, the reality of things is that it is not always followed and as a result the health and safety of the public is put at risk sometimes with disastrous consequences. The following is an example of how an engineer ignored his ethical duty.
(Example 1) Safe Comp is a company that, among other things, designs and makes sensing devices for automobile...