The Importance of Engineering Ethics

“The Importance of Engineering Ethics”

It is critical for an engineer to maintain an ethical reputation within his/her engineering career. The main principles that an engineer should work and live by are “to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, perform services only in areas of their competence, act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, avoid deceptive acts, and conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession” (NSPE Code of Ethics 1). It is the engineer’s responsibility to uphold his/her position to the fullest in taking everything into account before making a critical decision.
Ethical and moral decisions often have severe consequences. “In a world increasingly shaped by technology, engineers have a moral obligation to consider the consequences of their choices” (Ganssle 1). It is very important for an engineer to us...