THE SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF ASCE’S CODE OF ETHICS

Apr 1, 2008

A question often heard on the ASCE Ethics hotline is, "Where can I find a copy of the Code of Ethics?" If
the code serves as a road map to ethical conduct, it is a road map that can only serve its purpose when it
is examined and its contents are understood. While space limitations preclude publishing the code here in
its entirety, the following article lists the current code's fundamental canons and summarizes the ethical
issues and principles informing them.

In its 1976 retooling of the Code of Ethics, ASCE's Board of Direction revised the nine-canon model, which
focused primarily on an engineer's business obligations to clients and employers, to one with seven canons
that emphasized service to the profession and to the public at large. The change was signaled by the
inclusion of four fundamental principles. Although the seven canons and their guidelines have undergone
numerous revisions over the past 32 years, the four principles have remained virtually unchanged since
their adoption and currently read as follows:

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering profession by :

using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environment;

being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers, and clients;

striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and

supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

The seven canons reflect an attempt to span the potentially infinite range of circumstances in which an
engineer's commitment to these fundamental principles may be put to the test. Today these canons read
as follows

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to
comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional
duties.

Perhaps the most demanding of ASCE's ethical standards is the engineer's duty to "hold paramount" the
public's safety and welfare. Under this canon an engineer is expected not only to protect the public in his
or her own work but also to take action if he or she has knowledge that any other person's actions may
undermine the public welfare, a requirement that may include reporting such actions to a government
authority with the power to act on behalf of the public. In 1996 ASCE added the "sustainable development"
language to this canon, reflecting its belief that ensuring public welfare also requires consideration of
ecological and environmental factors.

2. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

In addition to the more obvious guidelines here, for example, the requirement to take work only when
qualified by education or experience to carry out the work, this canon means that an engineer may not seal
an engineering plan or document unless that document has been prepared or reviewed under his or her
supervisory control. As discussed in this column in the August 2007 issue, this provision is considerably
less restrictive than the licensing laws in many U.S. states and jurisdictions, underlining the need for civil
engineers to be aware of state codes of conduct as well as those of ASCE.

3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
This canon considers the many ways in which an engineer may share his or her expertise with the public
and reflects principles that underlie many other provisions of the code. For example, an engineer may apply
his or her technical expertise only when competent to do so (as per canon 2), must indicate when a
statement has been paid for by an interested party (much like the conflict disclosures required by canon 4),
and may not promote his or her own interests in a manner derogatory to the integrity of the profession
(canon 6).

4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

With its focus on fidelity to employers and clients, canon 4 is in some respects reminiscent of the original,
1914 code. But whereas that code barred an engineer only from "accept[ing] remuneration other than his
stated charges for services rendered," the current canon provides a more complete picture of the types of
conflicts that can lead an engineer astray. Under today's canon, engineers may not use confidential
information in a way that is detrimental to an employer's or client's interests, may not take part in decisions
as a public servant for services involving their own private practice, and are obliged to notify their employers
before availing themselves of outside employment opportunities or engaging in work that may give rise to
a conflict of interest.

5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not
compete unfairly with others.

An important point to remember here is that this canon does not restrict competition among engineers per
se, only methods by which an engineer may attempt to gain an unfair advantage over his or her competitors.
Such unfair practices include bestowing gifts or gratuities to obtain work, falsely portraying one's
qualifications and credentials, taking credit for the work of another, and maliciously criticizing the work of
another.

6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity
of the engineering profession and shall act with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.

This canon can be viewed as a catchall for acts that while not expressly proscribed in other canons
nevertheless violate the spirit of the code. It promotes transparency and scrupulous control of funds and
prohibits engineers from knowingly participating in fraudulent or dishonest practices. This canon also
reflects the most recent revision to the code, a 2006 amendment stating that bribes and corruption are not
to be tolerated and warning engineers to beware of situations where such practices have broad, even
institutionalized, support.

7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision.

The final canon is unique in that its focus is on professional growth rather than professional conduct.
Engineers are encouraged to continue honing their skills, to share their knowledge by, for example,
attending conferences and seminars, and to support the development of engineer employees by providing
them with an environment that encourages professional growth and licensure.
Comments:
Canon 1. The safety measures for workers and engineers at any construction
site are usually the minimum or sometimes not even that, so this canon is
violated by the engineers from the construction company that are responsible for
the implementation of such safety measures, and also by the engineers on site
who are responsible for the safety of workers, because taking no action by the
engineers on site is not acceptable.

Canon 4. Conflicts of interests at different levels can be easily present in

building construction. For instance, the contractor might be inclined to buy a
particular material from some particular provider at a cost possibly higher than
buying this material from a different provider at a lower cost. To be fair, the
client could be informed about those two possibilities, the advantages,
disadvantages, implications in cost, and then a more reasonable solution could
be taken.

Canon 5. Some civil engineers, including professors of this field in graduate

programs, refer often to the mistakes of other colleges, which is not ethic. If a
civil engineer/professor have a difference in opinion with a college then such
difference in opinion should not be shared to an audience that is not able to hear
about the two different points of view in the same time.

Canon 7. Several engineers stop reading information about their field after few
years of getting practice on their careers, this should not be the case.

We as civil engineers, should have the compromise of been ethic always,

because we do know when we are not.
code of ethics is a document that serves as a reference from moral guidelines. It is used
to inspire members to be ethical in their everyday pursuits. It works to define the moral
aspects of being a professional and serves as a checklist of good behavior and desired
attributes. If it is referenced regularly, it will raise consciousness and awareness of the
moral obligations of a professional. It can serve as the basis of discipline for undesirable
behavior. It can also be used as a resource when one is faced with a situation that
involves moral perplexity or uncertainty. It sets a standard for professional behavior bound
by the code that colleagues, the public, clients, and employees can expect.

A code of ethics is a basic set of values and behaviors that are intended to be embraced
by users so they conduct themselves responsibly, in an irreproachable manner, with
honor and integrity. A code of ethics is typically based on simple concepts that are of
value to society as a whole, promote good behavior, foster trust, and result in respect of
one another. A code of ethics should be easy to understand, and written in general terms
so it can be applied to every situation.

As a civil engineer you have been trained to design and oversee construction of various

improvements to enhance civilization, growth, and society as a whole. In the course of

making the decisions that will be required to plan, design, and oversee construction, you

will be faced with many moral and ethical dilemmas. Many decisions will be made with

regard to safety, public interest, and client interest. Having a code of ethics will help you

make those decisions. As a professional your work is restricted by society such that only

those having the training and proven credentials may perform it, limiting competition to

only those individuals who are licensed. In return, professionals are required to perform

their work to high ethical standards and always in consideration of and to the benefit of
the public. Professionals are held to a higher standard than the general public, and the
Code of Ethics provides the guidelines and standards that the professional engineer must
follow to satisfy that commitment.