CIVL 453: ENGINEERING ETHICS

ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 1
Felicia Asante defines professions as follows: “A profession is a number of individuals in the
same occupation voluntarily organized to earn a living by openly serving a certain moral idea
in a morally permissible way beyond what law, market and everyday morality would
otherwise require.” She argues that carpenters, barbers, porters and other groups who
organize their work around a shared code of ethics should be recognized as professionals. Do
you agree or disagree, and why? Can this issue be settled by reference to a dictionary?

ASSIGNMENT 2
1. Identification of study community, preferably the community which students come from
2. Identification of one development challenge facing the community
3. Investigation of the nature, characteristics and scope of the development challenge
4. Investigation of what chosen programme of study actually entails including the different
applications of the chosen field

ASSIGNMENT 3
Engineer A, an environmental engineer is retained by a major industrial owner to examine
certain lands adjacent to an abandoned industrial facility formerly owned and operated by the
owner. The owner’s attorney, Attorney X, requests that as a condition of the retention
agreement that Engineer A sign a secrecy provision whereby Engineer A would agree not to
disclose any data, findings, conclusions or other information relating to his examination of
the owner’s land to any other party unless ordered by a court. Engineer A signs the secrecy
provision.
1. What is the ethical problem?
2. Although the GhIE code does not explicitly forbid signing the secrecy provision, it requires
that Engineers hold paramount the public safety and if their judgement should be overruled in
matters of public safety, to notify proper authorities
3. This implies Engineer A should not sign a secrecy provision that precludes acting
according to the code
4. However, there are also provisions in code requiring confidentiality about clients in the
course of providing professional services

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5. Nevertheless, the paramount clause requires that the public safety, health, and welfare be
an overriding consideration
6. What are the conflicting moral values in this case?
7. According to the GhIE, the solution involves one mandatory action, which is to refrain
from signing the agreement
8. Another ethical dilemma arises because the engineer has already signed the secrecy
agreement
9. Therefore, a commitment or an obligation to keep it is has been created
10. However, the paramount responsibility for safety and welfare of the public still applies
and therefore the Engineer has the obligation to notify the appropriate authorities

ASSIGNMENT 4
A cafeteria in an office building has comfortable tables and chairs, indeed too comfortable:
they invite people to linger longer than the management desires. You are asked to design
uncomfortable ones, to discourage such lingering.
1. Is there a moral dilemma here?
2. Are there moral choices involved in whether and how to design the new furniture?