Philosophy Engineering Ethics

1a . The first duty recognized by professional engineers is to the safety of the public . Engineers are expected to prioritize the safety , health and welfare of people and should follow the principles of sustainable progress in the process of their professional works . In the Engineering Code of Ethics , public safety is placed as its highest ethic . It is essential that engineers are always conscious of their responsibilities for the welfare and safety of the public

Conversely , an engineer 's duty to his or her clients can never supersede their responsibility for public

safety . If a client insists on something that will go against the standard operating procedures and could be a hazard to the public later on , the engineer has every right to refuse or turn down an offer . He or she should not get into activities which will compromise his profession as well as the quality of his work as these could pose a risk to the public and threaten their safety

It is true that nothing is foolproof and engineers should always try to minimize risks . There is a great need for the public to be informed and made aware of the consequences of engineer decisions while often keeping in mind the possible risks involved . Engineers should not allow such risk-taking . Safety should always come first and it is the engineers job to lessen such risks despite what the public insists . When something goes awry , engineers could be held liable . They are the ones with the skills and...