Created in 1946, the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers articulates a standard of professional behavior centered around six Fundamental Canons which are further explained through Rules of Practice and Professional Obligations. There is no better place for engineers to begin an important conversation about professional ethics than with the Fundamental Canons.

Today’s webinar will introduce you to four of the current members of the NSPE Board of Ethical Review (BER). Discussion will focus on four ethics cases that illuminate multiple aspects of Canon 1, to “hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.” These cases are personal favorites selected by each BER member from the more than 600 opinions the BER has published since the late 1950s. 

Topics include health, safety and welfare issues such as the impact of sea level rise associated with climate change, confidentiality limits to the engineer’s obligation to report observed safety violations, how far an engineer should go in warning officials about off-site safety concerns noticed on an unrelated project, and how to navigate the tricky politics of city government to achieve better code enforcement.