Throughout their career an engineer acquires many technical skills and knowledge in their fields. However, an engineer across any branch, at any level, should follow ethical guidelines. In 2005, and revised in 2017, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) and the Engineering Council (EC) issued a statement outlining four core principles which should be adhered to when working. By working in accordance to the principals outlined in the statement, a safer, trusted community can be created.
By upholding an honest and professional conduct amongst my colleagues, a respectful, trusting team can develop. This would include being transparent about my capabilities and ensuring I am providing the team with complete updates.
Furthermore, consideration towards the environment, law and public safety should be at the forefront of all designs. Maximising positive outcomes and avoiding harm to public wellbeing allows for a greener future and builds a good reputation. Be it sourcing greener materials or designing to prevent harm. This also follows the rules of conduct outlined by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).
As an engineer, applying the knowledge and skills you have can lead to significant outcomes regarding a projects safety. For this reason, I will only apply skills in which I am competent. I will seek out guidance or supervision from professionals when a field is outside of my expertise. This will mitigate risks and goes hand in hand with the prior principal for building a safer future.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) offers a Code of Ethics. This guides members in maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct and shares many of the core principles outlined in the statement provided by the EERG. As an aspiring electrical engineer, this source is incredibly relevant and a code I should follow.
References:
IET – https://www.theiet.org/about/governance/rules-of-conduct
EERG – https://www.engc.org.uk/standards-guidance/guidance/statement-of-ethical-principles/
IEEE – https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html