By: the Editors
[Editor’s note: this opinion piece originally appeared in Vol 20 No 4 (Q3 1984) of Hazard Prevention (now Journal of System Safety). The text has not been modified except for formatting changes, images, and hyperlinks]
In 1947 the Engineering Council for Professional Development (ECPD) included the “responsibility to the public” within their code of ethics in contrast to the original concept adopted in 1910 by civil engineers in England which emphasized “responsibility to the client.” In 1974 the EDCP broadened the code by specifically mentioning “the safety, health, and welfare to the public” in their code of ethics. The evolution of these codes mirrors the engineering profession’s own perception of its responsibility to the welfare of the public.
The ethical dilemma of engineers, specifically those practicing in the safety and health fields, is rooted in their perception that engineering decisions are not made by them but are subverted by others. Their rationale for derogation of personal responsibility is “I followed orders.”
Because of the widespread impact of engineers in the technological society of today, it is imperative that engineers become involved with their work at a level in consonance with an ethical code. Thus, engineers must view their work in a broader sense than the technical skill needed to design or operate a “widget.” In other words, engineers, specifically those practicing in the fields of safety and health, must be true “professionals,” i.e., an individual, who by reason of his or her intellectual capacity, learning, and application of the learning is uniquely qualified to solve problems in specialized areas of human need. Thus, engineering decisions must be balanced between the responsibility to the client, to society, to the firm, to the profession, and to the engineer himself. None of these responsibilities should exclude any of the others. All responsibilities must be considered when making a decision; however, depending upon the unique circumstances, one will assume a dominant role.
The dilemma of making these decisions arises from the complexity of these responsibilities and the socioeconomic and technological issues involved in engineering projects. The challenge to the engineering professional is there.
The challenge to the safety and health professional engineer is even greater because, by our own choosing, we are the representatives of the “public” to assure that “their safety, health, and welfare” were considered in the engineering project. We have chosen to be the guardians of the “code of ethics” of the engineering profession. To be able to perform this duty we must be trusted by our peers for our demonstrated technical capabilities and moral rectitude.