PEO's Code of Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the PEO's Code of Ethics for engineers.

Q: What is the overall duty of a practitioner according to the PEO Code of Ethics?

A: To act with fairness, loyalty, fidelity to public needs, personal honour, professional integrity, current knowledge, and competence toward the public, employer, clients, profession, and self.

What does the Code require regarding fairness and loyalty?

A: Practitioners must be fair and loyal to associates, employers, clients, subordinates, and employees.

Q: What is meant by “fidelity to public needs”?

A: Practitioners must prioritize and remain faithful to the needs and safety of the public.

Q: What does the Code say about personal honour and integrity?

A: Practitioners must be devoted to high ideals of personal honour and professional integrity.

Q: Why must practitioners stay knowledgeable about developments in engineering?

A: To ensure they only provide services for which they remain technically competent.

Q: What is the practitioner’s paramount duty?

A: To regard the duty to public welfare as paramount over all other obligations.

Q: How should practitioners enhance public regard for the profession?

A: By extending public knowledge of engineering and discouraging untrue or exaggerated statements.

Q: When may a practitioner publicly express engineering opinions?

A: Only when the opinion is based on adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

Q: What requirement exists regarding the display of licences?

A: Practitioners should endeavour to permanently display their licence or Certificate of Authorization at their place of business.

Q: How should engineers act for their employer?

A: As faithful agents or trustees.

Q: What must a practitioner treat as confidential?

A: Any information learned about an employer’s business affairs, technical methods, or processes.

Q: What must practitioners avoid or disclose regarding conflicts of interest?

A: Any conflict that might influence their actions or judgment.

Q: What must an engineer disclose immediately to a client?

A: Any direct or indirect interest that could prejudice their professional judgment.

Q: What must an employee-engineer do when contracting their own professional engineering work?

A: Provide written notice of their employee status, ensure no conflict with their employer, and inform their employer of the outside work.

Q: How must practitioners work with other professionals on a project?

A: They must cooperate fully.

Q: How should practitioners act toward other practitioners?

A: With courtesy and good faith.

Q: When can a practitioner review another practitioner’s work for the same employer?

A: Only with the other practitioner’s knowledge or if the connection has been terminated.

Q: What types of behaviour toward other practitioners are prohibited?

A: Maliciously injuring another’s reputation or business.

Q: What must practitioners NOT do to gain an advantage over others when securing work?

A: Pay or accept a commission.

Q: What responsibilities do practitioners have toward associates and subordinates?

A: Provide proper credit, support professional development, uphold fair compensation, and share engineering knowledge.

Q: What must practitioners maintain in their profession?

A: The honour and integrity of the profession.

Q: What must a practitioner do when they witness unethical conduct?

A: Expose unprofessional, dishonest, or unethical conduct to the proper tribunal, without fear or favour.