PEO's Code of Ethics

Professional Ethics in Engineering

1. Duty to Various Stakeholders

• It is the duty of a practitioner to various parties, namely:

  • The public

  • The practitioner’s employer

  • The practitioner’s clients

  • Other members of the practitioner’s profession

  • The practitioner themselves

1.1 Obligation to Fairness and Loyalty

• A practitioner must act with:
  i. Fairness and loyalty towards associates, employers, clients, subordinates, and employees.

1.2 Fidelity to Public Needs

• Practitioners must maintain fidelity to public needs in their work.

1.3 High Ideals of Honor and Integrity

• Professionals should aspire to high ideals of personal honour and professional integrity.

1.4 Knowledge of Developments

• Practitioners must stay informed on relevant developments within the realm of professional engineering.

1.5 Competence in Services

• Competence is mandatory in the performance of any professional engineering services undertaken.

2. Commitment to Public Welfare

• A practitioner shall:
  i. Prioritize duty to public welfare as paramount.
  ii. Strive to enhance the public’s regard for professionals by improving public knowledge and rejecting untrue or exaggerated statements about engineering.
  iii. Avoid expressing unfounded opinions while serving as a witness in professional engineering matters before any tribunal.
  iv. Ensure that their license appears prominently in their place of business.

3. Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest

• A practitioner must act as a faithful agent or trustee, specifically:
  i. Keep confidential information about the employer’s business affairs, methods, or processes.
  ii. Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their judgment or actions.

4. Disclosure of Interests

• Practitioners must promptly inform their clients about any indirect or direct interest that might be seen as prejudicial to the professional judgment rendered in service.

5. Employee-Engineer Responsibilities

• An employee-engineer working independently must:
  i. Provide their client a written statement regarding their status as an employee, including limitations imposed on services.
  ii. Ensure the new work doesn't conflict with their existing duties to their employer.
  iii. Inform their employer of any such work undertaken.

6. Cooperation with Other Professionals

• Practitioners must engage in cooperation when working alongside other professionals in a project.

7. Interactions with Other Practitioners

• A practitioner should:
  i. Act with courtesy and good faith towards fellow practitioners.
  ii. Avoid engaging in work reviewing another practitioner’s efforts for the same employer, unless the other practitioner is informed or has severed ties with that work.
  iii. Refrain from maliciously harming the reputation or business of peers.
  iv. Not seek advantages over others by paying or accepting commissions to secure engineering work.
  v. Give appropriate recognition for engineering work, promote fair compensation for such work, ensure professional development opportunities for colleagues, and promote knowledge sharing to advance the profession.

8. Upholding Professional Integrity

• Practitioners are mandated to uphold their profession’s honour and integrity, which includes:
  i. Fearlessly reporting unethical or dishonest conduct of other practitioners to the appropriate authorities.