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Ethics in Practice : E-Learning Package for Professional Engineers | Graphic version
Why ethics concerns you | What you should watch out for | Where to draw the line |
How to guard against malpractice | Where to obtain help | Quiz game

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Case 1- Backhanders Case 2- Sweet poison Case 3- Leaks Case 4- At the crossroads Case 4- At the crossroads [ Friendly print ] Exercising prudent professional judgment A private contractor was contracted by the government to fill a slope that formed part of the site formation for a housing project. The newly filled slope collapsed after a heavy downpour, blocking a nearby road. This caused losses to the government, as it had to pay both for the work that was not carried out properly and for the work to rectify the problem. Following the incident, the ICAC received a complaint alleging that inferior materials had been used in the project and that corruption might have led to a cover-up. The ICAC investigation revealed that an assistant engineer, at the request of his senior, deceived the government by falsely representing that the materials used to fill the slope were up to specifications. Following the instructions of his senior who may be anxious to complete the project on time without incurring extra costs, the assistant engineer substituted the original soil samples that did not comply with specifications with ones that would pass the soil test. The assistant engineer did not receive any financial advantage, but simply listened to his senior, to replace the test samples with good quality slope materials so that the soil samples could be approved. Legal concerns 1. Legal liability for improper work practices: Although not motivated by greed or financial gain, the assistant engineer followed the instructions of his senior to switch the soil samples in an improper work procedure. The act itself is not only unprofessional, but also unlawful. Causing substandard materials be used in the slope and seriously endangering the safety and lives of the public, he faced a heavy punishment for the offence of deception he had committed. 2. Consequences of malpractice: The assistant engineer was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment. Morals and ethical concerns 1. Maintain high ethical and professional standards: - The public places great trust in engineers' responsible exercise of their professional knowledge and expertise. Tight schedules and cost savings can never be an excuse for delivering or accepting deficient work. - To ensure the best quality of performance and maintain public confidence in the engineering profession, the HKIE has laid down the Rules of Conduct for its members to follow. The Rules of Conduct requires engineers to discharge their professional responsibilities with integrity, dignity, fairness and courtesy. - When engineers act illegally and unprofessionally, the safety and lives of the public can be put in great danger. Dire consequences can be immediate, as in this case with the collapse of the newly filled but substandard slope. 2. Develop skills to detect malpractice and handle ethical dilemmas: - By blindly following his supervisor's instructions and not exercising his own professional judgment, the assistant engineer not only ended up in jail, he also ruined his own career. - While it is essential for engineers to abide by high professional and ethical standards at all times, some engineers, especially young and inexperienced ones, may find it difficult to handle malpractice and ethical dilemmas that they encounter in the workplace. To guard against malpractice and develop the proper nerve to handle ethical dilemmas at work, engineers should be aware of the areas prone to corruption and malpractice in the industry. They need to develop the skills conducive to exercising sound judgment, making correct decisions and arriving at the right course of action. The Ethics Plus decision-making model described in Chapter 3 of this e-learning package provides a useful tool for resolving ethical issues, while Chapter 4 deals with how to guard against malpractice in the industry. 3. Extra costs are incurred to rectify the problem: In the end, the slope that was filled with substandard soil collapsed, and the government incurred extra costs when it had to rectify the problem. Advice on preventive actions 1. Uphold good professional practice: Good engineering practice requires both ethical and professional competence. Most often, ethical and technical considerations are inextricably linked to the trustworthy and responsible exercise of professional judgment. An engineer should therefore possess a good mastery of technical skills as well as the capacity to apply them with due care and diligence. 2. Promote a culture of compliance: To sustain a comprehensive quality system, a company needs staff with good technical knowledge and skills that they apply with honesty and fairness. In this context, engineers of high integrity are the keystones of a compliance culture. Management also has the responsibility to promote the culture of compliance both by providing a clear direction and acting as a role model. 3. Heighten awareness of malpractice through training: Engineers and staff will benefit from training that helps heighten their awareness of malpractice. It is important that they gain an adequate understanding of the statutory provisions relating to bribery offences. Related instructions, company guidelines and requirements concerning conduct of staff are also useful for reducing their vulnerability to malpractice. Ethics Plus The ETHICS PLUS decision-making model has been designed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as a tool to help you develop the skills you need for exercising sound judgment when you are faced with ethical issues. How to guard against malpractice This chapter provides you with some preventive measures and guidelines for tackling ethical issues that commonly arise in engineering practice. They are particularly important to engineers who have a managerial role in their organizations. Back to top