W3: Introduction to Civil Engineering Canons

• FUNDAMENTAL CANONS

  • September 2001
  • part of the Manual of Professional Practice for Civil Engineers published by PICE
• FC 1

  Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.
• FC 2

  Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
• FC 3

  Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
• FC 4

  Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest
• FC 5

  Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others
• FC 6

  Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
• FC 7

  Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under their supervision
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.

  a.Civil Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health, and welfare of the general public are dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions, and practices incorporated into structures, machines, products, processes, and devices.
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.

  b. Civil Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents reviewed or prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted engineering standards
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties

  c. Civil Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety, health, and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of sustainable development ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties

  d. Civil Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required.
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties

  e. Civil Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health, and well-being of their communities, and the protection of the environment through the practice of sustainable development.
• CANON 1: Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.

  f. Civil Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adhering to the principles of sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life
• CANON 2: Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their

  competence

  a.Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the technical field of the engineering involved
• CANON 2: Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their

  competence

  b. Civil Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of such a project shall be performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees.
• CANON 2: Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their

  competence.

  c. Civil Engineers shall not affix their signature or seals to any civil engineering plan or documents dealing with the subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue of education or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed or prepared under their supervision and control
• CANON 2: Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their

  competence.

  d. Civil Engineers shall not use The Specialty Engineering Title such as Structural Engineer, Transportation engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Engineer, etc. without the PICE Specialist Accreditation.
• CANON 3: Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner

  a.Civil Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of civil engineering and sustainable development, and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue, unfair, or exaggerated statements regarding civil engineering.
• CANON 3: Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

  b. Civil Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony
• CANON 3: Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner

  c. Civil Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express civil engineering opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of technical competence, and upon honest conviction.
• CANON 3: Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

  d. Civil Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on civil engineering matters which are inspired or paid for by interested parties unless they indicate on whose behalf the statements are made
• CANON 3: Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

  e. Civil Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity, honor, and dignity of the civil engineering profession and/or related professions.
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest

  a.Civil Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business, association, interests, or circumstances that could influence their judgment or the quality of their services
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

  b. Civil Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested projects.
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

  c. Civil Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employers in connection with work for which they are responsible
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

  d. Civil Engineers in public services as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental body or department shall not participate in consideration or actions with respect to the services solicited or provided by them or their organization in private or public engineering practice
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest

  e. Civil Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies, they believe a project will not be successful.
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

  f. Civil Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of their assignments as a means of making a personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients, employers, or the public
• CANON 4: Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

  g. Civil Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or interest without the knowledge of their employers.
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  a.Civil Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any political contribution, gratuity, or unlawful consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  b. Civil Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required.
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others

  c. Civil Engineers may request; propose or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis only under circumstances in which their professional judgments would not be compromised
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  d. Civil Engineers shall not falsify or permit misinterpretation of their academic or professional qualifications or experience.
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  e. Civil engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due and shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they shall name the person/s who may be responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments.
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others

  f. Civil Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  g. Civil Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of another engineer or indiscriminately criticize another’s work
• CANON 5: Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

  h. Civil Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of their employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their employers
• CANON 6: Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession

  a.Civil Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner that will be derogatory to the honor, integrity, or dignity of the civil engineering profession or knowingly engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or unethical nature.
• CANON 7: Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development

  throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under their supervision.

  a.Civil Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars