Ethics in Engineering

We list, here, the "codes of ethics", which many engineers follow.



The Institute of Materials (UK)
Code of Conduct 1989

1. Definitions

All words and expressions- used herein shall have the same meanings as are
assigned to them in the Charter,

Bye-laws and Regulations. In addition, the following shall apply:

1.1 "Improper conduct" shall mean any breach of the Bye-Laws, or
Regulations, or Rules made in accordance with the Charter or Bye-laws
including this Code of Professional Conduct, or any other conduct which in
the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee indicates unfitness to be a
member or which shall in the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee be
unfitting to a member.

1.2 "Disciplinary Committee" shall include any committee or sub-committee
of the Council set up for the purpose of investigating and/or adjudicating
any allegations or complaints against a member. (See Clause 11).

1.3 "Profession" means the profession of metallurgy as defined in the
Charter of the Institute.

1.4 "Employer" means any person, firm, company or other organisation
employing the member in a remunerated position whether full-time or
part-time.

1.5 "Client" means any person, firm, company or other organisation
employing the member as a consultant remunerated by fees.

2. Professional Conduct

A member's conduct shall uphold the dignity, reputation and good standing
of the profession. Members convicted by a Court or other competent tribunal
of a criminal offense which in the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee
renders them unfit to be members, shall be guilty of improper conduct.

3. Public Interest

3.1 Members shall have an obligation to their client, their employer and
the community at large to maintain their professional competence by
appropriate professional development.

3.2 Members shall do all in their power to ensure that their professional
activities in no way put at risk the health, safety or welfare of any
person or expose property to the risk of destruction or serious damage. In
addition, members shall have due regard for the need to protect working and
living environments and the need to ensure efficient use of natural raw
materials, reserves and resources.

3.3 Members shall inform their employer in writing of any conflict between
their personal interest and faithful service to their employer. Members
acting either in an executive or advisory capacity must also notify their
employer in writing of any matters relating to safety and health of all
employees with whom they are directly concerned, wherein they have been
overruled by higher authority.

3.4 Members shall, if their professional advice is not accepted, take all
reasonable steps to ensure that the person over-ruling or neglecting their
advice is aware of the possible consequences they believe may result from
such over-ruling or neglect. In addition to informing their employer in
writing, members should also consider taking advice from the Institute.

3.5 Members shall follow the guidelines contained in the preceding
paragraphs of this Regulation notwithstanding that a conflict of interest
may result between such members and their employer. Members may be placed
in a difficult position if the commercial policy or economic interests of
their employer conflict with the optimum or safe course of action,
particularly if such members have in the course of their activities to
advocate their employer's point of view. Nevertheless, members should
ensure that public safety is observed and that their professional
principles are not compromised.

3.6 Should an occasion arise when the wishes of the client, the employer or
a trade union appear to be inconsistent with the public interest or the
reputation of the profession itself, and if such differences cannot be
reconciled, then the public interest and maintenance of professional
standards must be the members primary consideration. If members find
themselves in a difficult situation, they should consider taking advice
from the Institute before acting.

4. Fidelity

Members shall discharge their duties to their employers or clients with
complete fidelity. Members shall not accept remuneration for professional
services other than from their employer or client, unless the consent of
the employer or client is obtained and provided such consent is not
unreasonably withheld.

5. Competing Interests

5.1 Members     shall seek and obtain the consent of their employer to
becoming a director or agent or contractor of any company or firm or
individual which may undertake work in the same field as their employer.

5.2 Members should not reveal confidential factual information gained in
previous employment without obtaining the express consent of the previous
employer.

6. Canvassing

Members shall not solicit employment nor shall they offer to make payments
for the introduction of such employment in any manner which in the opinion
of the Institute is improper or which may bring the Institute into
disrepute. If members are in any doubt as to the interpretation of this
Regulation they should contact the Professional Standards Committee who
will advise them accordingly.

7. Injury to Reputation

Members shall not recklessly or maliciously injure or seek to injure,
directly or indirectly, the professional reputation of any other member.

8. Advertising

Members shall not advertise or permit others to advertise on their behalf,
in any manner which in the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee is harmful
to the dignity of the profession.

9. Charges

Members undertaking work as consultants shall not knowingly compete with
other members on the basis of professional charges. Members shall not use
the advantages of remunerated positions to knowingly compete on a basis
which, in the opinion of the Institute, is unfair.

10. Disciplinary Action

10.1 Members reported to the Council for any alleged improper conduct shall
be required to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, twenty-one days
notice having been given to them in writing of the general nature of the
allegations.

10.2 The said members shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the
Disciplinary Committee and shall have the right to be represented, to call
and cross-examine witnesses and generally to put forward such explanations
or defences as they may think fit.

10.3 The Disciplinary Committee will be empowered to recommend to Council
the following categories of disciplinary action to be taken in respect of
members found guilty of improper conduct:

10.3.1 admonishment : for minor misconduct. The letter of admonishment will
remain on a member 's file for the duration of his membership but the
record of the admonishment will be removed after a period of time to be
determined by the Committee in each case.

10.3.2 reprimand: for more severe cases of misconduct. The facts giving
rise to the reprimand will be retained on a member's file for the duration
of his membership and the Institute reserves the right to publish the name
of a member so reprimanded.

10.3.3 expulsion from membership: for the most severe cases of misconduct.

10.4 The decision or recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee shall be
reported to the Council within three months of the hearing.

11. Disciplinary Committee

The Council shall set up from time to time either temporarily, or for a
fixed period or on an ad hoc basis, a Disciplinary Committee of not less
than seven past or present members of the Council under a Chairman
nominated by the Council and with terms of reference determined by the
Council to investigate and report back to the Council on any allegations or
complaints against a member. The quorum for the Disciplinary Committee
shall be the nearest whole number to three-fifths of the members nominated
to the Disciplinary Committee.


If you know of any other codes, then please drop us a line.


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04/22/98