Fundamental Canons
What are the Fundamental Canons?
Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor
and dignity of the engineering profession by:
I. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement
of human welfare;
II. being honest and impartial, and serving with
fidelity the public, their employers and clients;
III. striving to increase the competence and
prestige of the engineering profession; and
IV. supporting the professional and technical
societies of their disciplines.
Fundamental Canons
I. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional
duties.
II. Engineers shall perform services only in
the areas of their competence.
III. Engineers shall issue public statements
only in an objective and truthful manner.
IV. Engineers shall act in professional matters
for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and
shall avoid conflicts of interest.
V. Engineers shall build professional reputation
on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly
with others.
VI. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to
uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession.
VII. Engineers shall continue their professional
development throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities
for the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision.
Why are Fundamental Cannons Important?
Engineering is a profession. As such, society imposes
special responsibilities on engineers. These responsibilities are
expressed in a code of ethics similar to those followed by other
professionals.
Ethics is the study of the morality
of human actions and how humans interact with each other. Ethical
behavior is defined in a set of Fundamental Principles and the Fundamental
Principles are expanded in a set of rules called the Fundamental
Canons. The Fundamental Cannons are described briefly
in the ENGR111/112 curriculum, but are discussed in more detail
in the Engineering Ethics course -ENGR 452.
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