Professional Ethics for Civil Engineers

Dr. Amartya Kumar Bhattacharya

BCE (Hons.) ( Jadavpur ), MTech ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), PhD ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), Cert.MTERM ( AIT Bangkok ), CEng(I), FIE, FACCE(I), FISH, FIWRS, FIPHE, FIAH, FAE, MIGS, MIGS – Kolkata Chapter, MIGS – Chennai Chapter, MISTE, MAHI, MISCA, MIAHS, MISTAM, MNSFMFP, MIIBE, MICI, MIEES, MITP, MISRS, MISRMTT, MAGGS, MMBSI

Chairman,

MultiSpectra Consultants,

23, Biplabi Ambika Chakraborty Sarani,

Kolkata – 700029, West Bengal, INDIA.

E-mail: dramartyakumar@gmail.com

As we take the Civil Engineering profession forward through our manifold actions, I would like to remind my colleagues of the importance of professional ethics. Ethics are a science of morals, or a set of principles, with a sense of purpose. Distinction between right and wrong, virtuous thoughts and actions and being good and maximise goodness for the greatest numbers define morals and values.

In this context, a professional Civil Engineer

• should keep his client fully informed on all matters in respect of his assignment which are likely to lead to a conflict of interest or when, in his judgement, a project will not be viable on the basis of commercial, technical, environmental or any other risks;
• should maintain confidentiality of any information with utmost sincerity unless expressly permitted to disclose such information or unless such permission, if withheld, may adversely affect the welfare, health and safety of the community;
• should neither pay nor offer direct or indirect inducements to secure work;
• should compete on the basis of merit alone;
• should refrain from inducing a client to breach a contract entered into with another duly appointed Civil Engineer;
• should, if asked by a client to review the review the work of another person or organisation, discuss the review with the other person or organisation to arrive at a balanced opinion;
• should make statements or give evidence before a tribunal or a court of law in an objective and accurate manner and express any opinion on the basis of adequate knowledge and competence;
• should reveal the existence of any interest – pecuniary or otherwise – which may affect the judgement while giving an evidence or making a statement.