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31/3334–6FE Reference Handbook 10.4 · Ethics · NSPE Code
1. Hold Paramount Public Safety2. Licensure & Responsible Charge3. Contracts & Conflicts of Interest4. Practice Only in Areas of Competence5. Confidentiality of Client and Employer Information6. Bribes and Gifts7. Reporting Unethical Practice8. Sealing Only Work Under Responsible Charge9. Public Welfare Over Employer Interest10. Truthful Public Statements11. Environmental Stewardship12. Continuing Education / Maintain Competence13. Duty Priority When Interests Conflict14. Expert Witness Duties15. Competitive Bidding for Professional Services16. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality17. Standard of Care and Professional Liability18. Sustainability and Stewardship

Handbook formula

Public Welfare Over Employer Interest

Loyalty to an employer is real but secondary. When profit, schedule, or a gag clause conflicts with public safety, health, or welfare, the PE follows Canon I. Refuse unsafe directives, notify in writing, and escalate if the public remains at risk. Being fired does not make the unsafe choice ethical.

Hold paramount public safety, health, welfare
Duty to employer, ranked below the public
Written notice of the safety objection

Step-by-step solved example

An employer orders a cheaper, undersized beam to hit a budget, over the PE's objection. Occupancy is public. Action?

  1. 1. Conflict

    Employer profit versus occupant safety.

  2. 2. Canon I

    Refuse to seal the unsafe member. Notify the employer in writing. If they proceed, notify the building official.

Answer: Public safety wins: refuse, notify, escalate if needed.

10 practice questions

0/10 correct

1.When employer profit conflicts with public safety, the PE follows

2.Canon I requires engineers to

3.An employer orders a cheaper unsafe detail. You should

4.Loyalty to the employer

5.If fired for refusing unsafe work, the ethical stance was

6."The public" includes

7.A gag clause cannot

8.Documenting a safety objection in writing

9.The client wants to skip required inspections. You should

10."Hold paramount" means the public interest is