Introduction
Ethics refers to the positive guidelines that are used in various professions to guide the action and behavior of people in a given profession (Kreiner & Putcha, 2005). Ethics is based on morals that mandate professionals to act in a consistent manner that upholds good values. The main tenets for ethical behavior in any professional practice include acting with dignity, fairness, honest, and trustworthy. Lau (n.d.) noted that ethical behavior involves the ability to exercise their own discretion when faced with a dilemma. Ethical practice in engineering entails making thoughtful decisions that align with the needs of society and upholds the dignity of all people. The following paper discusses the need for engineers to be ethical and the pressures young engineers face.
Ethics in Engineering
Engineers are responsible for many artifacts in contemporary society. They deal with the constructed world that has both benefits and risks. For example, civil engineers are tasked with designing structures that are used by people such as roads. In order to promote the common good for the public, engineers are supposed to uphold the safety, health, and welfare of the public (Lau, n.d.). In addition, ethical standards ensure that engineers do not offer services in the fields that they have no competence.
Engineers are tasked with solving problems in society by identifying and understanding the issues that affect the public. This aspect of engineering forms the basis for choosing the cause of action that is morally acceptable and evaluating the possible impacts of the engineering action. Kreiner and Putcha (2005) noted that engineers are involved in many activities that touch on the lives of the public. It is thus required that engineers should bear in mind that the decisions and practices they make should put into consideration the lives, health, and safety of the public.
According to Lau (n.d.), engineers are supposed to complement the technical competence with an evaluation of the implications of their project designs. For example, projects undertaken by engineers may result in environmental degradation or alter the natural course; diversion of a major waterway may interfere with the bionetwork, pose health and safety risks, and may negatively affect the environment.
In contemporary society, there have been increases in technological development. Technology is regarded as a means of social progress, therefore, in order to advance the social good, engineers are tasked with ensuring that the technological equipment they design does not pose health and safety concerns to the public. Thus, there is a concern about the actions of engineers and their connections with the larger world.
This becomes a great concern when the actions of the engineers lead to environmental degradation or pose health risks to residents. According to Lau (n.d.), engineers should uphold the health and safety of the people. In line with safety and health requirements, engineers are required to maintain moral standards in executing their mandate. Bearing in mind the roles played by engineers, it is evident that there is a need for engineers to be ethical in order to design projects properly and avoid practices that pose problems to society.
Young Engineers Pressures
Young engineers face many ethical dilemmas in the execution of their duties. For example, young engineers are faced with a conflict of interest issues. The conflicts commonly arise when there are issues of loyalty to the organizations they are working for and the need to advance self-interest. For example, young engineers employed in various organizations experience ethical dilemmas when their firms are engaging in illegal and harmful practices that contradict the ethical behaviors of engineers. Due to the need to maintain employment and, at the same time, to remain morally upright as per engineering ethics, the young engineers face difficulties in making a sound judgment.
According to Kreiner and Putcha (2005), engineers are obligated to obey their employers, but at the same time, they should engage in activities that promote the public good. In order to solve such pressures, Lau (n.d.) noted that the protection of society is paramount. Therefore, young engineers facing dilemmas should prioritize matters that relate to the public. Even though this may have a great career and financial implications for the young engineers, Kreiner and Putcha (2005) argued that the gratification of doing the right thing should supersede personal interests.
Conclusion
The concerns for health, safety, and dignity of humanity are critical issues in the engineering practices. The artifacts of engineers may interfere with the life of different species. In modern society, sustainable development requires engineers to design projects that minimize wastes and in line with practices that the community regards as morally accepted. Therefore, just as the other professionals such as doctors, engineers are involved in activities that directly touch on the safety and health of the public.
Hence, it is clear that engineers need to be ethical in order to promote the safety and health of the public. Ethical considerations in engineering act as the roadmap of good behavior and outlines the values that enhance humanity. Thus, engineers should make choices that confront humanity’s challenges, such as environmental degradation practices.
References
Kreiner, J., & Putcha, C. (2005). Ethical and professional issues facing engineers in global settings. Fullerton, CA: California State University.
Lau, E. (n.d.). Is ethics important to engineers? Web.