March, 2000
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ACT, REGULATION & BYLAW CHANGES
AGM to Consider Code of Ethics Changes
Council had previously requested the Practice Standards Committee (PSC) to review the Code of Ethics and suggest revisions with emphasis on resolving areas of potential conflict, identifying hierarchy of the rules if necessary and clearly enunciating the underlying principles involved in the rules. After four years of meetings and consultations, a PSC subcommittee presented the following proposed revised Code of Ethics to Council at its February 3, 2000 meeting. At the meeting, Council agreed that the Code should be presented to the general membership at APEGGA's Annual General Meeting for ratification. For comparison, Proposed Revised Code of Ethics the APEGGA's current Code of Ethics is also presented below.
| PROPOSED REVISED CODE OF ETHICS |
Preamble
Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall recognize that professional ethics is founded upon integrity, competence, dignity and devotion to service. This concept shall guide their conduct at all times.
Rules of Conduct
1. Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall, in their areas of practice, hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public and have regard for the environment.
2. Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall undertake only work that they are competent to perform by virtue of their training and experience.
3. Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall conduct themselves with integrity, honesty, fairness and objectivity in their professional activities.
4. Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall comply with applicable statutes, regulations and by-laws in their professional practices.
5. Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists
shall uphold and enhance the honour, dignity, and reputation of their
professions and, thus, the ability of the professions to serve the public
interest.
| CURRENT CODE OF ETHICS |
Preamble
Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall recognize that professional ethics is founded upon integrity, competence and devotion to service and to the advancement of human welfare. This concept shall guide their conduct at all times. In this way each professional's actions will enhance the dignity and status of the professions.
Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists, through their practice, are charged with extending public understanding of the professions and should serve in public affairs when their professional knowledge may be of benefit to the public.
Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists will build their reputations on the basis of the merit of the services performed or offered and shall not compete unfairly with others or compete primarily on the basis of fees without due consideration for other factors.
Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall demonstrate understanding, professionalism and technical expertise to members-in-training under their supervision.
Rules of Conduct
1 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall have proper regard in all their work for the safety and welfare of all persons and for the physical environment affected by their work.
2 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall undertake only work that they are competent to perform by virtue of training and experience and shall express opinions on engineering, geological or geophysical matters only on the basis of adequate knowledge and honest conviction.
3 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall sign, stamp and seal only plans, specifications, reports or documents
(a) that they have prepared or that have been prepared under their direct supervision and control, or
(b) that were prepared by another person in circumstances where the professional engineer, geologist or geophysicist has thoroughly reviewed them and accepted professional responsibility for them.
4 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall act for their clients or employers as faithful agents or trustees and shall always act independently and with fairness and justice to all parties.
5 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall not engage in activities or accept remuneration for services rendered that may create a conflict of interest with their clients or employers, without the knowledge and consent of their clients or employers.
6 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall not disclose confidential information without the consent of their clients or employers, unless the withholding of the information is considered to be contrary to the safety of the public.
7 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall present clearly to their clients or employers the consequences to be expected if their professional judgment is overruled by other authorities in matters pertaining to work for which they are professionally responsible.
8 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall not offer or accept covert payment for the purpose of securing an engineering, geological or geophysical assignment.
9 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall represent their qualifications and competence, or advertise professional services offered, only through factual representation without exaggeration.
10 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall conduct themselves toward other professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists and toward employees and others with fairness and good faith.
11 Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall advise the Registrar of any practice by a member of the Association that they believe to be contrary to this Code of Ethics.
Under section 43 of the Act, a contravention of this Code of Ethics may constitute unprofessional conduct or unskilled practice, which is subject to disciplinary action.