STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII

(Adopted October 7, 1994)

Foreword

Honesty, justice, and courtesy form a moral philosophy which constitutes the foundation of ethics. The engineer should recognize such a standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles guiding his/her conduct and way of life. It is his/her duty to practice his/her profession according to this Code of Ethics. As the keystone of professional conduct is integrity, the engineer will discharge his/her duties with fidelity to the public, his/her employers, and clients, and with fairness and impartiality to all. It is his/her duty to interest himself/herself in public welfare, and to be ready to apply his/her special knowledge for the benefit of mankind. He/She should uphold the honor and dignity of his/her profession and also avoid association with any enterprise of questionable character. In his/her dealings with fellow engineers he/she should be fair.

Professional Life

Sec. 1. The engineer will cooperate in extending the effectiveness of the engineering profession by interchanging information and by contributing to the work of engineering societies, schools, and the scientific and engineering press.

Sec. 2. The engineer will not advertise in a false or deceptive manner.

Relations With the Public

Sec. 3. The engineer will endeavor to extend public knowledge of engineering and will discourage the spreading of untrue, unfair, and exaggerated statements regarding engineering.

Sec. 4. He/She will have due regard for the safety of life and health of the public and employees who may be affected by the work for which he/she is responsible.

Sec. 5. When serving as a witness before a court, commission or other tribunal, he/she will express an opinion only when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

Sec. 6. He/She will not issue statements, criticisms, or arguments on matters connected with public policy which are paid for by private interests, unless he/she indicates on whose behalf he/she is making the statement.

Relations With Clients and Employers

Sec. 7. The engineer will act in professional matters for each client as a faithful agent.

Sec. 8. He/She will act with fairness and justice between his/her client and the contractor when dealing with contracts.

Sec. 9. He/She will make his/her status clear to his/her client or employer before undertaking an engagement if he/she may be called upon to decide on the use on inventions, apparatus, or any other thing in which he/she may have a financial interest.

Sec 10. He/She will present clearly the consequences to be expected from deviations proposed if his/her engineering judgment is overruled by nontechnical authority in cases where he/she is responsible for the technical adequacy of engineering work.

Sec. 11. He/She will engage, or advise his/her client or employer to engage, and he/she will cooperate with, other experts and specialists whenever the client's or employer's interests are best served by such service.

Sec. 12. He/She will disclose no information concerning the business affairs of clients or employers without their consent.

Sec. 13. He/She will not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service, or for services pertaining to the same work, without the consent of all interested parties.

Sec. 14. He/She will not accept commissions, directly or indirectly, from contractors dealing with his/her client or employer in connection with work for which he/she is responsible.

Sec. 15. He/She will not be financially interested in the bids as or of a contractor on competitive work for which he/she is employed as an engineer unless he/she has the consent of his/her client or employer.

Sec. 16. He/She will promptly disclose to his/her client or employer any interest in a business which may compete with or affect the business of his/her client or employer. He/She will not allow an interest in any business to affect his/her decision regarding engineering work for which he/she is employed or which he/she may be called upon to perform.

Relations With Engineers

Sec. 17. The engineer will endeavor to protect the engineering profession from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

Sec. 18. He/She will take care that credit for engineering work is given to those to whom credit is properly due.

Sec. 19. He/She will endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development and advancement of engineers in his/her employ.

Sec. 20. If he/she considers that an engineer is guilty of unethical, illegal, or unfair practice, he/she will present the information to the proper authority for action.

Sec. 21. He/She will exercise due restraint in criticizing another engineer's work in public, recognizing the fact that the engineering societies and the engineering press provide the proper forum for technical discussions and criticism.

Sec. 22. The engineer will establish financial relationships with clients and with other engineers based on his/her obligation to discharge his/her duties with fidelity to the public, to his/her clients, to his/her employers and to his/her employees. At no time shall the engineer's impartiality or dedication to safety and service be compromised in the interest of financial gain.

Sec. 23. The engineer may review the work performed by another engineer for the same client, or for a different client, only after notification is given to the other engineer.

Sec. 23a. The engineer need not notify the other engineer that he/she is reviewing the work when:

(1) The review in conducted by government regulatory bodies, such as building inspection departments, agency staff engineers, etc., as part of a regular procedure in design and construction;

(2) the case is in litigation and the other engineer is one of one of the parties involved;

(3) the competency of the other engineer is under investigation by a duly authorized government agency and where an independent confidential review by another engineer is required.

Sec. 23b. Except when the engineer is not required to inform the other engineer, he/she shall inform the other engineer of any differences of opinion in the reviewed work in all cases where his/her review is not required to be confidential due to the expressed stipulation by his/her clients and/or on advice of counsel.

Sec. 24. He/She will not become associated in responsibility for work with engineers who do not conform to ethical practices.