Preface
The engineering profession and the services provided by engineers depends significantly on the progress of civilization and the protection and harnessing of natural resources to serve the community and increase the standard of living. Thus, it becomes necessary for engineers to provide their professional services according to ethical standards and rules observing honesty, truthfulness and perfection.
Since the Saudi Council of Engineers is concerned with and aims to promote the profession of engineering and all that would develop and raise the level of the profession and its practitioners under its law promulgated by the Royal Decree No. 36 on 26/09/1423H, and since its vision is to "sophisticate the profession of engineering and enable engineers and institutions of engineering to reach optimal solutions, to improve performance level, and to encourage creativity and innovation to achieve a prestigious international position," the Council has opined to present these rules to engineers and technicians in various positions to serve as professional rules determining proper professional dealing among themselves and with others to serve society.
Since justice, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, keeping one's word, never exposing secrets, mutual advice, mastery of work, and getting away from hurting others are in their entirety the morals and values advocated by Islam that urges to stick to them and to abide by applying them in everyday life, the Saudi Council of Engineers has taken into account these foundations, principles and values when preparing the rules and ethics governing the practice of the profession. Thus, all engineers should abide by these rules in all their professional practices in accordance with the Engineer Agreement signed in this regard.
May Allah grant us all success to all that is good....
Rules and ethics of the practice of the engineering profession
General rules:
Rule One: Every engineer should build her/his professional reputation based on efficiency and proficiency of her/his services, and away from unfair competition with others.
Rule Two: Every engineer should seek to develop her/his personal abilities and efficiency, and should also provide professional development opportunities for engineers and technicians working under his supervision.
Rule Three: Every engineer should be committed to promoting the fundamental values and principles of the ethics of the engineering profession and should plant them within society. Regarding her/his conduct, every engineer should be s in ways that support and enhance the prestige and dignity of the profession and the secretariat of the locally and globally.
Rule Four: Regarding professional issues, Every engineer shall act as a careful agent to the employer, and shall avoid any conflict of interests.
Rule Five: When submitting her/his ideas, views and decisions, every engineer should be keen to be objective and honest and confined to her/his field of expertise and professional experience.
Rule Six: When providing professional services, every engineer seeks to apply the highest standards of safety and environmental protection in order to achieve the public interest of individuals and society.
Rule One:
Every engineer should build her/his professional reputation based on efficiency and proficiency of her/his services, and away from unfair competition with others.
1-1 It is obligatory on every engineer not to directly or indirectly pay or offer commissions, gifts or rewards for getting a job with the aim of influence its accreditation. In addition, it is obligatory on every engineer not to make concessions irrelevant to the profession that may be used to influence the other competitors.
1-2 It is obligatory on every engineer not to compete with any other engineer in contradiction with the regulatory rules in order to replace the latter in a particular job, whether after knowing that specific steps have been taken towards her/his appointment or after s/he has already been appointed.
1-3 It is obligatory on every engineer not to criticize the reputation or performance of other engineers inappropriately, whether through criticizing and mutilation directly or indirectly.
1-4 It is obligatory on every engineer neither to overestimate the degree of her/his responsibilities in previous work, to be dishonest in the presentation of her/his professional and academic qualifications and past achievements, whether regarding her/him or her/his workers, nor to be dishonest in the presentation of the facts concerning employers, colleagues or partners.
1-5 Every engineer shall review professional service contracts on the basis of competence, professional qualifications and experience, and volume and scope of work, taking into account the equity of appropriate compensations to other professionals and keening on enhancing trust between all contracting parties.
1-6 Every engineer shall take into account the public interest in estimating the engineering services' cost.
1-7 Every engineer shall not undertake or agree to perform any engineering service for free in a way that may affect the professional level of the service provided.
1-8 No engineer shall unobjectively declare the engineering services as a means of propaganda. In addition, no engineer shall allow the use of her/his name in commercials by manufacturers, contractors and suppliers, unless the engineer has a real role in the advertisement.
Rule Two:
Every engineer shall continue the professional development by developing her/his personal efficiency and abilities, and shall provide professional development opportunities for engineers and technicians who work under his supervision.
2-1 An engineer shall work on developing his abilities in order to raise his professional level by every appropriate means, such as attending professional events, submitting specialized studies and researches, participating in meetings and activities of international professional bodies, and encouraging and urging his staff of engineers and technicians to do the same.
2-2 Every engineer shall give proper credit for engineering works to those to whom credit is due, and shall recognize the proprietary rights of others. Every engineer shall name the person(s) responsible for designs, inventions or accomplishments wherever possible.
2-3 Every engineer shall be fair in assigning works and tasks to other engineers, in proportion to the level of their expertise and training.
2-4 Every engineer shall provide all information regarding working conditions to engineers nominated for employment, and inform them of all matters relating to the proposed position. After hiring, he shall inform them of all changes that may happen and the commitment to the principle of estimating lucrative compensations, salaries and allowances for workers in the engineering field.
Rule Three:
Every engineer shall commit to promote the fundamental values and principles of the ethics of the engineering profession, and establish them in the society. In his behavior, he shall adhere to the techniques that support and promote the prestige, dignity and integrity of the profession locally and globally.
3-1 Every engineer shall commit to apply rules and ethics of the profession in all her/his professional practices, and participate in educational, training and professional activities in institutes, universities and business and professional institutions, in order to promote and establish professional concepts and raise the engineering awareness in society.
3-2 Every engineer shall assume his professional responsibility based on the rules respected by members of the community, and not contribute to any products that may be easy to use for unethical or banned purposes or result in immediate or long-term risks.
3-3 Every engineer shall refer to the Saudi Council of Engineers in case of disputes related to the ethics of the practice of the profession. In all cases, the priorities shall be determined according to the following order:
Government regulations and judicial decisions shall have the priority over professional regulations and laws.
Professional regulations and laws shall have the priority over contracts and individual interests.
3-4 Every engineer shall not participate in or allow the use of his name or the names of his partners on business by a person or an entity which he believes that it involved in a business or a professional practice based on fraud and cheating.
3-5 Every engineer shall not use the relationship, solidarity or participation with others as a means of covering up behaviors that are inappropriate to the profession.
Rule Four:
Regarding professional issues, Every engineer shall act as a careful agent to the employer, and shall avoid any conflict of interests.
4-1 Every engineer shall dedicate their technical knowledge and experience to the benefit of their employers/clients. Every engineer shall assume the responsibilities for their professional practices, and admit mistakes as it occurred, they shall avoid twisting or warping facts to justify wrong decisions.
4.2 Every engineer shall maintain the confidentiality of the information received by the same in the framework of the duties entrusted thereto and shall not disclose such information only after obtaining an approval to do so; with exception of the cases permitted by the regulations in force and appear to be in line with the applicable principles and code of ethics. Moreover, every engineer shall not use such information as a means to obtain personal gain only after obtaining the approval of the Employer. In any case it shall not be permissible to use such information if such use conflicts with the interests of the Employer or the society.
4-3 Every engineer shall deal with all parties with the utmost integrity and fairness whenever administrating any contracts or recruiting any personnel. Every engineer shall enter into an agreement before working for those parties to the extent that allows the same to make improvements, designs,
innovations and other facilities that require keeping the rights thereof in writing or innovation; without resorting to deception as a means to induce others to work therewith.
4-4 Every engineer shall not perform any professional service for the account of any party outside of regular work hours only after informing the Employer of the same. Furthermore, every Engineer shall not use any equipment, materials, laboratories or office facilities pertaining to the Employer for personal purposes without obtaining the approval of the Employer on the same.
4-5 Every engineer shall not inspect the work of another engineer without informing the same or after the expiration of the contract relevant to such work; unless it is required by virtue of the nature of the job thereof.
4-6 Every engineer, working in the field of sales and manufacturing, is entitled to make comparisons between the products thereof and the products of other suppliers; taking into account not to offer or provide any engineering consultancy, designs or advice except as specifically related to the equipment, materials or systems sold thereby or displayed for sale.
4-7 Every engineer shall avoid any conflict with the Employer's interests and shall notify the Employer immediately after being aware of the existence of any relations, business interests or circumstances that may affect the decisions thereof or the quality of the services provided thereby. Moreover, every Engineer shall avoid performing any work appears to be in conflict with Employer's interests.
4-8 Every engineer shall not accept any remuneration paid by a party for the services provided thereby in the same project or in exchange for any services relating to the same work unless it is expressly agreed in advance between all concerned parties. Moreover, every engineer shall not request nor accept any rewards, whether in cash or in kind; including any free engineering designs provided by the suppliers of materials; further to any equipment, devices or systems used in the description or identification of the products of those suppliers in the work carried out by this engineer. Furthermore, every engineer shall not, directly or indirectly, request nor accept any gifts given by any party dealing with the Employer or relevant to the work entrusted to the same.
Rule Five:
When submitting the ideas, views and decisions thereof, every engineer should ensure that such ideas, views and decisions are objective, authentic and fall within the area of specialization and professional experience of the same.
5-1 Every engineer shall be objective, honest and independent in making any engineering decisions that exclusively fall within the field of the scientific and practical qualification; to the extent that such decisions are only made in accordance with scientific and professional considerations. Every engineer shall benefit from all available specialized expertise and ask the assistance of his colleagues in accomplishing any work falling outside the field of the engineer's specialization.
5.2 When the engineer appears before courts or official commissions as an expert or witness to provide a technical testimony, the engineer shall show the engineering standpoint of the same based on the experience, expertise and knowledge of facts bearing in mind the utmost integrity, honesty and honor of the profession.
5.3 Every engineer shall not issue any reports, statements or comments about engineering issues if such reports, statements or comments are issued for the purposes of serving the interests of any party or parties unless a prior explicit statement identifying those parties acting on their own behalf is issued.
5.4 Every engineer shall be modest and moderate, while presenting his works and efficiency. Furthermore, the engineer shall avoid committing any act tending to promote his own interest at the expense of the profession's honesty, status and dignity.
5.5 In case of any conflict arising between the values and principles, and the professional services, engineers shall set their priorities as follows:
- Giving priority to human values over the nature's considerations.
- Giving priority to issues related to human rights over production and exploitation of technology.
- Giving priority to the society's general welfare over private interests.
- Giving priority to safety and security over functionality and material gains of technical solutions.
Rule Six:
When providing professional services, every engineer seeks to apply the highest standards of safety and environmental protection in order to achieve the public interest of individuals and society.
6.1 Every engineer shall comply with the approved standards of public safety and environmental protection, while preparing designs and schemes or upon approval and endorsement. The engineer shall also verify of such compliance, while making decisions and judgments, besides all relevant engineering practices. If the engineer has to provide engineering solutions that appear to cause threatening to public safety, health of environment or interest of society, the employer shall, in such case, be informed of all possible consequences.
6.2 Every engineer shall, as much as possible, provide brochures, including examining standards systems and quality control procedures, to the extent that allows the public to understand the degree of safety and security or the life span of designs, products and systems that he was responsible for.
6.3 Every engineer shall exert all efforts for the purpose of providing constructive services to the nation, in line with the applicable standards and values, promoting the society's interest and welfare, and complying with providing safety measures in all provided professional services.
6.4 When observing circumstances or conditions posing a threat to public safety, health of environment or interest of the society, the engineer shall notify the concerned entity of the available information, provide the required assistance and undertake the proper check to ensure safety and reliability of products or systems.
