The University of Western Ontario

ES 4498G
Engineering Ethics,
Sustainable Development and
the Law
Dr.4,Jon
Southen
January
2010

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Outline of Todays Class

Course Introduction
Introduction to ES 4498G
Course Outline and Expectations

Professionalism
Professionalism and Professional Engineering

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ES 4498G
Engineering Science + Engineering Design +
Professionalism and Engineering Ethics =
The Profession of Engineering

The Iron Ring is a Symbol of an Engineers Obligation to Society and the

Public Interest

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ES 4498G
Course Content
Professionalism and ethics
Contract and tort law applicable to engineering
Sustainable development and environmental
issues; risk management
Course Format
Interactive, discussion-based
Case studies
Evaluation
Written reports, test, class participation, final
exam

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Schedule and Contact Information

Lectures
Mondays, 9:00 11:30
SEB1200
13 scheduled weeks
Office hours
By appointment (contact by email)
During scheduled office hours (Wed 2:30-4:30)
Contact information
Dr. Jon Southen
jsouthen@eng.uwo.ca
SEB 3116

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Required Texts
Canadian Professional Engineering and
Geoscience: Practice and Ethics
4th Edition, Gordon C. Andrews
Law For Professional Engineers
4th Edition, D. L. Marston
Engineering Science 4498G Course Readings
Available at UWO bookstore

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Course Evaluation Scheme

1. Position Paper (February 8) ... 20 %
2. Test (February 8) .20 %
3. Case Study (March 22) ... 20 %
4. Class Participation 10 %
5. Final Exam . 30 %

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Class Participation
Worth 10% of your Grade
Attendance, quantity and quality of participation
Be prepared to add to the discussion in every
class
Complete all readings, especially case studies
Prepare summaries, questions, solutions
Be prepared to defend your views and provide possible
alternatives

Written work, both group and individual, may be

assigned to be submitted during class time

The University of Western Ontario

Outline of Todays Class

Course Introduction
Introduction to ES 4498G
Course Outline and Expectations

Professionalism
Professionalism and Professional Engineering

The University of Western Ontario

Defining a Profession
A self selected, self disciplined group of individuals
who hold them themselves out to the public as
possessing a special skill derived from training
and education and are prepared to exercise that
skill in the interest of others.
From Ontario Legislature debates leading to the
Professional Engineers Act in 1968-69

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Defining a Profession
Profession: A calling requiring specialized
knowledge and often long and intensive
preparation including instruction in skills and
methods as well as in the scientific, historical, or
scholarly principles underlying such skills and
methods, maintaining by force of organization or
concerned opinion high standards of achievement
and conduct, and committing its members to
continued study and to a kind of work which has for
its prime purpose the rendering of a public service.
From Websters Third New International Dictionary

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Common Elements of a Profession

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Professional Education
Accreditation
Skill Development (Experience)
Certification and/or Licensing
Professional Development
Professional Societies
Code of Ethics (and Enforcement)
Organizational Certification

Adapted by Steve McConnell in After the Gold Rush

from Gary Ford and Norman E. Gibbs
(Software Engineering Institute)

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Licensing a Profession
Licensing serves three
purposes:
Protect the safety of the public
Restrict unqualified people from
practising
Discipline negligent or
unscrupulous practitioners

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Evolution of Licensing

1887 CSCE holds first meeting, establishes high

standards for admission
1907 Quebec bridge disaster reinforces drive for licensing
1918-1919 CSCE/EIC pushes for adoption of licensing
laws
1922 Ontario passes licensing law
1937 Ontario law changes from open to closed
1955 PEI becomes last Province to pass licensing
legislation
In contrast to the U.S., the Canadian engineering
profession is self-regulating, i.e. the legislation passed
creates an Association of professional engineers which, in
turn, regulates the profession.

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Professional Engineering
"professional engineer" means a person who holds a license
or a temporary license; ("ingnieur")
"practice of professional engineering" means any act of
designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting,
directing or supervising wherein the safeguarding of life,
health, property or the public welfare is concerned and that
requires the application of engineering principles, but does
not include practising as a natural scientist; ("exercice de la
profession d'ingnieur")

Definitions From Professional Engineers Act (Ontario)

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Professional Engineering in Ontario

PEO Licensing Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Be at least 18 years old;

Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
Be of good character;
Hold an undergraduate engineering degree from a
Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB)
accredited program (or equivalent qualifications);
Successfully complete PEOs Professional Practice
Examination (PPE); and
Demonstrate at least 48 months of verifiable, acceptable
engineering experience, at least 12 months of which must
be acquired in a Canadian jurisdiction under the
supervision of a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng.)

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Professional Engineering in Ontario

PEO Work Experience Requirements:

Application of Theory;
Practical Experience;
Management of Engineering;
Communications Skills; and
Awareness of the Social Implications of Engineering
See Licensing Guide and Application for Licence: How to
apply for a Professional Engineer Licence in Ontario
available online from the PEO for more details, forms, and
deadlines

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Review of Todays Class

Course Introduction
Introduction to ES 4498G
Course Outline and Expectations
Professionalism and Professional Engineering

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Next Class
Topics
Ethical Theory
Review of the Code of Ethics and the definition of
professional misconduct and incompetence
Discipline and enforcement
Case studies

Readings
Andrews, Chapters 1-3, 6 and14
Course notes, pages 1-13, 23, 43, 45, 47, and 49