Engineering Ethics and Societal Impacts practice questions

Answer: A) Notify her employer or client and any other authority as may be appropriate

Under NCEES Model Rules 240.15 A, a licensee whose judgment is overruled where the public is endangered must notify the employer or client and any other appropriate authority. Quitting, deferring, or only documenting the concern does not meet that duty.

• ACorrect. The NCEES Model Rules require licensees whose judgment is overruled, when the public's health, safety, or welfare is endangered, to notify their employer or client and any other appropriate authority. Raising it inside the company first is reasonable, but the duty doesn't end there if the danger remains.
• BIncorrect. Walking away without telling anyone leaves the danger in place. Resigning does not meet the duty to notify the appropriate parties.
• CIncorrect. Another licensee sealing the work does not remove her own obligation to protect the public. Public health, safety, and welfare come first, not deference to a supervisor.
• DIncorrect. A private memo may protect her personally, but it notifies no one who can act on the danger. The rule requires notifying the employer or client and other appropriate authorities.

Answer: C) The same as for paid work

• AIncorrect. Duties still apply.
• BIncorrect. The duty doesn't depend on payment.
• CCorrect. Free work still requires competence and care.
• DIncorrect. Full care applies to the work done.

Answer: A) Accept the project, perform only the structural phases, and have qualified others perform the geotechnical phases

Under the NCEES Model Rules, an engineer may accept a project that needs expertise outside their field only if they limit their own services to the phases they are qualified for. Qualified licensees, consultants, or employees must perform the other phases, and the engineer must not seal work outside their competence.

• ACorrect. The Model Rules allow a licensee to accept an assignment that requires expertise outside their own field. The licensee's services must be limited to the phases they are qualified for, and qualified licensees, consultants, or employees must perform the other phases.
• BIncorrect. The rules do not require turning down the whole project. They allow it if the engineer limits their own work and qualified others handle the remaining phases.
• CIncorrect. Licensees must not sign or seal plans or documents on subject matter in which they lack competence, even after reviewing them.
• DIncorrect. Telling the client does not make the engineer qualified. Licensees may perform only the work in which they are qualified by education or experience.

Answer: A) Make a reasonable effort to inform the other licensee of the suspected error, unless such reporting is legally prohibited

Under the NCEES Model Rules, a licensee who believes another licensee's work contains a material error affecting public safety must make a reasonable effort to inform that licensee, unless legally prohibited. The licensee must also avoid malicious or indiscriminate criticism.

• ACorrect. The Model Rules require licensees to make a reasonable effort to inform another licensee whose work is believed to contain a material discrepancy, error, or omission that may impact public health, safety, or welfare, unless such reporting is legally prohibited.
• BIncorrect. The rules prohibit only malicious or false injury to another licensee's reputation and indiscriminate criticism. Pointing out a specific error that could affect safety is required, not prohibited.
• CIncorrect. Trying to injure another licensee's professional reputation, prospects, or employment, directly or indirectly, violates the Model Rules' obligations to other licensees.
• DIncorrect. A licensee may seal only work they prepared or directly supervised. Changing another licensee's sealed documents without involving that licensee does not meet the duty to inform them.

Answer: A) Earn 15 professional development hours each calendar year, at least 1 of them focused on engineering ethics

Under the NCEES CPC Standard, licensees earn 15 PDHs each calendar year with no carryover, and at least 1 PDH must focus on engineering or surveying ethics.

• ACorrect. The NCEES CPC Standard requires the equivalent of 15 PDHs per calendar year (January 1 to December 31), with no carryover. At least 1 of those PDHs must come from a course or activity focused on engineering or surveying ethics.
• BIncorrect. The standard requires 15 PDHs per calendar year, not 30. It also requires at least 1 PDH in ethics, so an all-technical program would not comply.
• CIncorrect. Meeting the CPC requirements is a condition of renewal for licensees in general. The standard does allow some exemptions, such as a new licensee's first renewal period and certified retired or inactive status, but changing disciplines is not one of them, and passing the PE exam does not end the obligation.
• DIncorrect. The CPC Standard maintains competence through ongoing professional development hours, not through periodic re-examination.

Answer: A) A violation, because it misrepresents his degree of responsibility on a prior assignment

The NCEES Model Rules prohibit licensees from misrepresenting or exaggerating their degree of responsibility in prior assignments. Claiming another engineer's design as your own is unethical whatever the firm's practices or the sealing history.

• ACorrect. The NCEES Model Rules say licensees shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degree of responsibility in prior assignments or the complexity of those assignments. Credit belongs to the engineer who actually did the work.
• BIncorrect. A firm can list its own projects, but an individual's résumé must accurately state his personal role. Exaggerating that role is a misrepresentation.
• CIncorrect. The original engineer leaving does not change who did the work. The claim is still a misrepresentation of his responsibility.
• DIncorrect. The rule covers what he claims about his qualifications and experience, not just sealing. Overstating his role is a violation whether or not he sealed anything.

Answer: C) Decline to seal them and notify her employer or client and any other appropriate authority

Licensees must seal only documents that conform to accepted standards and protect the public. When overruled on a matter that endangers public safety, they must notify their employer or client and any other appropriate authority.

• AIncorrect. Licensees may sign and seal only documents that conform to accepted engineering standards and safeguard the public. Recording an objection does not make sealing nonconforming drawings acceptable.
• BIncorrect. The person who seals the drawings is professionally responsible for them, and the duty to protect public safety comes first. A supervisor's instruction does not shift that responsibility.
• CCorrect. The Model Rules require licensees to seal only conforming documents. When their professional judgment is overruled and public safety is at risk, they must notify their employer or client and any other appropriate authority.
• DIncorrect. Declining to seal is right, but the duty to notify when public safety is endangered outweighs confidentiality. Staying silent leaves the hazard unaddressed.

Answer: A) Performed connection design calculations under the supervision of the engineer of record

The NCEES Model Rules prohibit licensees from misrepresenting or exaggerating their degree of responsibility in prior assignments. Supervised work may be listed if the actual role is described accurately.

• ACorrect. This statement describes the engineer's actual responsibility. The Model Rules prohibit licensees from misrepresenting or exaggerating their degree of responsibility in prior assignments or the complexity of those assignments.
• BIncorrect. Doing many of the calculations under supervision is not leading the design. This description exaggerates the engineer's degree of responsibility, which the Model Rules prohibit.
• CIncorrect. Claiming responsibility for the whole structural design suggests the role of the engineer of record. It misrepresents the engineer's degree of responsibility.
• DIncorrect. No such restriction exists. The Model Rules require that past assignments be described accurately, not that only sealed work be listed.

Answer: A) Give an honest, well-supported estimate

• ACorrect. Decision-makers rely on accurate information.
• BIncorrect. That misleads the client.
• CIncorrect. That misleads.
• DIncorrect. That isn't honest.

Answer: A) Only with the client's prior consent, or when authorized or required by law or rules

Under the NCEES Model Rules, information obtained in a professional capacity may be revealed only with the prior consent of the client or employer, or as authorized or required by law or rules. Neither finishing the project nor the absence of personal gain removes this duty.

• ACorrect. The Model Rules prohibit licensees from revealing facts, data, or information obtained in a professional capacity without the prior consent of the client or employer, except as authorized or required by law or rules. Using the information to trade the client's stock would also be improper.
• BIncorrect. The rule has no exception for finished projects or final payment. Consent or legal authorization is still required.
• CIncorrect. The rule does not depend on whether the recipient is licensed or whether anyone profits. Revealing the information without consent or legal authorization is still prohibited.
• DIncorrect. The engineer cannot decide this alone. The rule requires the client's prior consent or authorization by law or rules.