Engineering Professional

practice
Er. Sushil Adhikari
Department of Civil and Geomatics Engineering,
Pashchimanchal campus
Profession and Ethics
2.1 Profession definition
 Systematic knowledge and skill obtained through specialized
training or education.
 Synonym to job or occupation.
 Helps to provide specialized type of service for the needy
person, organization, community.

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Profession and Ethics
2.2 Characteristics/Features of profession
 Systematic knowledge and skill
 Authenticity and honor
 Public property and public evaluation
 Bound by code of ethics
 Professional culture

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Profession and Ethics
Factors affecting morale of professionals
In societies, some of the professionals are found losing their
professionalism due to following reasons.
 Inadequate salary
 Defective social norms/ values
 Low morale of the self
 Non implementation of the rules and regulation
 Lack of political commitment

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Profession and Ethics
Professional Engineering
 Act of designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting,
supervising.
 Safeguarding of life, health, property, public welfare.
 Application of engineering principles but not practicing as a
natural scientists.
 Engineering council act 2055 defines the engineering
profession as the occupation which is done by the engineers.
 The engineer according to council defined as a person having
graduate degree in engineering from the institute recognized by
the council.

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Profession and Ethics
2.3 Professional Institutions
Professional engineering body
 It is an independent body that regulates the practice of
professional engineering.
 It governs its members in accordance with the statute of the
body and rules, regulation and by laws of the country in order
to serve and protect the public interest.
 NEA, SEANep, SONA, etc are few examples of professional
body.

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Profession and Ethics
Principal objective of professional body/ associations:
 In general the purpose of the professional association should be
to regulate the practice of professional engineering and to
govern its member, holders of certificate of authorization,
holders of temporary licenses and holders of limited licenses in
accordance with the act of the country or provinces in order
that the public interest can be served and protected.
 Center of learning
 Professional membership
 Voice of profession
 Facilitator of best practice

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Profession and Ethics
Additional objective of professional body/
associations:
 To establish, maintain and develop standards of knowledge and
skill among its member.
 To establish, maintain and develop standards of qualification
and standard of practice for the practice of professional
engineering.
 To establish, maintain and develop standards of professional
ethics among its member.
 To promote public awareness of the role of association
 To perform other duties and exercise for other powers as are
imposed or conferred on the association under any act.
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Profession and Ethics
Role of professional body/associations
 Regulation of the practice of the profession.
 Licensing
 Guidance for training new entrants into the profession
 Set norms and standards
 To grant permission/approval
 Monitoring
 Advice, assistance and monitoring to engineering colleges
 To upgrading and monitoring the professional and technical
competence of member
 Providing technical expertise as requested for the guidance and
assistance of legislators.
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Profession and Ethics
General requirements for membership
 Citizenship (nationality)
 Academic qualifications
 Experience
 Character certificate
 Knowledge of law and ethics
 Language and competence

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Profession and Ethics
Nepal Engineering Council (NEC)
 Autonomous body formed under NEC act 2055 (2055/11/27,
March 11, 1999)
 To regulate engineering profession effectively and
scientifically
 Undertakes registration of engineers in accordance to their
academic qualification
 The executive council was formed on Magh 2056 under the
chairmanship of Er. Ram Babu Sharma and completed its
tenure on Magh 2060.

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Profession and Ethics
Duties and responsibilities of NEC:
The objective of Nepal Engineering Council is to make the
engineering profession effective by mobilizing it in a more
systematic and scientific and also to register the engineers as per
their qualifications.
 To prepare policies, plan, and programs for the smooth
functioning of the engineering profession and to execute them
 To set norms and standards for engineering education in
Nepal
 To grant permission and approval to carry out engineering
education to those engineering colleges and institutions that
meet the required norms and standards and to honour their
degrees and certificates
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Profession and Ethics
 To monitor and inspect the quality of engineering education
provided by the engineering colleges and institutions
 To fix the qualification necessary in order to practice
engineering profession and to register their name in the
council
 To remove their name from the registration of the engineering
council if found to violate the code of ethics

Jurisdiction of Nepal Engineering Council:

 Registration of engineers
 Accreditation of certificates of academic qualifications
 Recognition of academic institutions
 Professional code of conduct.
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Profession and Ethics
Registration category:
 General Engineer (Category – A)
 Professional engineer (Category – B)
 Non- Nepali (Foreigner) registered engineer (Category – C)

Registration requirements of Nepal engineering council

according to NEC act 2055
 Application in an approval form
 Copies of the certificates of academic qualifications
 Registration fee
 Other relevant document.

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Profession and Ethics
Professional codes of conduct (for engineers) in accordance
with NEC act 2055 and NEC regulation 2057
 Act of discipline and honesty
 Act of politeness and confidentiality
 Non discrimination
 Professional work
 Deeds which may cause harm to the engineering profession
 Personal responsibility
 State name, designation and registration no.
 No publicity or advertisement must be made which may
cause unnecessary effect

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Profession and Ethics
Features (Quality) of Engineers:
 Knowledge of technology
 Social understanding
 Economical realities
 Legal awareness
 Environment skills
 Management
 Leadership and innovation

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Profession and Ethics
Nepal Engineer’s Association
 General national body of Nepalese engineers of various
disciplines established on 2024 B.S. (1968 A.D.)
 An independent and non-profit organization of Nepalese
engineers
 It regulates the practice of professional engineering in the
national development
 It governs its member in accordance with the statue of the
association and related law of the country in order to serve
and protect the public interest
 It safeguards the rights and strengthens the professional
capacity of engineer
 NEA is the member of world Federations of engineering
organizations (WFEO) 17
Profession and Ethics
Objective of Nepal Engineer’s Association
 To facilitate the proper development and mobilization of
engineering science and technology in Nepal
 To promote mutual cooperation, interaction, and goodwill
among Nepalese engineers and safeguards their interest and
rights
 To ensure maximum participation of Nepalese engineers in
the national development activities with and effort to stop the
foreign dependency
 To enhance the highest professional ideas continuously
among its member
 To establish linkages, cooperation and goodwill with
international engineering institutions
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Profession and Ethics
Benefits of association membership
Professional
 Provide a focus for the profession maintaining professional
standards and complying with international rules of
professional conduct
 Offers worldwide recognized qualifications, support and advice
required to achieve them
 Allocates fund for local activities
 Provide training facilities, training advises and training courses
 Provides and publishes wide range of engineering information,
journals, newsletters, proceedings etc.
 Offers national program of conference, seminars, workshops,
trainings, lectures.
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Profession and Ethics
Personal
 Participation/Technical visits/Have your views in major
responses to draft policy
 Access to the international recognition, status and networking
opportunities
 Chances to give views on professional issues to the politician,
government, civil society
 Regular update with the occurrence happenings in the
profession
 Maintain good contact with media and promote wider image
with the public
 Benefit from excellent award/utilizing services and facilities of
association
 Get benefits from the discount and other services from
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different sectors in the society
Profession and Ethics
Disciplinary action
 To maintain high professional standards and deal with
situations, in which the public’s safety/welfare may be
endangered, a disciplinary actions process formed by
association
 This process is not an alternative to the civil court. It deals
solely with professional and ethical practice
 Anyone with concern about the conduct of member of the
association is encouraged to contact the association
 Complaints are required to provide evidence and written
summary of the allegations.

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Profession and Ethics
Steps of action
 First step – gathering evidence of the complaint
 Second step – investigation of the complaint
 Third step – disciplinary hearing
If a professional is found not doing wrong in his/her practice, the
complaint is dismissed and no further action is taken. But if
proved professional’s misconduct or misbehavior, then he/she has
to undergo following actions
 Further clarification
 Suspended for specific period
 Cancelled completely
 Subjected to fine
 Have to appear professional standards examination/obtain
experience in particular field
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Profession and Ethics
Code of ethics for engineer adopted by NEA
NEA adopted code of ethics for its fellow since 2025. According
to NEA, fundamental principle of professional engineering ethics
are
 Upholding and advancing engineering profession
 Keeping high standard of ethical conduct

Qualities of engineers to adhere with above principles are

 Will be honest and fair ,and serve employer, clients and public
 Will dedicated to the advancement of competence of
engineering profession and to disseminate engineering
knowledge
 Will use his knowledge and skill in the service of humanity
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Relation of an engineer with Client, Contractor and fellow
engineer

A construction demands multi trade human resources, multi folds

of materials at different stages, remaining within the allocated
budget and financial functions need to happen at the right time.
So, the construction team is generally comprises of the following
parties of 3Cs-
Owners or Client (C),
Owner/Client Consultants (C), and
Contractors (C)

Construction
Project
Consultant Contractor

Relationship between client, consultant and contractor

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Owner or Client:

This party approves the concept of construction, pays the bills

of construction works and utilizes or start up the facilities for
benefits. Its roles are-
 Pays the bills of the work performed,
 Decides and approves changes if any in the project,
 Approves the quality of materials and construction,
 Fixes the project times,
 It instructs the consultant for quality correction for him,
 Decides the start up date and owns the returns from the
services or facility 25
Consultants:

The client hires the consultant to perform engineering works

for his side. Whatever engineering decisions are taken, it is the
consultant at first to accept them and then to convey to the
owner for final approval. Its roles are-
 Design and plans the facility for the owner for construction,
 Control the quality of work for the owner,
 Approves the technical aspects for the owner,
 Instruct the contractor for any change for the owner,
 Recommend the bills for payment to the owner
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Contractor:

The contractor is bound to carry out construction work as per

directions and instruction of the consultant. The instructions
issued by the consultant make legal bases for payment. The
contractor has the following roles-
 Constructs the facility as per design and drawings,
 Obeys the changes instructed by the consultant in written
on behalf of the owner,
 Prepares bills of his work and submits to the consultant for
the recommendation to the owner for payments,
 Improves and rectifies the defects,
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 Clears taxes and prepares bills for the finals etc.
Ethics, Codes of Ethics and Engineering Ethics

Moral:
 Concerned with goodness and badness of human character
 Measures the standard of good behavior by which people
are judged
 Standards of behavior accepted by the culture and religion
of the society
 Made of sterner stuff and donot change
 Morals are of a subliminal nature and defines personal
character

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Ethics, Codes of Ethics and Engineering Ethics

Ethics:
 Set of guidelines that defined accepted practice and
behavior for group of people or society
 It can be changed according to the nation/ society/ peer
group / religion/ profession
 It is not doing just the right things, also it is making tough
decision about ambiguous things
 Things that are legal may not be considered ethical

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Ethics, Codes of Ethics and Engineering Ethics
Engineering codes of ethics:
 Code provides a positive stimulus/ motivation for ethical
conduct and a set of guidelines with fundamental norms
 Code serves as legal support for professional
 Code also serve the formal basis for investigating unethical
conduct
 The current codes are by no means perfect, but they are steps
in the right direction
 A code of ethics governs the conduct of all practitioners
 It privilege earned over the years through knowledge,
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experience and trust.
Ethics, Codes of Ethics and Engineering Ethics
Fundamental canons of ethics issued by NSPE
The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), U.S.
approved by the Board of Directors on 5th Oct. 1977 has set the
fundamental principles for engineers to uphold and advance the
integrity, honor and dignity of engineering profession by-
 Using their knowledge and skill for the advancement of
human welfare,
 Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the
public, their employers and clients,
 Striving to increase the competencies and prestige of
engineering profession, and
 Supporting the professional and technical societies of their
disciplines.
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Ethics, Codes of Ethics and Engineering Ethics
Fundamental canons for code of ethics issued by NSPE
 Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public
 Perform services only in the areas of their competences,
 Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner,
 Act in professional matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees,
 Build their professional reputations on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others,
 Act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor,
integrity and dignity of the profession,
 Continue their professional development throughout their
careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional
development of those engineers under their supervision.
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2.6 Moral dilemma and ethical decision making
Dilemma:
 A situation necessitating a choice between two equally
unpleasant/ undesirable alternatives. A problem that seems
incapable of solution.

Moral dilemma:
 A painful decision, where every solution involves some kind
of loss is a moral dilemma.
 It is even worse, because whichever option you chose,
someone or something will suffer.
 Decision has to be made on the morally correct course of
action, not just the one you would prefer.

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2.6 Moral dilemma and ethical decision making

The engineers needs to overcome the moral dilemma

considering following law of ethics :
 Eternal
 Utilitarianism
 Universalism
 Distributive justice
 Personal liberty

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Detailed duties and liabilities of engineers

 Fitness for purpose

 Negligent misstatement
 Statutes, bylaws and building regutations
 Examination of site above and below the ground
 Public and private rights
 Plans, drawings and specifications
 Materials
 Novel, risky design and employers interference in design
 Revision of design during

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Detailed duties and liabilities of engineers

 Fitness for purpose

 Negligent misstatement
 Statutes, bylaws and building regutations
 Examination of site above and below the ground
 Public and private rights
 Plans, drawings and specifications
 Materials
 Novel, risky design and employers interference in design
 Revision of design

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Liability, Negligence and Tort

Negligence:
 The law expects certain standard of behavior from the citizen
it governs.
 When a person fails to meet these standards by acting in a
way the law considers unreasonable that person may be
guilty of negligence.
 Negligence is the lack of proper care or intention.

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Liability, Negligence and Tort

Elements of Negligence
 The defendant had a legal obligation to behave in a certain
way “ duty of care”
 The defendant failed to fulfill this obligation by acting
inappropriately “ Breach of that expectation”
 The plaintiff’s injury was caused because of defendants legal
breach of conduct “ resulting damage”

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Liability, Negligence and Tort

Tort:
 It is an action or inaction of one or more individuals, which
leads to loss or damage of another.
 The court seeks compensate to those who suffers as a result.
 This is independent of any contract that might exist.
 It is any private or civil wrong for which damage may by
claimed
Objective of tort law
 Compensation to victim
 Transferring the cost of injury from victim to the person
responsible for that
 Prevention of repetition of harmful action
 Defending the law and rights of victim
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Liability, Negligence and Tort

Liability:
 It is the obligation to pay penalty for fulfilling or not
fulfilling predefined duties.
 It is the consequences of negligence.
 Professionals can be liable for incorrect advice, design or
reports.
Vicarious liability
 A person who commits tort is liable for the damage that he
caused.
 Another person may also be liable in respect of the same tort
even though he did not commit it.
 This can arise when an employee commits a tort in the course
of his employment: his employer is also liable for his
employee, which is known as vicarious.
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Liability, Negligence and Tort

Liability of partners in tort:

 All the forms of partners are liable for a tort committed by a
partner who committed tort.
 In the ordinary course of the firms business or with the
expressed or implified authority of his copartners, such
liability arises on the basis of vicarious liability because each
partner is the agent of his co partners.
Types of Liability
 Liability under contract: eg works not meeting specification
 Liability is tort: for causing injury to others through
negligence and reckless action
 Liability under statute: in accordance with the laws and
statute
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Thank you