iii.

Code of Professional Conduct for Engineers

Introduction Engineering is a profession in which the knowledge of mathematical and the natural sciences gained by study, experiences, and practice is applied with judgement and discretion in order to use economically the materials and forces of nature for the benefits of mankind. The Engineering Professional plays a paramount role in a developing country such as ours. The work of engineers shapes the physical environment of society, and has a profound effect on the economic growth and development of the nation. It is therefore essential that the members of the engineering profession should always perform their duties to the highest standards of professional integrity. They should maintain the dignity of the profession, and not be led astray by commercial motives into performing actions, which are not for the good of the profession as a whole, or for the good of society in general. The code of Professional Conduct describes the professional behaviour of Engineers. These "Notes" are intended to offer a detailed clarification of the items of the Code.

BEM Code of Professional Conduct

Definition of employer 24. Unless it is otherwise expressly provided, the expression employer shall for the purposes of this part, include client. 25. A Registered Engineer shall order his conduct so as to uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the profession. 26. A Registered Engineer in his responsibility to his employer and the profession shall have full regard to the public interest. 27. A Registered Engineer shall discharge his duties to his employer with complete fidelity. He shall not accept remuneration for services rendered other than from his employer or with his employers permission. 28. A Registered Engineer shall not maliciously injure or attempt to injure whether directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects or business of another Registered Engineer. 29. A Registered Engineer shall not improperly canvass or solicit professional employment nor offer to make by commission or otherwise payment for the introduction of such employment. He shall not advertise except for the purpose of obtaining salaried appointment as permitted by the Board.

Conduct of Registered Engineer

Responsibility to employer and profession Discharge of duties

Reputation etc. of a Registered Engineer not to be injured

Canvassing and advertising prohibited

A professional Engineer in private practice not to practice with any person whose registration has been cancelled A salaried Registered Engineer not to compete with professional Engineers in private practice. Restriction on submission of plans and drawings

30. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not practise engineering with any person registration has been cancelled unless he has been reinstated under section 17(1) of the Act. 31. A Registered Engineer shall not use the advantage of a salaried position to compete with professional Engineers in private practice. 32. (1) No registered Engineer other than a professional Engineer in private practice may submit plans or drawings to any person or authority in the federation unless such plans or drawings are in connection with equipment, plant or specialised products manufactured or sold by his employer or firm, or in connection with his own or his employers engineering works and buildings. (2) For the purpose of this rule, " employer" shall not include client.

Restriction on making payments or placing contracts

33. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not be medium of payment made on his clients behalf unless he is so requested by his client nor shall he, in connection with work on which he is employed, place contracts or orders except with the authority of and on behalf of his client. 34. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not without the occurrence of the Board enter into professional partnership with any person other than a Professional Engineer in Private practice, a Registered Architect, a Registered Surveyor or a Licensed Land Surveyor. 35. A Professional Engineer in private Practice shall not, directly or indirectly attempt to supplant another Professional Engineer in private practice nor shall he intervene or attempt to intervene in or in connection with engineering work of any kind which to his knowledge has already been entrusted to another Professional Engineer in Private practice nor shall he review or take over the work of that other Engineer acting for the same employer, until he has either obtained the consent of that Engineer or has been formally notified by the employer that the engagement of that Engineer with work has been properly terminated. 36. (1) A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not be a contractor at the same time. (2) A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not act in a professional capacity for an employer

Restriction on entering professional partnership.

A Professional Engineer in private practice not to intervene or to take over the work of another.

A Professional Engineer in Private Practice shall not be a contractor

and a contractor on the same project unless on the specific instructions of the employer.

Notes on the Code of Professional Conduct

I) General Professional Integrity Items 25, 26 and 27 generally describe the professional standards that an Engineer is expected to maintain. The Engineer should always act so as to uphold the dignity and reputation of the profession. He should at all times apply the conditions of a contract with equal fairness between his client or employer and the contractor, and should be totally impartial in setting any questions which arise between his client, his employer or his employers client, and a contractor. He should be completely loyal to the interests of his client or employer; the Engineer should also keep in mind the general good of society as a whole. II) Advertisement Item 29 states that an Engineer should not advertise or canvas for employment. a. Insertion in charity programmes, congratulatory messages, etc . Notices of donations to charity, insertions in souvenir programmes, congratulatory messages in the press and similar notices may include only the name of the individual or firm making the announcement. Details such as type of professional activity, experience, qualification, address and telephone numbers should not be included. b. Advertisement for staff Advertisements in public media for staff should not include the name of the firm making the advertisement, all correspondence being addressed to some officer or box number. For advertisement in technical journals the name of the firm may be inserted. c. Signboards on work sites A signboard with the name and address of the Engineering firm or of individual engineer may be put up at the work site. There should be only one signboard per road frontage for a work site. The lettering should be not more than six inches high, and uniform in size and colour with the rest of the lettering, not self- illuminated or with moving lights. d. Nameplates Nameplates outside the office of a practising Engineer or Engineering firm should not be more than 4 inch high and any logo used should not be more than 6-inch square. In the tenants directory of a large building, this name should be in the same style as the names of other tenants. e. Letterheads The letterheads of a practising Engineer or Engineering firm should carry the names, addresses and qualifications of partners, but should not include details of experience, work specialisation or similar self-promoting material. Type of practice is permissible. f. Telephone directories and other directories An entry in the Yellow pages of the telephone directory is permissible but the entry must not be given special prominence by the use of a boldface type, large spacing, logo or special layout. The names of Members may be inserted in the Straits Directory of Malaysia. Insertion in any other commercial directory is not permitted unless by special permission form the Board of Engineers. g. Advertisement of change of address

One advertisement in the press is permitted, which should contain the necessary details of change of address, without details of experience, work specialisation or similar self-promoting material.