RedVector JCOM-00187

Ethics for the Practicing Engineer - Managing Risks Imposed on the Public

Ethics for the Practicing Engineer - Managing Risks Imposed on the Public

1 hr. Online Course

Level: Intermediate

Item#: JCOM-00187

SME: Jim Taube

Engineering decisions directly affect public safety, infrastructure reliability, worker protection, environmental quality, and community trust. This course examines how engineers fulfill their ethical responsibility to protect the public while assessing, communicating, and managing risk throughout the lifecycle of engineered systems. Using the NSPE Code of Ethics, NCEES Model Rules of Professional Conduct, representative state engineering board expectations, and relevant OSHA and EPA concepts, the course explores the relationship between professional ethics and risk management. Learners will examine public acceptability of risk, informed consent, engineering judgment, lifecycle infrastructure management, communication of risk, organizational pressures, and lessons learned from major engineering case studies.
Course Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Explain the ethical responsibilities engineers have to protect public health, safety, and welfare
  • Describe how the NSPE Code of Ethics and NCEES Model Rules apply to engineering decisions involving public risk
  • Discuss how to evaluate engineering risks using concepts such as likelihood, consequence, uncertainty, and changing conditions
  • Describe how to distinguish between code compliance and broader professional responsibility
  • Explain how engineers communicate risk objectively and truthfully to clients, employers, regulators, and the public
  • Discuss how organizational pressures and cognitive bias can influence engineering judgment
  • Explain how to apply ethical principles to real-world engineering case studies involving public risk
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Jim Taube
Jim Taube Photo
Jim possesses degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University in New York and Electrical Power Technology from Bismarck State College.
 
He has extensive industrial experience with 23 years in the pulp and paper industry and 12 years in institutional and pharmaceutical facility management.
 
His responsibilities have included engineering design, electrical and mechanical maintenance, and power plant utilities management.
 
Areas of expertise include HVAC design, commissioning and qualification, construction administration, and energy cost savings initiatives.
 
Jim’s credentials include being registered as a Professional Engineer and the Certified Energy Manager and Auditor certifications.
 
Jim is married and lives in Middletown, OH and has 4 married children.
State Licenses
AK - Engineer (General)
AL - Engineer (General)
AR - Engineer (General)
DE - Engineer (Ethics (maximum of 6 hours), General)
FL - Engineer (Ethics - 0000271)
Accreditation: This course explores the ethical responsibilities of engineers in protecting public safety by integrating risk assessment, communication, and management throughout the lifecycle of engineering projects. It examines professional standards, regulatory expectations, and real-world case studies to strengthen ethical decision-making, engineering judgment, and effective risk management practices.
GA - Engineer (General)
IA - Engineer (Ethics, General)
ID - Engineer (General)
IL - Engineer, Professional (Ethics, General)
IL - Engineer, Structural (Ethics, General)
KS - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
KY - Engineer (General)
LA - Engineer (Ethics, General)
MD - Engineer (Ethics)
ME - Engineer (General)
MI - Engineer (General)
MN - Engineer (Ethics, General)
MO - Engineer (General)
MS - Engineer (Ethics, General)
MT - Engineer (General)
NC - Engineer (Ethics, General)
ND - Engineer (Ethics, Health, Safety & Welfare)
NE - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
NH - Engineer (General)
NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)
NM - Engineer (Ethics, General)
NV - Engineer (Ethics, General)
NY - Engineer (Ethics)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
OH - Engineer (General)
OK - Engineer (General)
OR - Engineer (General)
PA - Engineer (General)
PR - Engineer (General)
SC - Engineer (General)
SD - Engineer (General)
TN - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
TX - Engineer (Ethics, General)
UT - Engineer (General)
VA - Engineer (General)
VT - Engineer (General)
WI - Engineer (Ethics, General)
WV - Engineer (General)
WY - Engineer (General)
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) (Ethics, General)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP) (Ethics, General)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - American Academy of Water Resources Engineer (AAWRE) (Ethics, General)
American Society of Professional Estimators - ASPE - Certified Professional Estimator (CPE)/Associate Estimator Professional (AEP) (General)
Association of State Floodplain Managers - ASFPM - Certified Floodplain Manager (Core)
Canada - Alberta Engineer (General)
Canada - British Columbia Engineer (Ethics, General)
Canada - Manitoba Engineer (General)
Canada - New Brunswick Engineer (Ethics, General)
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Engineer (General)
Canada - Northwest Territories and Nunavut Engineer (General)
Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (Ethics, General)
Canada - Ontario Engineer (General)
Canada - Prince Edward Island Engineer (General)
Canada - Quebec Engineer (General)
Canada - Saskatchewan Engineer (Ethics, General)
Canada - Yukon Engineer (General)
Construction Management Association of America - CMAA - (CCM, CACM) (Construction Safety / Ethics)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Accredited Professional (AP BD+C) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Accredited Professional (AP Homes) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Accredited Professional (AP ID+C) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Accredited Professional (AP ND) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Accredited Professional (AP O+M) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - LEED Green Associate (GA) (General)
Green Business Certification Inc. - GBCI - WELL Accredited Professional (AP) (General)
Institute of Transportation Engineers - ITE - Member (General)
International Society of Automation - ISA - Certifications (General)
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General)
Soil Science Society of America - SSSA - Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) (Ethics)
Transportation Professional Certification Board - TPCB - Professional Traffic Operations Engineer - PTOE (General)