Innovation September-October 2013

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starting with the obvious questions: • Is it legal? • Is it honest? • Is it consistent with the Code of Ethics and professional conduct standards? • Do I feel uncomfortable with the issue or situation? • What would I feel if it appeared in the news or online? Others questions that are relevant at both the initial identification stage and later on in the decision-making stage import more explicit consideration of internal and external frames of reference. Eight-part test: • Values Test: Does it fit with value expressed? • Safety Test: Does it pose a risk and/or potentially endanger, or injure? • Law Test: Does it comply with/meet legal requirements, policies and standards? • Conscience Test: Does it accord with my personal values? Do I feel comfortable with the situation or decision? • Newspaper Test: Does the thought of my decision being public make me uncomfortable? • Family Test: Does it set an example I would want for my children/that I would want my family to judge? • Gut Test: Does it feel right? • Community Test: What would happen if everyone behaved like this? Many companies and organizations have their own versions of self tests and decision-making frameworks that follow similar approaches and are built on similar underlying principles, often expressed in a code of ethics or conduct. For professional engineers and geoscientists in BC, the APEGBC Code of Ethics is the formal statement of the general principles and values that govern the conduct of its professional members and licensees. It is also a guide for members and licensees to the application of these general principles in the specific duties that they owe as professionals to: society; employers; clients; colleagues, employees and others; to the profession; the protection of the environment, and, to themselves. An ethical choice or decision potentially arises every time a decision or action is considered or taken that has implications and consequences for others. Ethical decision making therefore requires a conscious consideration of the implication and consequences of individual or collective choice or action and an evaluation of the costs, benefits and risks involved according to a set of fundamental values that include integrity, honesty, respect, trustworthiness, and concern for others. Every day, decisions made by members and licensees are trusted and relied upon because the individuals making them understand, apply and meet the demanding tests of their technical competence and their professional judgment. To access the APEGBC Code of Ethics and other conduct and practice related resources, visit the APEGBC webpage, www.apeg.bc.ca. Dr. Alison Dempsey, LLM, is a legal professional specialising in the area of governance, ethics, and accountability. She has been retained by APEGBC to deliver the Ethics in Practice project.

CALCULATED SAVINGS... THROUGH INNOVATION

Saving you money and protecting the environment is what we do best. In fact, we saved a client over $170,000 while reducing CO 2 emissions by 95% – that’s nearly 540 tonnes of carbon. How do we know this? Nilex’s new Innovation Calculator estimates the percentage CO 2 savings as well as potential dollar savings when using Nilex geogrid or erosion control products versus traditional methods. To calculate the environmental and economic savings of your upcoming road construction or erosion control project, contact us at 1.800.663.0478 or visit www.nilex.com

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