Unethical practices of engineering

There is scope for unethical practice by engineers in relation to the selection and use of materials in any product or construction. Engineers may be encouraged to choose materials because they are cheaper (or more expensive), irrespective of their adequacy to the task. Engineers inspecting machinery and buildings after construction, may be encouraged to overlook weaknesses, irrespective of the hazard they may constitute to personnel or the environment.

In a highly competitive construction industry there are frequent cases of buildings collapsing because of use of inappropriate materials. During the Los Angeles earthquake in 1994, questions were raised concerning the failure of certain buildings and sections of highway that were supposed to be earthquake proof. The failure of many oil tankers and cargo vessels has been partly attributed to inappropriate certification whereby unsafe vessels were allowed to continue to operate. Analogous examples have been cited in relation to nuclear reactors where engineers fail to report defects of which they are aware or are accomplices in the concealment of that information, whatever the risks to the surrounding environment or population.

1. Unethical professional practices
2. Unethical industrial practices
3. Unethical construction practices
4. Unethical commercial practices
5. Human errors and miscalculations

1. Unethical maintenance practices
2. Protectionism in the construction and engineering services industries
3. Misappropriation of resources for high cost civil engineering projects
4. Inadequate equipment maintenance
5. Hazardous construction materials

1. Unsafe aircraft
2. Structural failure
3. Short-term planning of product life cycles
4. Mechanical failure
5. Large-scale industrial accidents
6. Health risks to workers in chemical industries
7. Hazardous geo-engineering
8. Endangered genetic super-structure
9. Chemical industry wastes
10. Bad product design

1. Profit-motivated utilization of construction technology
2. Irresponsible consulting practices
3. Inadequately trained engineers
4. Absence of accountability in construction planning

1. Unnecessary undergrounding of sewerage
2. Inadequate bridge plan
3. Hazards of biotechnology

1. Undertaking dangerous experiments
2. Self-regulating practice of engineers
3. Reporting malpractice of engineers
4. Prosecuting professional misconduct by engineers
5. Neglecting engineered structures
6. Monitoring engineering industry
7. Corrupting engineering profession
8. Coordinating professional services
9. Conducting illegal professional practice
10. Abolishing unethical practices of engineering

1. Dangerous
2. Irresponsibility
3. Unethical
4. Malpractice
5. Negligence
6. Corruption
7. Illegality
8. Misconduct
9. Incompetence