geoscience professionalism and ethics

Geoscience Professionalism and EthicsUniversity of Calgary Department of Geoscience – March 17, 2009

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Objectives

Recognize the ethical obligations of professional licensing

Outline the scope and purpose behind the Code of Ethics (as upheld by APEGGA)

Illustrate how the fundamental principles of ethical conduct may be interpreted and applied

3U of A Geoscience March 10, 2009

APEGGA Membership

APEGGA is the second largest self-governing association in Alberta and the third largest Engineering & Geoscience association in Canada.

All Members 1990 - 2008

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27500

30000

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Outline

Objectives

Professionalism

What makes Professional Practice different?

Rock Solid Professionalism

Self Governance

Geoscience Professional Ethics

The APEGGA Code of Ethics

The APEGGA Rules of Conduct

A few case histories


What is APEGGA?

The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta

The body given responsibility to regulate the professions

Your Professional Association

Mandatory membership/licensure

Not a Technical Society

ASAP: APEGGA Student Advantage Program

APEGGA’s Authority

The Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act

•Privilege of self-governance

•Right to title

•Exclusive scope of practice

•Defines practice

•APEGGA’s role

•Governance

Professionalism

Advanced/specialized knowledge

Intensive study and preparation

Continued professional development

Good judgment

High standards

Leadership

Ethical conduct

Duty to protect the public interest


Rock Solid Professionalism


What makes Professional Practice Different?

Skilled Practice Education, preparation, knowledge,

skill and continued study

Ethical Conduct Code of Ethics, a set of shared

values and personal integrity

Duty to the Public Obligation, trust and respect


Self Governance

A profession also accepts responsibility to regulate its members and services

In Alberta, this task falls to APEGGA (Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta)

Changes to the Act

“All members shall recognize that professional conduct is founded upon integrity,

competence, dignity and devotion.” 11U of A Geoscience March 10,

2009

Questions?

Geoscience and Professional Ethics

The word “ethics” comes from the Greek word “ethos”

The study of standards of right and wrong

Deals with moral conduct, duty and judgment: the relationships between people

Deals with the moral implications of the options available to an informed individual

Signifies a shared commitment to strive for excellence


The APEGGA Code of Ethics

The purpose of the Code of Ethics is:

To outline principles of professionalism

To distinguish appropriate conduct

To provide a vision of service to society


The APEGGA Rules of Conduct

Professional engineers, geologists and geophysicists shall:

1. In their areas of practice, hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public, and have regard for the environment.

2. Undertake only work that they are competent to perform by virtue of their training and experience.

3. Conduct themselves with integrity, honesty, fairness and objectivity in their professional activities.

4. Comply with applicable statutes, regulations and bylaws in their professional practices.

5. Uphold and enhance the honour, dignity and reputation of their professions, and thus, the ability of the professions to serve the public interest.


Professional Service

1. The public

2. His or her practice (employer or clients)

3. Others (peers, third parties and the professional association)

4. The law

5. The profession

The Code defines five groups that professionals must serve:


Questions?

Rule 1: Health, Safety and Welfare of the Public

“Holding paramount . . .” Takes precedence over all other

considerations

Safe workplaces and projects

The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Code

“Lead by example”

“Considering the public interest”


Case History #1

Stan Dard, P.Eng., was responsible for supervising the perforating procedures for the well casing opposite a potential gas-producing zone. There was no fluid within the casing. Therefore, after perforation, the flow of natural gas would not be contained by the hydrostatic pressure of fluid within the producing formation.

Kim Berlite, P.Geol., who was familiar with operations at the well site and knew that the well could produce significant volumes of gas at a high formation pressure, had correctly selected the depth intervals at which the casing was to be perforated.

The perforating company, acting under the supervision of Mr. Dard, proceeded to perforate the dry casing. The perforating tools and cable were blown from the well by a significant, uncontrolled flow of high-pressure gas. A nearly unmanageable amount of natural gas flowed from the well, creating hazards to equipment and placing several lives at risk.

Fortunately, the well was brought under control and capped without injury to the workers. This might not have been accomplished under other circumstances — for example, if the gas flow had been greater, or if the gas had contained hydrogen sulphide. 19U of A Geoscience March 10,

2009

Case History #1: Discussion

Rule 1 of the Code was clearly violated

Failure in communication between two technical professionals endangered the lives of fellow workers

Kim failed to caution Stan about the high gas zone; Stan should have consulted Kim before deciding on perforating procedures

Could have caused significant economic loss and damage to the environment


Rule 2: Competence and Knowledge

Scope of responsibility

Presentation of qualifications

Expressing opinions and engaging experts

Stamping and signing documents

Continuing professional competence


Case History #2

A geophysical consulting company, LMN Geophysical Inc., was awarded an assignment to design a drilling program, interpret data, evaluate the potential of the field, and prepare a report for use by a client to raise capital from the public. The company president, Cy Smick, P.Geoph., assumed both corporate and professional responsibility for the professional practice of the company. He maintained custody of the permit stamp and only he was authorized to affix and sign it before completed documents were issued.

The assignment came at a time when the company was extremely busy, Mr. Smick assigned Dee S. Covery, P.Geoph., to direct and control the project. However, she was not able to devote as much attention to the assignment as she believed was needed to provide an adequate level of professional direction.

When it was completed, Ms. Covery discussed the report with Mr. Smick. Although she believed that the project staff had performed their respective duties responsibly and well, Ms. Covery expressed concern that she had not been able to properly supervise the work. She explained that for this reason she had not affixed her professional stamp to the final report. The president accepted this explanation and, without further review, affixed and signed LMN's permit stamp to the report and mailed it to the client.

The report was accepted and used to develop a prospectus for distribution to potential investors. Several years later, an error was discovered in the report, which had the effect of overstating the investment potential by a factor of three.

The client sued LMN and named Smick and Covery in the lawsuit. One of the investors complained to APEGGA. 22U of A Geoscience March 10,

2009


Who should bear the major responsibility - LMN’s president or the geophysicist?

Mr. Smick - neglected to review Ms. Covery’s workload and neglected to review report himself

Ms. Covery could have handled the situation better (should have informed Mr. Smick that she would be unable to provide suitable supervision)


Rule 3: Integrity, Honesty, Fairness and Objectivity

Acting fairly

Expressing opinions in public

Maintaining confidentiality

Conflict of interest

Having recommendations overruled


Case History #3

Aurest Corporation has been advised by a pollution-control agency that it has 60 days to apply for a permit to discharge manufacturing wastes into an adjacent lake. The agency has also advised Aurest of the minimum standard that must be met.

In an effort to convince the agency that the lake will still meet established environmental standards after receiving the manufacturing wastes, the corporation employs Rick Titude, P.Eng., to perform consulting engineering services and submit a detailed report.

After completion of his studies, but before completion of any written report, Rick concludes that the discharge from the plant will lower the quality of the lake below established standards. He further concludes that corrective action will be very costly. Rick orally advises Aurest Corporation of his findings. Subsequently, the corporation terminates Rick’s contract with full payment for his services performed and instructs him not to render a written report to the corporation.

Thereafter, Rick learns that the authority has called a public hearing and that Aurest has presented information to support its view that the present discharge meets minimum standards.



Does Rick have an ethical obligation to report his findings?

Should first consider obligations to the public

How should he go about reporting these findings? Should have rendered a written report

Should find a way to see that his findings are considered at the hearing

Does he have any obligations to notify Aurest? Should contact to clarify whether his findings have been included

or not

Explain that he has a professional obligation to advise the regulatory agency


Rule 4: Statutes, Regulations and Bylaws

Due Diligence

Being aware of the law Federal, provincial and municipal

Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act and its regulations

Responsible environmental management

Making clients and employers aware of the law


Rule 5: Honour, Dignity and Reputation

Advertising and presentations

Conduct toward other professionals

Reviewing work of other professionals

Supervising members-in-training

Personal behaviour and conduct

Discrimination and human rights


Summary

Professionals are no better than anyone else, just better prepared

Professionals are supported by the twin pillars of ethical behaviour and skilled, knowledgeable practice

APEGGA is its members: it is a self-governing entity and enforces its own act, the Alberta Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act

Geoscientists hold to the same code of ethics as Engineers, but have a greater responsibility for the environment


Questions?

geoscience professionalism and ethics

Documents

geoscience professionalism

apegga membershipapegga

code of ethics