Code of Ethics for Engineers and Surveyors

4733-35-01 Preamble

In order to safeguard the life, health, property and welfare of the public and the state of Ohio, to maintain integrity and high standards of skills and practice in the professions of engineering and surveying, the following rules of professional conduct, promulgated in accordance with Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code, shall be binding upon every person holding a certificate of registration as a professional engineer or as a surveyor.

The engineer or surveyor, who holds a certificate of registration from the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors, is charged with having knowledge of the existence of the reasonable rules and regulations hereinafter provided for his or her professional conduct as an engineer or surveyor, and also shall be deemed to be familiar with their several provisions and to understand them. Such knowledge shall encompass the understanding that the practice of engineering, or of surveying, is a privilege, as opposed to a right, and the registrant shall be forthright and candid in statements or written responses to the board or its representatives on matters pertaining to professional conduct.

HISTORY: Effective 10-01-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-02 Integrity

The engineer or surveyor is obligated to act with complete integrity in professional matters for each client or employer as a faithful agent; shall be honest and impartial, and shall serve the public, client and employer with devotion.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-03 Responsibility to the public

The engineer or surveyor shall:

(A) Protect the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of professional duties. Should the case arise where the engineer or surveyor faces a situation where the safety, health and welfare of the public is not protected, the engineer or surveyor shall:

(1) Sever the relationship with the employer or client;

(2) Refuse to accept responsibility for the design, report or statement involved;

(3) Notify the proper authority if, in his or her opinion, the situation is sufficiently important.

(B) Undertake to perform assignments only when the registrant's consulting support are qualified by training and experience in the specific technical fields involved. In the event a question arises as to the competence of an engineer or surveyor to perform an engineering or surveying assignment in a specific technical field of engineering or surveying which cannot be otherwise resolved to the board's satisfaction, the board, either upon request of the engineer or surveyor or by its own volition, may require the engineer or surveyor to submit to an appropriate inquiry by or on behalf of the board;

(C) Be completely objective in any professional report, statement or testimony and shall include all relevant and pertinent information in the report, statement or testimony when the result of omission would, or reasonably could, lead to a fallacious conclusion;

(D) Express an opinion as a technical or expert witness before any court, commission or other tribunal, only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts in issue, upon a background of technical competence in the subject matter, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy and propriety of his or her testimony.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-04 Public statements and certifications

(A) The engineer or surveyor will issue no statements, criticisms or arguments on engineering or surveying matters connected with public policy which are inspired or paid for by an interested party, or parties, unless the engineer or surveyor has prefaced his or her remarks by explicitly identifying himself or herself, by disclosing the identities of the party, or parties, on whose behalf the engineer or surveyor is speaking, and by revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest he or she may have in the instant matters.

(B) The engineer or surveyor will publicly express no opinion on an engineering or surveying subject unless it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts in issue, upon a background of technical competence in the subject matter, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy and propriety of his or her testimony.

(C) The engineer or surveyor will decline to sign and/or seal any form of certification, warranty, or guaranty that (1) relates to matters beyond his or her technical competence, (2) involves matters which are beyond the scope of services for which he or she was retained, or (3) relates to engineering or surveying work for which he or she does not have personal professional knowledge and direct supervisory control and responsibility. "Certification" shall mean a statement signed and/or sealed by an engineer or surveyor representing that the engineering or surveying services addressed therein have been performed, according to the engineer or surveyor's knowledge, information and belief, in accordance with commonly accepted procedures consistent with applicable standards of practice, and is not a guaranty or warranty, either expressed or implied.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 05-01-1995; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-05 Conflict of interest

(A) The engineer or surveyor shall conscientiously avoid conflict of interest with the employer or client, but, when unavoidable, the engineer or surveyor shall forthwith disclose the circumstances to the employer or client.

(B) The engineer or surveyor shall promptly inform the client or employer of any business association, interests, or circumstances which could influence his or her judgment or the quality of services to the client or employer.

(C) The engineer or surveyor shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to, and agreed to, by all interested parties or their duly authorized agents.

(D) The engineer or surveyor shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable considerations from material or equipment suppliers for specifying their products.

(E) The engineer or surveyor shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents or other parties dealing with his client or employer in connection with work for which he or she is responsible.

(F) As an elected, retained or employed public official, an engineer or a surveyor (in the capacity as a public official) shall not review or approve work that was performed by himself, or under his direction, on behalf of another employer or client.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-06 Solicitation of employment

(A) The engineer or surveyor shall not pay, solicit nor offer, directly or indirectly, any bribe or commission for professional employment with the exception of payment of the usual commission for securing salaried positions through licensed employment agencies.

(B) The engineer or surveyor shall seek professional employment on the basis of qualifications and competence for proper accomplishment of the work. An engineer or surveyor may submit proposed fee information prior to selection.

(C) The engineer or surveyor shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of academic or professional qualifications and shall not misrepresent or exaggerate the degree of responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments.

(D) Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint-ventures, or past accomplishments with the intent and purpose of enhancing qualifications and work.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-1978; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-07 Improper conduct

(A) The engineer or surveyor shall not sign and/or seal professional work for which he or she does not have personal professional knowledge and direct supervisory control and responsibility.

(B) The engineer or surveyor shall not knowingly associate with, or permit the use of his or her name or firm name in, a business venture by any person or firm which he or she knows, or has reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practices of a fraudulent or dishonest nature.

(C) If the engineer or surveyor has knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm is guilty of violating any of the provisions of Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code, or any of these rules of professional conduct, he or she shall present this information to the board in writing.

(D) If a professional engineer or professional surveyor is found guilty of a felony or had his or her registration revoked or suspended by another jurisdiction, the professional engineer or professional surveyor shall notify the board in writing within sixty days.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
Next R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-08 Other jurisdiction

Conviction of a felony without restoration of civil rights, or the revocation, voluntary surrender, or suspension of a professional engineer's or surveyor's license by another jurisdiction, if for a cause which in the state of Ohio would constitute a violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733 or of these rules, shall be grounds for a charge of violation of these rules.

HISTORY: Effective 10-15-1970; 11-01-2003
Rule promulgated under: R.C. 119.03
Rule authorized by: R.C. 4733.07
Rule amplifies: R.C. 4733.20
R.C. 119.032 review date: 11-01-2008

4733-35-09 Records

Each registrant or certificate of authorization holder shall keep a true and correct record in the English language of all of the business transactions in the registrant's or holder's office relevant to enforcement of Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code. Such records shall be available at all reasonable hours for inspection and copying by the Ohio state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors.