What are the Fundamental Ethics in Electrical Engineering? | Q & A

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Nirmit Doshi
Nirmit Doshi Yesterday, 15:10

With Reference to below article

https://www.engineersheaven.org/blogs/704?title=Corruption-in-Electrical-Engineering:-Lessons-from-Indian-History...

I think there is need of awareness about Engineering Ethics and needs to specify that this are not just some text but its a very ground level principle which never should ignore.

Engineers Heaven
Engineers Heaven Yesterday, 15:13
Fundamental Ethics of Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering ethics are not philosophical slogans.
They are practical principles.

1. Safety Is Non-Negotiable

An electrical engineer must never approve or design a system they would not trust for:

  • Their own family

  • A hospital

  • A public space

Cost, pressure, and deadlines never justify unsafe systems.

2. Responsibility Cannot Be Delegated Away

Engineers often say:

  • “I was told to approve it”

  • “Management decided”

  • “Everyone does it”

Ethically, this is invalid.

If you sign, you own the consequences.

3. Competence Is an Ethical Duty

Approving work you do not understand is corruption.

Electrical engineers must:

  • Stay technically updated

  • Ask questions

  • Refuse tasks beyond competence without support

Ignorance is not neutral—it is dangerous.

4. Transparency Over Convenience

Shortcuts create long-term damage.

Ethical engineers:

  • Document deviations

  • Raise red flags

  • Insist on testing and verification

Transparency protects both society and the engineer.

5. Public Interest Above Personal Gain

Electrical infrastructure serves millions.

Personal benefit—money, promotion, convenience—must never override:

  • Grid stability

  • Fire safety

  • Equipment reliability

This principle is foundational to engineering as a profession.

Why Young Engineers Are Most at Risk

Fresh engineers often face:

  • Pressure from seniors

  • Fear of job loss

  • Lack of authority

This makes them vulnerable to ethical compromise early in their careers.

However, history shows:

  • Engineers who compromise early rarely regain integrity later

  • Ethical erosion is gradual—but irreversible

Corruption vs Survival: A False Choice

Many engineers believe corruption is necessary for survival.

This is false.

Ethical engineers may grow slower—but they:

  • Build long-term trust

  • Avoid legal and moral risk

  • Sleep without fear

In electrical engineering, reputation compounds silently.

Why This Conversation Matters Today

India is expanding:

  • Renewable energy

  • EV infrastructure

  • Smart grids

  • Electrified transport

If ethical foundations are weak, future failures will be larger and more dangerous.

Technology amplifies both competence and corruption.

Conclusion: Engineers Are the Last Line of Defense

Electrical engineering is a public trust.

Governments may change.
Policies may shift.
Companies may collapse.

But engineers remain responsible for systems that keep society alive.

Corruption in electrical engineering is not a moral weakness—it is a technical risk.

If engineers do not protect ethics, no one else can.