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FIG PUBLICATION NO. 17
Statement of Ethical Principles and Model Code of Professional
Conduct
Contents
Preface
Background
Statement of Ethical Principles
The Public Interest
Model Code of Professional
Conduct
Orders of Printed Versions
The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) is a UN
-accredited non-government organisation which represents the interests of
surveyors throughout the world. Those who belong to its member associations work
in government, in the corporate sector and in the private sector, as
practitioners, academics or researchers. All seek the highest standards of
professional and technical in the delivery of their services.
One consequence of globalisation and the opening up of markets to
foreign participation is the need for professional and ethical standards that
apply to all. This is to ensure fair competition, to build and retain the
confidence of clients, to protect the environment within which we all live, and
to respect the interests of third parties.
Whereas cultures, political systems, awareness and understanding
of professional practice differ from nation to nation, there are certain
fundamental principles that, in the view of FIG, should apply to all. Whilst it
is the responsibility of national professional bodies to set local standards for
professional conduct, FIG has sought to help its members by preparing the
following statement of ethical principles and model code of professional conduct
which between identify the key issues that need to be included in any national
code.
On behalf of FIG I would like to thank Ken Allred and those
colleagues who worked with him on the preparation of this document. Together
with the FIG companion publications on constituting professional associations
and on continuing professional development, it will help all who practise the
disciplines of surveying to meet the needs of the markets and the communities
that they serve.
Professor Peter Dale
President, FIG
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The surveying profession is recognised globally as one that
adheres to fundamental ethical principles.
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The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) recognises
that, due to international differences of culture, language, and legal and
social systems, the task of preparing a detailed code of professional conduct
must rest with each member association, which also has the responsibility to
implement and enforce such a code.
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FIG also recognises that, given the global mobility of
surveyors, it is important to establish common ethical principles and codes of
professional conduct. As part of its role in providing guidance and
encouraging the harmonisation of standards, FIG offers this model code.
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A professional is distinguished by certain characteristics
including:
mastery of a particular intellectual skill, acquired by education
and training;
acceptance of duties to society in addition to duties to clients
and employers;
- an outlook that is essentially objective; and
- the rendering of personal service to a high standard of conduct and
performance.
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Professional surveyors recognise that their ethical
responsibilities extend to the public, to their clients and employers, to
their peers and to their employees. Accordingly they acknowledge the need for
integrity, independence, care and competence, and a sense of duty. They uphold
and advance these values by:
- supporting and participating in the continuing development of the
surveying profession;
- serving with honesty and forthrightness and within areas of their
competence; and
- using their expertise for the enhancement of society and the stewardship
of resources.
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FIG recommends that surveyors and associations of surveyors
adopt the following ethical principles and model codes of
professional conduct or, where appropriate, adapt them to local values and
customs.
Integrity
Surveyors
- maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity towards those with
whom they come into contact, either directly or indirectly; and
- accurately and conscientiously measure, record and interpret all
data and offer impartial advice based thereon.
Independence
Surveyors
- diligently and faithfully execute their role according to the law; and
- maintain their objectivity and give their clients and employers unbiased
advice, without prejudice or favour either towards or against other
organisations or persons.
Care and competence
Surveyors
- maintain their knowledge and skills, keep abreast of developments in their
fields of practice and apply their expertise for the benefit of society;
- only take on work that they reasonably believe they will be able to carry
out in a professional manner; and
- exercise care in the performance of their duties.
Duty
Surveyors
- maintain confidentiality about the affairs of their current and former
clients and employers unless required by law to make disclosures;
- avoid conflicts of interest;
- take environmental concerns into account in their operations and
activities;
- recognise the interests of the public when providing services to their
clients or employers; and
- conduct their work to the best of their ability, giving due consideration
to the rights of all parties.
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The first duty of surveyors is normally to their clients or
employers but as professionals they also have a duty to the public. Surveyors
are fact finders and providers of opinions and advice. It is important that
they are diligent, competent, impartial and of unquestionable integrity in
ensuring that the information they provide is true and complete and that the
opinions and advice that they give are of the highest quality.
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The work of surveyors has cumulative and long term effects on
future generations. Many of the functions of surveyors, even those performed
for private clients, are by their nature functions that have a lasting impact
on society. Most information becomes public information at some point in time
and may be used for purposes other than those for which it was initially
intended. The information recorded by early surveyors and explorers has, for
example, subsequently been used for the expansion of geographical knowledge
and for land development. Similarly, land management systems designed for
today create an environment in which future generations will live, work and
play. The principles of sustainable development require surveyors to work as
much for the future as for the present.
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Clients, employers and the public must be confident
that surveyors have exercised objectivity in arriving at their professional
opinions. These obligations may sometimes appear to be in conflict with the
obligations that surveyors owe to their clients, their employers and their
peers. Surveyors have a duty to the truth, even when it may not be in the best
interest of their clients or employers.
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All surveyors, whether they be private practitioners,
employees in the private sector, public servants or educators, should
discharge their professional duties and adhere to ethical principles in
accordance with the following model code of professional conduct.
FIG recommends the following code of conduct as the minimum to
be expected of all professional surveyors.
1.
In general, surveyors
- exercise unbiased independent professional judgement;
- act competently and do not accept assignments that are outside the scope
of their professional competence;
- advance their knowledge and skills by participating in relevant programmes
of continuing professional development;
- ensure that they understand the fundamental principles involved when
working in new areas of expertise, conducting thorough research and consulting
with other experts as appropriate; and
- do not accept assignments that are beyond their resources to complete in a
reasonable time and in a professional manner.
2.
As employers, surveyors:
assume responsibility for all work carried out by their professional and
non-professional staff;
assist their employees to achieve their optimum levels of technical or
professional advancement;
ensure that their employees have proper working conditions and equitable
remuneration; and
cultivate in their employees integrity and an understanding of the
professional obligations of surveyors to society.
3.
When dealing with clients, surveyors:
- avoid any appearance of professional impropriety;
- disclose any potential conflicts of interest, affiliations or prior
involvement that could affect the quality of service to be provided;
- avoid associating with any persons or enterprises of doubtful character;
- do not receive remuneration for one project from multiple sources without
the knowledge of the parties involved;
- preserve the confidences and regard as privileged all information about
their clients’ affairs; and
- maintain confidentiality during as well as after the completion of their
service.
4.
When providing professional services, surveyors:
seek remuneration commensurate with the technical complexity, level of
responsibility and liability for the services rendered;
make no fraudulent charges for services rendered;
provide details on the determination of remuneration at the request of
their clients; and
do not sign certificates, reports or plans unless these were prepared and
completed under their personal supervision.
5.
As members of a professional association, surveyors:
- do not enter into arrangements that would enable unqualified persons to
practise as if they were professionally qualified;
- report any unauthorised practice to the governing body of the profession;
- refuse to advance the application for professional status of any person
known to be unqualified by education, experience or character; and
- promote the surveying profession to clients and the public.
6.
As business practioners, surveyors:
do not make false or misleading statements in advertising or other
marketing media;
do not, either directly or indirectly, act to undermine the reputation or
business prospects of other surveyors;
do not supplant other surveyors under agreement with their clients; and
do not establish branch offices that purport to be under the direction and
management of a responsible professional surveyor unless this is actually the
case.
7.
As resource managers, surveyors:
- approach environmental concerns with perception, diligence and integrity;
- develop and maintain a reasonable level of understanding of environmental
issues and the principles of sustainable development;
- bring any matter of concern relating to the physical environment and
sustainable development to the attention of their clients or employers;
- employ the expertise of others when their knowledge and ability are
inadequate for addressing specific environmental issues;
- include the costs of environmental protection and remediation among the
essential factors used for project evaluation;
- ensure that environmental assessment, planning and management are
integrated into projects that are likely to impact on the environment; and
- encourage additional environmental protection when the benefits to
society justify the costs.
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FIG PUBLICATION No 17
Statement of Ethical Principles and Model Code of Professional
Conduct
Published in English
Published by The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), FIG Bureau
1996–1999
ISBN: 0-85406-921-6, September 1998, London, UK.
Printed copies can be ordered from:
FIG Office,
Kalvebod Brygge 31-33, DK-1780 Copenhagen V, DENMARK,
Tel: + 45 38 86 10 81, E-mail: FIG@fig.net
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