ENGR 482 - Engineering Professionalism

The rules outlined in the TEPA should be considered:

A law binding by all engineers licensed by TBPE.

Which of the following projects are exempt from the requirement to be sealed by a licensed engineer?

A public project costing less than $8,000 involving electrical or mechanical engineering, or a public project that does not cost more than $20,000 (1001.053 TEPA)

In addition to the loss of 11 lives, which of the following reflect the extent of the environmental damage caused by the Macondo blowout?

After the sinking of the rig, the subsequent failure to contain the well head allowed five million barrels of crude oil to escape into the Gulf of Mexico.

What promoted the Texas state legislature to pass the Texas Engineering Practices Act?

An explosion at a school that was caused by a gas leak killing nearly 300.

An unlicensed engineer who works for a licensed engineer can perform which of the following tasks under the supervision of that licensed engineer?

Design of engineered products or projects (1001.052 TEPA)

Which of the following are among the TEPA rules on professional conduct and ethics?

Engineers shall be objective and truthful. Engineers shall not perform any engineering function that is likely to endanger the public. Engineers shall practice only in areas in their competence.

After the Macondo blowout, subsequent investigations revaled that only a couple critical engineering decision were made that tended to favor economy rather than safety.

False

The National Society for Professional Engineers (NSPE) does not conduct reviews of actual cases in order to determine whether certain behavior is consistent with their Code of Ethics.

False

A person is allowed to practice engineering in Texas without a license from the state if...

He or she does not perform engineering services for the public. (1001.051 TEPA)

In regard to an engineer's responsibility to protect the public welfare, which of the following statements are accurate?

The NSPE code of ethics is perhaps more emphatic than the TBPE rules in describing this responsibility as "paramount".

Often lawyers work on a "contingency basis", whereby they only receive a fee from their client for their services when their services result in a financial award to their client. In regard to this type of practice in engineering, which of the following is true?

The TBPE rules do not address this specifically, while the NSPE Code specifically prohibits it.

The Texas Engineering Practices Act (TEPA) defines the practice of engineering as...

The performance of or an offer or attempt to perform any public or private service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training, and experience in applying special knowledge or judgement of the mathematical, physical, or engineering sciences.

Which of the following were among the reactions to the Macondo blowout and resulting oil spill?

Two new federal regulations were immediately adopted requiring licensed engineers to approve certain aspects of the drilling and completion processes and to certify the blowout preventer.

Which of the following is an example of conflict of interest according to the definition in the TBPE rules?

When an engineer accepts an assignment in which the decisions he or she will make for the client may be impacted by his or her financial interests.

Which state was the first to pass a law to regulate the practice of engineering?

Wyoming (1907)

The purpose behind the NSPE defining an engineer's responsibility to the profession is probably...

to ensure that the services of engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness and must be dedicated the well-being of the public.