The challenge of ethical project delivery within the civil engineering community is significantly complicated in the wake of rising issues of intimidation and the potential for violence, including threats to life, industry organisation the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) has warned.

During the SAICE Ethics Imbizo, held last month, a panel called for decision-makers, industry leaders, SAICE stakeholders and government to speak up and take a stand against intimidation and harassment so that members are offered the tangible support they need when faced with threats to their lives.

SAICE explains that intimidation can manifest in various forms, including coercion by superiors or clients to overlook professional guidelines and standards or engage in corrupt practices.

These factors create a hostile environment that can hinder ethical decision-making and compromise the integrity of civil engineering professionals, the organisation points out.

It adds that the stakes are particularly high in environments where unethical practices are prevalent. Reports indicate that the percentage of professionals facing harassment and threats is rising, leading to a climate of fear that can escalate to violence, SAICE explains.

“This situation creates a moral dilemma for civil engineering professionals, as they are forced to weigh their personal safety against their professional responsibilities.

“The ethical obligation to report misconduct becomes increasingly difficult when the risk of severe consequences, including harm or death, are present and, understandably, this can lead to them compromising their ethical standards to maintain their positions, secure projects or even spare their lives,” SAICE says.

One of the issues raised during the imbizo was the lack of a robust anonymous reporting mechanism that will not compromise their identity.

The SAICE Code of Ethics emphasises the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines, which are designed to provide a framework for making decisions that consider public safety and welfare. This code requires members to take reasonable steps to minimise risks associated with their work, ensuring that safety considerations are prioritised throughout the project lifecycle.

However, when professionals face intimidation, their ability to act ethically is severely undermined. These pressures not only compromise individual integrity but also pose risks to public safety and the overall reputation of the civil engineering profession, SAICE explains.

The organisation emphasises that addressing these challenges requires robust support systems within organisations, including clear anti-intimidation policies and protective measures for whistleblowers, to ensure that ethical standards are upheld without fear of retribution.

SAICE believes the solution should come from a collaborative approach between various key stakeholders, industry leaders and government departments.

SAICE often collaborates with various regulatory and industry bodies, as well as organisations focused on construction safety, with this helping to identify trends that may increase risks and to promote sharing of lessons learnt from past incidents to improve future practices.