The third ethical principle of the construction industry encourages to act professionally. It reminds us of professional ethics, professional pride and respect for laws, contracts and requirements.
According to the ethical survey carried out by the construction industry for its members, there is some intentional underpricing in the tender phase and seeking a margin afterwards through additional works. However, almost half of the respondents were of the opinion that the phenomenon occurs only rarely or not at all.
The withdrawal of the other party to the contract is one example that an ethical principle that seems self-evident still needs to be strengthened.
Act professionally
Follow good construction and contracting practices. Do the work professionally, in compliance with the legislation and the agreements you make, as well as safety, environmental and quality requirements. Respect the decisions of the Consumer Disputes Board and the court. Require this from your contractual partners as well.
In the open feedback of the survey, customers and main contractors were also reminded to take care of their own responsibilities and not to unduly pass on the responsibility.
"Main contractors don't always prepare an appropriate site plan and are demanding additional work or performance related to work safety from the product parts supplier, such as walkways, scaffolding, cranes and a demolition site," states one of the respondents.
Safety comes first even in ethics
In the member survey, almost 90 percent of the respondents said that their own organization strives to ensure that the personnel have the ability to act correctly and responsibly in, for example, environmental, quality and occupational safety matters.
Especially in occupational safety, the industry has taken a clear turn for the better. However, professionals still have a place on the screen, because development has stagnated and there have been serious setbacks. Quality and environmental issues are also taken seriously nowadays in all self-respecting companies.
However, there are big differences between companies, especially between organized and unorganized ones. Responsible organizations draw up principles that are stricter than legislation to guide their company's operating methods. They require compliance with the principles by the entire organization's personnel, both employees and management, not forgetting contractual partners.
See also
- Lujabeton's Mikko Isotalo: "Everyone should build for themselves"
- Ethical principles of the construction industry
More information
Merja Vuoripuro, Construction Industry RT ry
tel. 040 587 2642, merja.vuoripuro@rt.fi
Sari Puurtinen, Juuriharja Consulting Group Oy
tel. 040 676 3772, sari.puurtinen@juuriharja.fi
Root brush is a coaching company specializing in ethical management.