Code of Ethics

The purpose of this code is to provide guidelines to ensure that Chartered Chemists in Ontario adhere to high ethical standards of practice. The majority of Chartered Chemists in Ontario are employee-practitioners.

As such, they may be subjected to undue pressure to violate accepted ethical standards of practice based on economic or other considerations.

It is intended that the principles expressed in the code of ethics clarify what the Association regards as acceptable standards of practice. The Chemical Professional’s Code of Conduct of the American Chemical Society (ACS) adopted in 2007 includes many responsibilities similar to those of our own Code of Ethics.

Therefore, regarding the:

Duty of Chartered Chemists to the Public

Chartered Chemists shall:

1. 1. 1. place the public welfare above any consideration of self-interest and resolve any conflicts in favour of the public good;
      2. ensure that environmental and ecological concerns are taken into account in the performance of their duties;
      3. protect the public welfare through cooperation with government, enforcement and consumer agencies;
      4. report to the appropriate regulatory agency, without fear or favour, any deliberate breach of standards which may endanger the safety and welfare of the public.

Duty of Chartered Chemists to an Employer

Chartered Chemists shall:

1. 1. 1. apprise themselves of the law as it relates to their practice and endeavour to see that both the letter and spirit of the law are obeyed, in the performance of their duties;
      2. advise their employer of possible contraventions of ethical standards of practice and the law;
      3. undertake to do only work that they are competent to carry out;
      4. protect trade secrets or information acquired by virtue of their professional capacity;
      5. be honest, diligent and conscientious in the performance of their duties.

Duty of Chartered Chemists to a Client when in Private Practice

Chartered Chemists shall:

1. 1. 1. maintain confidentiality in all matters disclosed by a client;
      2. protect the client’s property, be it physical or knowledge per se;
      3. set fees which reflect fairly the knowledge, skill and time involved in performing the professional service.

Duty of Chartered Chemists to other Chartered Chemists, Subordinates and other Professionals

Chartered Chemists shall:

1. 1. 1. delegate responsibility in chemical matters which require professional judgment only to another qualified chemist;
      2. respect colleagues, subordinates and other professionals and not undertake to maliciously or otherwise undermine another’s reputation;
      3. properly supervise non-professional subordinates and other non-chemist professionals to ensure that they are not exposed to undue risk in the performance of work in a chemical environment;
      4. willingly impart their knowledge to subordinates and others where appropriate, in order to enhance the overall standard of practice in their profession.

Duty of Chartered Chemists to themselves

Chartered Chemists shall:

1. 1. 1. maintain a high level of competence by continuing education throughout their practice;
      2. present a good image to the public by maintaining high ethical standards of practice.