According to ethical hierarchy, which of the following is the highest priority?

The highest priority in the ethical hierarchy is society and public welfare. This principle emphasizes the responsibility of engineers to prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of the public in all their professional actions. Engineers are often involved in projects or designs that can significantly impact people's lives, communities, and the environment. Therefore, it is essential for them to approach their work with a strong commitment to ethical considerations concerning public safety.

In various engineering codes of ethics, including those from professional engineering societies, there is a clear mandate that engineers must hold the welfare of the community as a top priority. This often means making decisions that may not always align with business interests or pressures from employers or clients if those decisions could potentially harm the public.

While the responsibilities to the engineer's firm, other engineers, and the engineering profession are also important, they are secondary to societal welfare. Engineers must sometimes advocate for the public interest even when it conflicts with other priorities. This stance reinforces the social contract that engineering professionals uphold, which is to serve not just as technical experts but as stewards of public trust.