A professional engineer employed at a mining company is asked to design a cost-effective bridge...

NPPE ethics requires professionals to practise only in areas where they are competent by virtue of education, training, and experience, and to seek assistance or decline work when competence is lacking. Here, the engineer has only academic exposure and no post-graduate bridge design experience or continuing education—making it high risk to proceed independently on a safety-critical structure, even if it is “internal” to the company. Merely obtaining codes/standards (A) or confirming specifications (D) does not create competence; codes require informed judgment in application, analysis, detailing, constructability, and safety factors. Option B is inappropriate because delegating to an MIT does not solve the competence gap; the supervising professional must be competent to direct and validate the work they would ultimately be responsible for. The best action is to refuse or decline the design role and recommend engaging a qualified, experienced bridge/structural professional or firm (C). The company can still proceed safely and cost-effectively, but with competent expertise and proper professional accountability. Therefore, C is best.