PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Is it Time to Refresh Your Practice Knowledge? As an engineering or geoscience profes- sional, it’s your responsibility to know and follow the practice standards, rules, and regulations that govern your practice and protect the public interest. Do you know, for example, the proper review to inspect a project and ensure the work substantially complies with the code. In recent months, APEGA’s Investiga-
internal or external, should be authenticated if they: • contain technical information • are complete for their intended purpose • are going to be relied upon An authenticated document shows that a technically competent and ethical individual, licensed by APEGA to independently practise engineering or geoscience, has completed the work. It also means that the APEGA Member is assuming full professional responsibility for that engineering or geoscience work. Full details on authentication require- ments are available in the Authenticating Professional Documents standards at apega.ca.
tive Committee has received a number of complaints about professionals conducting inadequate field reviews or designating unqualified individuals to conduct the field review. If you’re an engineer of record con- ducting a field review, you must ensure that you’re competent and qualified to inspect the building component you have taken responsibility for. When you sign off on a field inspection, you are confirming that the component you are responsible for substan- tially complies with the code. If you rely on another individual to conduct the field review, it’s your responsi- bility to verify that the individual is qualified to assess applicable components to ensure proper engineering standards and code regulations have been met. Through the course of recent inves- tigations, we’ve also found that not all Professional Engineers are fully aware of what they’re taking responsibility for when they sign and stamp a Schedule C2 of the Alberta Building Code . Completing this form is you giving assurance that you’ve fulfilled your field review obligations and that the components of the project that you’ve inspected meet building code requirements. If you weren’t responsible for certain components of the project — for example, you were responsible for framing inspection but not flooring systems — you should note this on the document and another qualified professional should undertake the floor system review. Otherwise, you’re taking responsibility for everything on the C2. Full details on Alberta Building Code requirements are available at apega.ca, in the guideline Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects. AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS Another trend that’s emerged involves the authentication of technical documents. In some cases, technical documents created by professionals for internal use within their company have not been properly authenticated with a stamp. All documents,
way to conduct a field review? Do you know what you’re taking responsibility for when you sign and stamp different building code schedules? Are you authenticating technical documents properly? Is your company following a proper Professional Practice Management Plan? Recent trends noticed by APEGA’s Investigative Committee indicate that not all Members fully understand their obligations in these areas. If you’re not 100 per cent sure you’re doing things correctly, it’s time to refresh your knowledge. The trends identified here should help you decide. ALBERTA BUILDING CODE FIELD REVIEWS AND SCHEDULES The Alberta Building Code requires that qualified professionals assume responsibility for the structural, mechanical, electrical, and geotechnical systems in certain building projects that fall within the scope of the code. As part of this responsibility, an engineer of record, or a qualified individual of his or her choosing, must conduct a field A COMMITTEE EXPLAINED APEGA’s Investigative Committee investigates written complaints against APEGA Members. The committee is made up of APEGA Professional Mem- bers (26 at last count) and at least one public member. The committee’s main duty is to investigate allegations of unskilled practice of the professions or unpro- fessional conduct by Members. Learnings from investigation outcomes can lead to new profes- sional development programming, and the development of new professional standards, guidelines, and bulletins to support Members in their practices.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PLANS
Recent investigations have revealed that some companies practising engineering or geoscience in the province are operating without a Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP) in place. Some have a plan in place but it’s inadequate. All companies practising engineer- ing and geoscience in Alberta must have an APEGA Permit to Practice. Each permit requires that the Permit Holder create and follow a PPMP. The PPMP outlines the corporate policies, procedures, and systems used to ensure that engineering or geosci- ence work done by a company is carried out responsibly and meets legal requirements, as well as APEGA’s professional, technical, and ethical standards. The PPMP must be active, current, and available to any APEGA Members practising on behalf of the company. Upon request, it must also be available to APEGA. The Guideline for Professional Practice Management Plans , available at apega.ca, provides more information on the purpose, scope, and content required in a PPMP. APEGA’s free Permit to Practice seminars also provide information on PPMPs. They’re mandatory for Responsible Members — the APEGA Professional Members within a company who ensure it has an appropriate and enforced PPMP in place.
WINTER 2016 PEG | 17
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker