Ethics & Professional Practice Sarah Pivnick, LLB Manager, Regulatory Affairs

APEGBC RESPONSIBILITIES 1.Serve the public interest 2.Promote the professions 3.Protect member interests

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Provincial Govt. Granted engineers and geoscientists exclusive rights of practice and title under Engineers and Geoscientists Act APEGBC Required under the Act to establish, maintain and enforce standards for the qualification and practice of its members PEngs & PGeos Must self-regulate their professions in the public interest

QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE A.Regulatory Q.A. Investigation and Discipline Enforcement Reactive Practice Guidelines Practice Review Practice Advice Proactive

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES Guidance on how to carry out professional services Develops a standard level of expectation for stakeholders Sets minimum acceptable standard of practice of members

QUALITY MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES Guidance on how to meet the quality requirements mandated by the Act and Bylaw  Maintenance of Files  In-house Checking  Use of Seal  Application of “Direct Supervision”  Field Review Procedures

STATION SQUARE - BURNABY

OQM [For Organizations]

PRACTICE REVIEW Lack of implementation of Quality Assurance Bylaws Involving:  Design files  In-house design checks  Field reviews of designs by members Common Practice Deficiencies

APEGBC’s CODE OF ETHICS

Members and licensees shall act at all times with fairness, courtesy and good faith to their associates, employers, employees and clients, and with fidelity to the public needs. They shall uphold the values of truth, honesty and trustworthiness and safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.

Negligence Everybody makes mistakes - insurance Unprofessional Conduct Competency Don’t know or don’t care Conduct Fairness, courtesy, good faith, truthfulness, trustworthiness NEGLIGENCE vs. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Principle 2 – Know Your Limits You don’t know what you don’t know Neil Duncan (1998 Mining) – structural design for public arena grossly deficient and missing number of life safety items as well.  Resigned his membership, with the approval of Council. 2.Undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience. !

Principle 3 – Don’t Fake It Don’t care that you don’t know Jimmy Mah (1985, 1989, and 1992 Structural) – inadequate structural design of a number of buildings in both 1985 and 1992 cases.  Revoked 3.Provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

What’s the Solution? 1.Ethics is a way of life – it does not turn on and off with the office lights (and the Code of Ethics extends to outside life). 2.Listen to your gut! 3.Seek independent advice on your concern and what to do. 4.Follow through.

Questions? Contact Us: Registration Department: Phone: (888) ext 4856 Amit Plaha – Student Program Coordinator APEGBC Web: Phone: (888) Sarah Pivnick