1. THE CERTIFICATED ENGINEER.by
Brian French Pr. Cert Eng
Past President ICMEESA 2000
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

2. THE CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
Performs important functions in two principal areas
They ensure the health & safety in the workplace and of the public
Are responsible for effective and efficient operation & maintenance of plant and machinery.
In the early days of South African Industrial activity engineering standards and practice were poor and many incidents resulted in loss of life and injuries to persons. Public outcry demanded that steps be taken to curb the misery and to control the increasing public concern regarding safety at the workplace.
The concept of the Certificated engineer (CE), was introduced to take responsibility and accountability of engineering practices on Mines and in Factories.
Today the functions of Certificated Engineers are not a lot different than what they were in yesteryears. However, technology and communications demand greater management skills and abilities from the CE in today’s modern world.
Some people call this a shift in emphasis, but I see that there is a significant lack of direction given to CE’s , due to the Occupational Health and Safety Act being stated in somewhat vague terminology that could be interpreted in different ways .
The placing of the onus of responsibility for OHS, to one of self regulation were the CEO, bears the brunt of accountability is in place. In my view this does not diminish the the role that is expected of the CE.
What does seem to be a problem is that some CE’s, themselves are not very clear about their role in today’s working environment and this has been brought about by the not so explicit legal requirements contained in the OHS Act and regulations.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

3. THE CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
Is licensed to perform functions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Mine Health and Safety Act, by the
Department of Labour
Department of Mineral and Energy
The Department of Labour have entered into negotiations with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), in order to transfer the legality and administration of the Certificated Engineer, and will eventually amend the regulations contained in the OHS Act pertaining to Certificated Engineers.
It is envisaged to revise the regulations to the extent that registration with ECSA would become compulsory. Therefore, disciplinary proceedings and accountability will be to ECSA in the near future.
The new system of registration is competency-based .
Professional competency standards for the registration are being compiled by a task group charged with developing competency standards under the chairperson of Prof H.E. Hanrahan.
This presentation has taken many extracts from background documents of information to register as Certificated Engineer.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

4. FUNCTIONS UNDER THE ACTS
Certificated Engineer: has the detailed knowledge of the law and technical expertise, and supports the CEO.
Responsibilities include: Identifying the need for safety systems and ensuring that they are operational.
The Certificated Engineer has a key role in supporting the CEO and has specifically assigned responsibilities in terms of the OHS Act and regulations.
The OHS Act defines a range of competent persons, including the Certificated Engineer, for different purposes. The CE performs an important function in making the distributed system for health and safety work.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

5. FUNCTIONS UNDER THE ACTS
The Certificated Engineer is expected to ensure compliance with the objectives of the Act and Regulations in order to :
Protect people at the workplace
Ensure inherently safe working conditions
Promote discipline in the plant in the interest of safety
Changes in industry have altered the nature of the CE:
* Small industries - may choose not to employ a CE. Instead may employ the CE in a consulting capacity.
* Outsourcing of non-core functions and on-site contractors bring new demands on the CE in the enforcement of safe working.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

6. FUNCTIONS UNDER THE ACTS
The Certificated Engineer is expected to ensure compliance with the objectives of the Act and Regulations in order to :
ensure the integrity, condition and fitness of purpose of equipment in the interest of safe operation
Deal with plant that requires special consideration
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

7. ROLE IN A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY
The Certificated Engineer functions are naturally linked with the operation and maintenance of industrial plant.
Concerned with effective and efficient operation and maintenance in the interest of competitiveness of the enterprise
becomes involved in in many managerial & technical issues
Contributes to design & manufacturing decision which limit product liability
Go beyond the minimum standards, enhancing plant operation consistent with competitive industry
Operational in the sense of systems operation rather than hands- on operation.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

8. RANGE OF WORK
The Certificated Engineer performs work in a range which:
is intellectual and disciplined (dealing with environmental stress factors, emissions,toxic,noise and lighting)
calls for problem solving re: legal requirements (asset management based on technical and fundamental knowledge)
supports the CEO in discharging responsibilities (autonomy and critical judgement in decisions on OHS risks)
performs duties without received instructions in Occupational Health and Safety matters
Asset management consists of procurement maintenance, control and performance optimisation and disposal of physical plant.
Performs work according to applicable legislation and standards based on technical and fundamental knowledge.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

9. CERTIFICATED ENGINEER IS COMPETENT TO:
Perform problem solving under legal, financial & technical constraints
Use appropriate tools and techniques
Take responsibility within own competence, exercise personal autonomy & judgement whilst recognising limitations
Maintain and extend legal knowledge & technical competency
Understand and operate under codes of practice
Protect the public and environment
Assess and manage risks
Apply quality management system principles
Performs work which is intellectual and disciplined requiring adaptation to changing business and technical environment and manage contingencies within the requirements of the OHS Act.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

10. CERTIFICATED ENGINEER IS COMPETENT TO:
Specify operational & safety requirements in design briefs for plant and machinery, electrical systems, and support structures
evaluate and approve design proposals for fitness of purpose and inherent safe operation
Ensure design design implementation conforms to health & safety and operational requirements
Ensure that legally prescribed competent design authority is involved in critical plant design or modification
Apply design fundamentals in repair or modification of equipment
Recognise limits of own expertise.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

11. CERTIFICATED ENGINEER IS COMPETENT TO:
Write clear, concise, effective, technically, legally and editorially correct reports to a prescribed structure
Read and evaluate technical and legal matter relevant to the functions
Receive instructions, ensuring correct interpretation
Issue clear instructions
Make oral presentations
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

12. CERTIFICATED ENGINEER IS COMPETENT TO:
Manage people, tasks and resources, influence people
Understand business process flows
Draft and control budgets
Perform techno-economic analysis
Plan and manage activities, projects and contracts
Manage own time and work
Manage conflict taking into account culture, values and industrial relations factors
Initiate and manage change
Implement applicable elements of quality systems
The Certificated Engineer must act within the scope of recognising limits of own expertise.
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)

13. E-mail: icmeesa@icmeesa.org.za
Mrs Mariana Jacobs
Secretary
ICMEESA
Tel:
Cell:
Fax2Mail:
Brian French Consultancy ccP.O.Box Menlo Park 0102 Tel/Fax (012)