IEM PI Section A – Professional Responsibility related 1

(For PI section A, candidate will have to write an essay, which the question was earlier prepared by interviewers based on candidate’s Report on Training and Practical Experience. The following were predicted questions, by Mr. BAY based on his submitted report to principal interview and his trial exercise prior to sitting of PI.)


Professional Responsibility Related Question

What are professional standing that an engineer should stick to when he perceive there is serious inappropriate works were done and the safety and structural strength are at risk?

Introduction

Civil engineering project, both governmental related or private sector ones, often involve huge amount of money. All projects initiated and constructed therefore shall meet the intended use, benefit the public or meet the requirement of the owner. Otherwise, it is waste of time, efforts and money.

Engineers, both from consultancy team and contractor side, are the ones playing the roles in ensuring quality of work to meet specification, follow construction drawing and projects are completed within schedule and budget.

Therefore, engineers shall play their role to safeguard interest of their employer that works constructed products are safe and fit the intended use with no or minimum unnecessarily maintenance works due to inappropriate work method that could cause long term serviceability issues to the building owners.

In other words, we shall have firm standing that the interest of public and employers must be taken care. If there is inappropriate and poor quality work done and not meeting the requirement, rectification and reconstruction shall be instructed to contractor. Though this often cause unpleasant situation because the risk of project delay and possible project cost will be exceeded. However, our responsible and serious attitude will promote healthy working environment and make the construction industry sustainable.

For instance, I have encountered poor quality work of one of project that I have handled. The project is a factory and warehouse. There is 2-storey steel structure which is to support some numbers of heavy equipment on both the 1^st and 2^nd floor. When all the steel main framings were erected, we checked and inspected the bolt holes of almost all beam are enlarged excessively both on the web of steel beam and the fin (gusset). The edge and clearance between bolts are clearly not adequate. The structural strength and bolt (plate) bearing capacity (on the connected steel plate) are seriously jeopardized. Without further ado, we discuss to find rectification work. Though the contractor at first is a bit reluctant because of additional cost and delay in completion time, we as the engineers have expressed our firm standing on quality and safe structure is priority.

Conclusion

In working environment, there may be some situation make us hesitated to stand firm of right and proper decision especially that may involve huge amount of money. However, we shall be mature in thoughts. We shall play our roles as engineers. For the above paragraph, our role is to ensure works that done are safe and serve the intended use.