Drawing Checker/Approver Qualifications 1

[drawoh]

Check out thread1103-193286.

Where I work, drawing checking is mandatory, but there is no definition of checking, and no qualification of the design checker. The checker clicks on a button on our PDM workflow, and their initials are applied to the drawing.

If there were an investigation arising from a catastrophic accident, how much responsibility could be assigned to the person whose initials are inside the "Checked" box.

I have only discussed this topic once, and that was with a fairly young Professional Engineer, who was concerned about where he applied his signature. I figure PEs can look after themselves. At my site, it is possible that the "design checker" has no technical qualification whatsoever, and would trustingly follow orders.

Is there any history of civil liability or criminal prosecution of design checkers?

JHG

 

[KENAT]

Places I've been have 2 distinct sign offs.

There's normally a cognizant engineer or stress approval and a separate checked approval.

The checker is focusing on Drawing completeness etc.

The Engineer is more concerned with function/safety.

This is a simplification but gives some idea.

In my Aerospace job there was another sign off from Technical Director/Chief Engineer.

So 3 people checked/approved the drawing.

As such I'd expect the Checker to be no more liable than the Drafter buy lawyers may see it differently.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[civilperson]

No liability and no lawsuits for checkers, (may be demoted to print room).

 

[KENAT]

Civil Person, you have a print room, lucky *%$#@*

You seem pretty definitive, do you have a source you could quote?

Drawoh, a really good post that has got me thinking.

I'm in exempt so can't hide behind another PEs seal on the drawings I'm checking. I can of course hide behind the company though (If I understand correctly).

We are working on defining minimum checker qualifications (hence my original post).

We don’t really have a detailed list of what we check for, we have a brief explanation in our check procedure of what Drawing Check is but it could perhaps open me up for liability as it includes

The process of reviewing and confirming that parts delineated on drawings are … in compliance with applicable codes … verifying … function…

Although somewhere we say that the Engineers Name is only to be ‘dated’ on the drawing after they approve the completed drawing we don’t really have a system for enforcing this. It is possible for an Engineers name to get on a drawing he either hasn’t seen at all or at least hasn’t seen the finished print of. I’m thinking a slight flaw in our 'system' (or lack there of).







KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[JStephen]

At a previous employer, the checker was usually another draftsman, and what was checked was primarily dimensional correctness. This was separate and apart from review by a PE, which would be evidenced by a PE seal rather than "checked by" initials. I'm sure this varies from place to place.

 

[drawoh]

KENAT,

If our stuff is wrong, the consequence is that we have to fix the part or make a new one. We design a lot of kludges, and some of them have reached manufacturing. The consequences are mostly not very bad. We have got away with it so far. Safety issues do come up.

None of our drawings are stamped and sealed by PEs.

Who is responsible?

JHG

 

[civilperson]

The guy who signs your check is responsible.