Going to quit and I need EOR advice

[B16A2]

I'm going back to school for a masters degree in five months. I'm a licensed SE and am working on a project involving a multistory lightgage design. The problem I forsee is that much of the lightgage design is delegated to the lightgage supplier's engineer in the shop drawing phase, and I'll be gone for that. As the EOR, I would have a problem with someone else in the office reviewing the calculation package.

What do you do? Tell your employer now that they should have someone else design it and risk getting fired early? Or can the EOR responsibility be legally shifted once I'm gone?

 

[abusementpark]

I am not really sure of the answer to your question. I am just curious why you are going back for a master's after getting your SE??

 

[IRstuff]

Wouldn't you think that it has to be shifted to someone else?

What if you got hit by a truck? Wouldn't the design continue on with someone else in charge?

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Qshake]

Agree with IRSTUFF. We all like to think we indespensible but it is the company's responsibility to provide the same level of services to continue the project, not you.

If your company so chooses they can contract with you after you leave. Therein again, it is the companys responsibility.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[B16A2]

So are you guys saying if the building falls down because someone reviewing the lightgage submittal is negligent, the brunt of the responsibility wouldn't fall back to me (EOR)?

 

[IRstuff]

No, we're saying that your EOR reign ends when you leave the company. You can't be EOR of any work that happens after you leave. They need to get another EOR when you leave, particularly if the work is not yet complete. You can't stamp work that you didn't supervise or have knowledge of. They can't forge your stamp. That leaves the only choices of hiring you after you leave, or getting another EOR.

You should ,however, get whatever the bridge insurance that covers the work that you did, usually for the past few years. Since you've left voluntarily, you'll need to pay out of pocket for that.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[B16A2]

I think I'm following you now, but it doesn't make me feel any better. How do I ensure that my company formally installs another EOR for the uncompleted design and CA work? write to the jurisdiction explaining the situation?



BTW, abusement park, getting a masters for several reasons. Self confidence, better design tools, getting full ride to a top 5 US structural program, and to compete with the wave of masters students that will be coming in the next decade due to ASCE's decision. I dont want to be stuck at any one place just because I didn't want to do the 1.5 years of school while I'm young and able.

 

[msquared48]

I think that you are making this process too complicated.

Remember that the company's logo and letterhead were on the structural calculations and drawings that were submitted to the jurisdiction. This corporate entity, with their Errors and Omissions insurance is the deep pocket, not you, unless you are self-insured. You could be called as a witness, but I seriously doubt that you would be in any hot water over this.

Just document what has happened well and lay out to the firm what has and needs to be done to complete the project in a satisfactory manner before you leave. That would be the professional and responsible thing to do. AND KEEP COPIES FOR YOUR RECORDS - JUST IN CASE YOU ARE CALLED AS A WITNESS. Remember that the job is not done until the paperwork is finished. Cheers.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[BRGENG]

We have had this happen at our office, in all cases we had other engineers in addition to the EOR that oversaw the entire project and could have signed of on the plans. We simple wrote a letter to the Local Building Authority explaining the situation and sent over a new out new sets of plans signed and sealed by another Engineer. Basically the second EOR took over as if the original plans did not exist.

However if no one at your office oversaw this project and can technical and legally assume responsibility it would be in the best interest of your company to retain your services until the project is wrapped up. We have kept Engineers on as part time in similar cases and paid them hourly for their work with no benefits. Or paid their new firm to jointly oversee the CA portion of the project.

 

[PSE]

My opinion:

I would think that it would be the responsibility of the new (replacement) EOR to review and approve previous work. At that point, they are (by nature of the position) assuming part of the liability. If you are confident in the due diligence/quality you have done with your work so far, leaving or handing it off to another should not be a problem.

Regards,

 

[melone]

B16A2, why do you care? You're leaving.

I'm not advocating leaving your present employer in a learch, but you have/will give your employer notice that you will be leaving. The ball is now in their court. How could you be held responsible for things that will be done to your design after you leave the company? Make sure you have copies of your designs before you leave, and wish them all the best of luck.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[DRC1]

If the strucural drawings are complte, and the cladding fabricator is designing the light guage he should be stamping his work. Someone needs to be sure that the shop drawings comply with the strucutral design requirements. That could be the original EOR, but as long as the strucural design drawings and notes are good, this should not be difficult. One option is to talk to the fabricator, explain your situation, tell him you don't want to leave anybody in a lerch and see if he can pop them out for you in time to review before you leave. Otherwise, they may hire you on a part time basis to review the drawings when they come in. You will apprciate the extra bucks when you get to grad school. Otherwise they can suck it up and bring some one else on, which they will need to do. Yes this happens all the time ecause whenever I have a questionabout a job, it seems the orginal EOR has left.
Good luck in grad school. am sure you will be glad you did it. Which one are you going to - if you don't mind?

 

[FSS]

Not to overlook the obvious, but why don't you work on your master's while still working? Most engineering schools have some pretty good off-campus delivery methods and the degree is still the same. Then you keep your job (and income) and still get the degree. Most employers will pay a pretty good chunk of the costs as well.

 

[Zogzog]

I have been in a similar position twice where I was leaving and was so worried about who was going to finish my projects, etc..I was trying to be ethical and was worring about the company more than myself.

Lesson learned! It is not your problem, let them worry about it, if the company laid you off they would not lose any sleep about how you are going to pay you mortage. I am not saying to do ant intential damage, just give them your notice, and leave, they can keep you on for a few weeks to turn the project over if they wish.

Another lesson learned, it is more fun to try to get fired (Within reason) than to quit.I hd a blast last time I left a company, afternoon naps on desk, long lunches, casual day everyday, etc. I gave a 2 week notice and they never believed me, 2 weeks later I wa packing my desk and they asked what I was doing, couldnt quit, couldnt get fired, that was a great 2 weeks.

 

[IRstuff]

How do I ensure that my company formally installs another EOR for the uncompleted design and CA work?

It's not your problem. Just make sure that your stamp goes with you and that you have a copy of your checkout sheet. You should probably also make a listing of the completed design files up to your last day.

And work completed after your departure can't be attributed to you, unless they backdate the designs, but they calso can't get access to your stamp.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[JKW05]

Section 106.3.4 of the 2006 IBC may help you out.