I am a structural engineer in a consulting engineering firm that specializes in oil and gas pipeline and facility design for large production companies. The brunt of our work is mechanical engineering and controls system engineering (piping and processes), but we also do structural, electrical and civil grading plans. My background is commercial buildings and am new to the oil and gas industry.
My ethical issue stems from the fact that I am the only P.E. who stamps the drawings when issued for construction to the client. All other disciplines do not stamp their work and it is usually checked by senior designers (draftsmen) who are quite good, but not licensed P.E.'s.
I have formally raised an issue with management up to the president of the firm (and is also a P.E.) and everybody opines that "Well, we have been doing this for years and we nor any other consulting firm stamps their engineering drawings is this industry".
My opinion is that it is f%cking crazy (and unethical and illegal) to issue final engineering drawings for a HIGHLY PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE GAS that are not prepared under the responsible charge of a P.E. If there is an error in the design, the consequences would be expensive and perhaps lethal.
The law is quite clear. Preparing engineering drawings for a client constitutes the practice of engineering and all final engineering drawings prepared by a corporation shall bear the stamp and signature of the P.E. in responsible charge. We have NOBODY in official reponsible charge stamping the drawings we issue in these mechanical, electrical, process and civil disciplines.
I am required to report such issues to The Board if public safety is at risk, which I believe it perhaps is. My future at this firm is obviously limited if I do this and it is likely already been truncated by simply formally raising the issue. Namely, informal discussions and the formal letter was received poorly by management and the discussions so far have been "philosophical" as if laws, public safety and engineering ethics are open to interpretation. From my ethical perspective, I am debating whether I want to associate with firm with this sort of attitude, so my leaving would be mutually acceptable. The problem is that it's a small town and structural jobs are not plentiful and I have a family to support.
I would appreciate any sage advise anyone has to offer me in my quandary.
My ethical issue stems from the fact that I am the only P.E. who stamps the drawings when issued for construction to the client. All other disciplines do not stamp their work and it is usually checked by senior designers (draftsmen) who are quite good, but not licensed P.E.'s.
I have formally raised an issue with management up to the president of the firm (and is also a P.E.) and everybody opines that "Well, we have been doing this for years and we nor any other consulting firm stamps their engineering drawings is this industry".
My opinion is that it is f%cking crazy (and unethical and illegal) to issue final engineering drawings for a HIGHLY PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE GAS that are not prepared under the responsible charge of a P.E. If there is an error in the design, the consequences would be expensive and perhaps lethal.
The law is quite clear. Preparing engineering drawings for a client constitutes the practice of engineering and all final engineering drawings prepared by a corporation shall bear the stamp and signature of the P.E. in responsible charge. We have NOBODY in official reponsible charge stamping the drawings we issue in these mechanical, electrical, process and civil disciplines.
I am required to report such issues to The Board if public safety is at risk, which I believe it perhaps is. My future at this firm is obviously limited if I do this and it is likely already been truncated by simply formally raising the issue. Namely, informal discussions and the formal letter was received poorly by management and the discussions so far have been "philosophical" as if laws, public safety and engineering ethics are open to interpretation. From my ethical perspective, I am debating whether I want to associate with firm with this sort of attitude, so my leaving would be mutually acceptable. The problem is that it's a small town and structural jobs are not plentiful and I have a family to support.
I would appreciate any sage advise anyone has to offer me in my quandary.