Stamping EIT's structural work 4

[sundale]

What is the consensus regarding stamping the work of junior engineers at the firm. I have been asked to start stamping all the structural work in the office. It is good work and meets all the definitions of "responsible charge" so its no ethical dilemma there.

My problem is more philosophical in that I am simply an employee with no ownership in the firm. At other (larger) firms I was employed at, typically only the business owners/principals were asked to stamp others' work; you stamped your own work, but not others' work, as an employee.

My mental hangup with this new request by the boss is that I don't mind "hanging my license out" for others but I do mind others "hanging my license out" for others. Two others is one too many in my current mindset.

I have had my license for nine years now and it STILL tightens my schincter somewhat to stamp my own work that I engineered from top to bottom. I will have to come to grips with this new request and I will basically be repeating a large percentage of this EIT's engineering in my check of the drawings before I will be OK stamping it. Lincoln freed the slaves and and structural engineering jobs are plentiful and I know where the office front door is located; this is only a problem as long as I want it to be a problem I guess.

Are many of you licensed guys being asked to stamp the work of others under your responsible charge as a simple employee?

 

[astructurale]

Make sure you understand your personal liablity, and are aware of the insurance your company provides. I'd recommend having a detailed dicussion of the corporate and personal liabilities. I'm like you, I don't really like stamping others work unless I have thoroughly reviewed it. It's a lot of responsiblity. Unfortunately a lot of engineers take it lightly. Some even stamp without even really reviewing the drawings and calculations, which should never be done.

Also, make sure you ask for compensation in pay for your new responsiblity. You are taking on quite a responsiblity when you stamp others work, and sticking your reputation on the line for others. It is a big deal and you should treat it as such. No matter how much time you say you'll devote to reviewing the work, you'll usually be pressed for time.

 

[jike]

Just a couple of things that you might want to consider:

Do you feel that you are adequately being compensated for this new responsiblity?

Are you being given adequate time to review this work before you stamp it?

Are you the EIT's supervisor? If not why doesn't his supervisor stamp the work?

Do you actively oversee the EIT's work while he is doing it or are you reviewing it after the fact?

Is your name included on the company's E&O insurance policy?

Are their others at your firm who stamp drawings? What is their feelings on this?

 

[EddyC]

I feel that if you are stamping drawings, you should be compensated at the level of upper management. This is precisely why I don't stamp even my own work where I am employed, athough I'm a PE.

 

[archeng59]

in most states, a firm must have a certificate of authorization to practice engineering. The state board of registration keeps a list of PE's who will be sealing and signing drawings for the firm. Your name must be on that list or you could be in violation of your state's licensing laws.

 

[sundale]

Thanks for the advice guys. Pay is commensurate with responsibility; stamping my own engineering is scary; stamping others' engineering gives me the shakes.

I already have a verbal agreement with the boss about liability insurance and will get it in writing for the statute of repose (7 years Colorado, 10 years New Mexico). I long ago signed all my valuable possessions (house, land, cars) to my wife for liability reasons to keep some lawyer from crawling from underneath his rock and going after that stuff.

I had not thought about the certificate of authorization stuff, but that is something to consider.

 

[JStephen]

I'm an employee and seal the work of someone under my supervision. And did it at a previous job- but there the people in question were basically drafters, not EIT engineers. I do go through and check the drawings very carefully.

One issue is whether you actually supervise these people, and you seem satisfied on that end. One is whether you trust them enough to know whether you need to check every last dimension and number, or just know they did a good job and stamp it.

If they actually do have an EIT, by all means encourage them to get their PE.

Make sure you have an understanding with your boss as to the extent for which they would hold you responsible for errors. If they expect you to check every last detail, then they need to allow you time for that. And if not, they need to be aware that errors are the EIT's, not your own.

It would make a difference as well how complicated and how critical your work is- whether you're building suspension bridges or outhouses.

 

[BigH]

Isn't it the idea of the EIT to have him work under a licensed professional engineer who mentors him - and, thereby, checks and reviews his work? As such, the design is done under your supervision and, seemingly, you can stamp the work as such. If he was an EIT that wasn't working directly under you on the particular project, then you couldn't sign the work even if you wanted to. If the EIT can't do work that is able to be put out, then what good is it to have an EIT on staff and would thus negate the whole concept of such.

 

[Ron]

sundale...I don't see why you are fretting so much. This is common in most larger firms and the premise that BigH talks about is a necessary part of the mentoring/licensing process.

Make sure you are considered a Senior person having supervisory responsibility over those individual for whom you will REVIEW and sign (technical supervisory responsibility might be different than administrative supervisory responsibility, depending on your firm's structure). Since you are taking the responsibility for the design you must adequately review that design for concurrence.

 

[DRC1]

I have spent many years stamping drawings of those who worked under me. Later they went on to get PE's and stamp their own drawings. As thier supervisor, I reviewed them just as closely. The trick is to be involved from the beginning on the project. In most cases the firm indemnifies the engineeer, although in a case of gross negligence, you may have exposure. The firms insurance should cover not only the liability but the cost of defense. So generally there really is not a lot of exposure for the employee. At least where I am, thats how it is. However, the firm should be licensed as a design corperastion and does not hurt to have a coperate engineeering stamp on the documents also, although I rarely see that.