benzflieger
Mechanical
- Jun 8, 2009
- 10
I am employed by a company that designs and manufactures very specialized automated equipment used in the nuclear radiation research arena. I have worked with the company for several years and just this past year, obtained my P.E. license. All of the design engineers with the company (including my supervisor, the "Engineering Manager") are not P.E.'s but due to the industrial exemption, they maintain the title engineer. I as a staff engineer, am the only registered P.E.
My primary job responsibility involves designing systems that, unlike bridges, roads, HVAC systems, etc., do not require the stamp of a registered P.E. Consequently, I do not stamp my designs and have not been asked to do so…yet.
I understand that I have a legal and ethical obligation to provide notice of my status as a P.E. to those with whom I do business. Thus far, I have attempted to meet this obligation by adding the "P.E." designation to my business card and displaying a P.E. wall certificate.
My first question is this: what obligation, if any, do I have to provide notice that I am a P.E. on my design drawings? These drawings are primarily for our in-house manufacturing department's use. Occasionally, though I create drawings that are sent to our customers detailing room layouts of our equipment. Am I obligated to stamp any of these?
My second question is this: As a P.E. employed by a automated equipment design/build company and currently supervised by a non-P.E. are there any special considerations that I bear in mind related to liability, insurance and professional practice in general? I am considering asking my employer to enter into a defend, indemnify, hold-harmless agreement with me. Does anyone out there done something like this with a non-P.E. boss/employer?
I am fully aware that as a licensed, professional engineer, I have a duty to meet a certain “standard of care which is “that level of care that would be exercised by any prudent professional engineer under such circumstances.” I also recognize that my supervisor who is not a P.E. but is a ”darn good” engineer whom I have learned much from over the past couple of years has a standard of care that must be met, whether he is consciously aware of it or not. What I am trying to get a better handle on is the degree to which my standard of care differs from his, if at all, and if there is a difference, what sort of agreements should be in place to protect myself in the event of a law suit. Also, given my status as a “professional” would such an agreement hold up in court?
Under the legal doctrine of “respondeat superior” the employer is generally responsible and liable for the actions of employees performed within the course of their employment. All of my design work is generally approved by my supervisor, but my name is listed as the designer. As such, I am simply an “agent” of my employer. However, even though I am not stamping my work, my name is on the line due to my being licensed by the state and given the fact that I signed a statement agreeing to maintain the highest ethical and technical standards in keeping with the practice of professional engineer.
Any thoughts….?
My primary job responsibility involves designing systems that, unlike bridges, roads, HVAC systems, etc., do not require the stamp of a registered P.E. Consequently, I do not stamp my designs and have not been asked to do so…yet.
I understand that I have a legal and ethical obligation to provide notice of my status as a P.E. to those with whom I do business. Thus far, I have attempted to meet this obligation by adding the "P.E." designation to my business card and displaying a P.E. wall certificate.
My first question is this: what obligation, if any, do I have to provide notice that I am a P.E. on my design drawings? These drawings are primarily for our in-house manufacturing department's use. Occasionally, though I create drawings that are sent to our customers detailing room layouts of our equipment. Am I obligated to stamp any of these?
My second question is this: As a P.E. employed by a automated equipment design/build company and currently supervised by a non-P.E. are there any special considerations that I bear in mind related to liability, insurance and professional practice in general? I am considering asking my employer to enter into a defend, indemnify, hold-harmless agreement with me. Does anyone out there done something like this with a non-P.E. boss/employer?
I am fully aware that as a licensed, professional engineer, I have a duty to meet a certain “standard of care which is “that level of care that would be exercised by any prudent professional engineer under such circumstances.” I also recognize that my supervisor who is not a P.E. but is a ”darn good” engineer whom I have learned much from over the past couple of years has a standard of care that must be met, whether he is consciously aware of it or not. What I am trying to get a better handle on is the degree to which my standard of care differs from his, if at all, and if there is a difference, what sort of agreements should be in place to protect myself in the event of a law suit. Also, given my status as a “professional” would such an agreement hold up in court?
Under the legal doctrine of “respondeat superior” the employer is generally responsible and liable for the actions of employees performed within the course of their employment. All of my design work is generally approved by my supervisor, but my name is listed as the designer. As such, I am simply an “agent” of my employer. However, even though I am not stamping my work, my name is on the line due to my being licensed by the state and given the fact that I signed a statement agreeing to maintain the highest ethical and technical standards in keeping with the practice of professional engineer.
Any thoughts….?
