Turning in other engineers 1

[howardoark]

I'm working on a site in California with a pretty big environmental concern (soil gas at 10 times the human health screening level on the other side of inhabited commercial structures from the source area (so presumably directly under the inhabited structures the soil gas concentrations are even higher) and adjacent to an upscale condominium development. There is no existing indoor air samples, so it isn't clear that anyone is exposed, though I think you would have to assume they were in the absence of data to the contrary. I'm working for a third party doing due-dilligence. The owner's engineer (a very large national firm) has not reported the 10x soil gas exceedance to the regulators and doesn't appear to have any interest in doing so. We have a report from a previous engineering firm (this one international and even larger) showing the same result. Again, they did not report it and probably won't at this point. Our client has a confidentiality agreement with the current owner and is very concerned about what will happen to them if we report our results (which we should have in a week or so).

Eventually, this is going to be reported - by me if no one else will do it. It won't cost me my job, but it may cost us the client (who accounts for 20% of our gross, so it will probably cost one or two people their jobs if we lose them as a client).

Anyone have any thoughts on the best way to proceed?

 

[Ron]

Our obligation as professional engineers transcends profit. Pat has it right.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Call your lawyer and have him/her help you out!!

 

[kylesito]

Present it to the owner that you have discovered these findings. There could be very good reasons the past two companies did not report it or there could have been actions taken you aren't aware of. You first step is to go to the owner and state the facts of what you know and consquences if they don't act. Second is to make sure you have all of it recorded. Third, if you truly believe the public is in danger, you need to find the authority who controls this kind of thing and let them know.

But before you go shouting it from the roof tops, talk to the owner and get all the facts from their end too.

PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi