Organizational Risk Management Pilot Program Underway

APEGBC is moving forward with the implementation of an Organizational Professional Risk Management and Quality Assurance Pilot Program, based on recommendations made by the Professional Renewal Task Force and approved by APEGBC Council in 2009.

This pilot program has the end goal of reducing professional risk at the organizational level, recognizing the significant influence that companies employing engineers or geoscientists have on the practice of the professions. If adopted, this self-funded program will be available on a voluntary basis to all organizations providing professional engineering and/or geoscience services.

The Organizational Professional Risk Management and Quality Assurance Pilot Program will examine the merits of implementing a voluntary program designed to assist organizations so as  to improve or introduce in-house professional risk management and quality assurance procedures that systematically address specific practice obligations their employee engineers and geoscientists have under the Engineers and Gesocientsts Act and Bylaws regarding:

  • Maintenance of design and review files;
  • In-house checking procedures and peer review;
  • Concept review procedures for structural designs;
  • Use of seal;
  • Liability insurance declaration (Bylaw 17);
  • Application within the organization of “direct supervision” as defined in the Act;
  • Field review procedures; and
  • Application of applicable APEGBC guidelines.

Where implemented these would form an important component of the organization’s overall quality assurance program. The pilot program will also evaluate having those organizations that choose to employ such policies and procedures formally recognized though the issuing of a Certificate of Compliance.  Participating organizations would be identified on the APEGBC website.

For organizations participating in the program, periodic audits of an organization’s professional risk management and quality assurance procedures will be offered as an option in lieu of individual practice reviews of members and licensees within the organization. This removes the practice review burden of time and cost on individuals and their employers. These audits would make recommendations, acknowledge professional excellence, or raise issues with the organization’s executive.

As the program is voluntary, it will have no ability to restrict an organization from providing professional engineering and/or geoscience services. A working group that includes representation from sole practitioners, consulting engineering and geoscience firms, government (provincial and municipal), utilities, construction, and manufacturing will oversee the implementation of the pilot program.

This program advances Qualification Based Selection and standardizes across an organization the implementation of policies and procedures that are consistent with the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. By advancing the use of professional risk management and quality assurance programs in organizations that provide products and/or services requiring the application of professional engineering or geoscience, the Association is taking steps to more effectively deliver on its primary mandate to uphold and protect the public interest respecting the practice of professional engineering and the practice of professional geoscience.

More information will become available as work on the pilot program progresses. Questions may be directed to Peter Mitchell, P.Eng. Director, Professional Standards and Development at pmitchelll@apeg.bc.ca or (604) 412-4853.