ethics & professional practice
DESCRIPTION
Sarah Pivnick, LLB Manager, Regulatory Affairs. Ethics & Professional Practice. APEGBC RESPONSIBILITIES. Serve the public interest Promote the professions Protect member interests. THE SOCIAL CONTRACT. QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. Regulatory Q.A. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Ethics & Professional Practice
Sarah Pivnick, LLBManager, Regulatory Affairs
APEGBC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Serve the public interest
2. Promote the professions
3. Protect member interests
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
Provincial Govt. •Granted engineers and geoscientists exclusive rights of
practice and title under Engineers and Geoscientists Act
APEGBC •Required under the Act to establish, maintain and enforce standards for the qualification and practice of its members
PEngs&
PGeos •Must self-regulate their professions in the public interest
QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
A. Regulatory Q.A.
Investigation and
Discipline
Enforcement
ReactivePractice
Guidelines
Practice Review
Practice Advice
Proactive
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES
• Guidance on how to carry out professional services
• Develops a standard level of expectation for stakeholders
• Sets minimum acceptable standard of practice of members
QUALITY MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
• Guidance on how to meet the quality requirements mandated by the Act and Bylaw Maintenance of Files In-house Checking Use of Seal Application of “Direct Supervision” Field Review Procedures
STATION SQUARE - BURNABY
OQM [For Organizations]
PRACTICE REVIEW
• Lack of implementation of Quality Assurance Bylaws Involving: Design files In-house design checks Field reviews of designs by members
Common Practice Deficiencies
APEGBC’s CODE OF ETHICS
Purpose ...to give general principles of ethical
conduct in order that members and licensees may fulfill their duty to the public, to the profession and their fellow members and licensees.
APEGBC’s CODE OF ETHICS
Members and licensees shall act at all times with fairness, courtesy and good
faith to their associates, employers, employees and clients, and with fidelity to the public needs. They shall uphold
the values of truth, honesty and trustworthiness and safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.
Negligence
• Everybody makes mistakes - insurance
Unprofessional Conduct
• Competency Don’t know or don’t care
• Conduct Fairness, courtesy, good faith, truthfulness, trustworthiness
NEGLIGENCE vs.
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Principle 2 – Know Your Limits You don’t know what you don’t
know
Neil Duncan (1998 Mining) – structural design for public arena grossly deficient and missing number of life safety items as well. Resigned his membership, with the approval of
Council.
2. Undertake and accept responsibility for professional
assignments only when qualified by training or experience.
!
Principle 3 – Don’t Fake It Don’t care that you don’t know
Jimmy Mah (1985, 1989, and 1992 Structural) – inadequate structural design of a number of buildings in both 1985 and 1992 cases. Revoked
3. Provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction.
What’s the Solution?
1. Ethics is a way of life – it does not turn on and off with the office lights (and the Code of Ethics extends to outside life).
2. Listen to your gut!3. Seek independent advice on your
concern and what to do.4. Follow through.
Questions?
Contact Us:
Registration Department:Email: [email protected] Phone: (888)430-8035 ext 4856
Amit Plaha – [email protected] Student Program Coordinator
APEGBC Web: www.apeg.bc.caPhone: (888)430-8035
Sarah Pivnick [email protected]