Professional Practice

Question 1

The levels of professional job responsibility (associated with the Associations Salary Survey) are categorized as:

Answer 1

• Level A – Entry level or graduated university
• Level B – Engineer, MIT or EIT or Geol. IT
• Level C – Professional Engineer
• Level D – First Supervisory or Specialist role
• Level E – Middle Management or Senior Specialist
• Level F – Senior Management or Consultant Specialist
• Level F+ - Senior Executive Level

Question 2

Experience requirements to obtain a license are:

Answer 2

• Application of Theory
• Management of Engineering – planning, budgets, supervising, risk
assess
• Communication Skills – oral, presenting, reports
• Social Implications of Engineering
• Practical Experience

Question 3

Reasonable judgement of an engineer is based on these two things:

Answer 3

Adequate knowledge

Adequate experience

Question 4

A professional attitude includes:

Answer 4

• Time Management – a professional is effective with time
• Accuracy – work must be double checked
• Clarity – clear and concise communication
• Courtesy – positive and constructive conduct
• Challenges – accept new challenges to develop skills & knowledge

Question 5

7 Management styles

Answer 5

• Collegial – manager treats team as equals
• Team Orientated – manager sets goals, including team
• Interactive – manager consults team
• Responsive – manager presents tentative solution then consults team
• Paternal – manager presents decision & is open to serious objections
• Authoritarian – manager makes decision and explains
• Military – manager instructs team

Question 6

process for ensuring the safety of design

Answer 6

• Follow design codes and standards
• Be aware of safety regulations
• Make formal hazard analysis
• If cannot eliminate hazards, post warnings

Question 7

Some of the statutory standards and codes include:

Answer 7

• Sale of Goods Act – conditions and warranties to protect the public
• Occupational Health and Safety – protects workers
• Standards Council of Canada

Question 8

The courts see these standards and codes as a minimal acceptable level

Answer 8

Non-Statutory standards and codes include those that are not federal or provincial such as the various ISO standards.

Question 9

Also called “errors and omissions” insurance; Protects the professional from the costs of negligence

Answer 9

Liability Insurance

Question 10

A secondary insurance plan for engineers administered by Engineers Canada provides members with:

Answer 10

$100,000 of liability coverage, and unlimited legal fees.

The plan is termed secondary as other primary insurance plans must exist and must be exhausted first.

Question 11

The four steps to reducing hazards include:

Answer 11

• Eliminate known hazards
• Follow established design standards
• Follow laws and regulations
• Follow good engineering practice

Question 12

Hazard Analysis is a final step of the design process and includes:

Answer 12

• Identify all hazards
• Eliminate wherever possible
• Shield users when hazards cannot be eliminated
• Warn, Remedy, Recall where shielding is not possible

Question 13

The licensed professional has a duty to protect the environment. This duty is summarized as follows:

Answer 13

• Find and comply with environmental regulations
• Use specialists where not skilled
• Apply professional judgment
• Include costs of environment protection in evaluation
• Disclose information to protect the public
• Continually improved

Question 14

This is an environmental guideline for corporations arising from the Exxon Valdez disaster

Answer 14

CERES Environment Principles which is an acronym for:

the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies.

Question 15

This is an Environment Management Systems Standard set forth by the ISO organization.

Answer 15

ISO14001 is an Environment Management Systems Standard set forth by the ISO organization.

Question 16

Who is responsible for program outputs and how they are utilized.

Answer 16

The licensed professional

Question 17

With regards to designs, the professional must ensure they the engineer: (3 things)

Answer 17

possess adequate knowledge, adequate skills and will apply the appropriate care.

Question 18

With regards to software packages, good practice is summarized as these 3 things:

Answer 18

• Scope – know the limitation and accuracy of the software
• Validation – test the software (dummy runs, ~ checks, theory checks)
• Engineering Principles – examine and understand

Question 19

Documentation approval process is outlined as: (5 components)

Answer 19

• Scope – does the work satisfy the scope?
• Accepted Practice – codes, standards, guidelines, proper theory
• Accuracy – logical and correct, proper transfer from other documents
• Completeness – is the work complete and in order?
• Format – accepted format

Question 20

In the case of a serious dilemma created by unsafe, unethical or illegal activities, the professional typically has three options:

Answer 20

• Internal Correction – most simple and effective action; first choice
• Whistle Blow – often effective but a last resort due to repercussions
• Resign – in protest; but does this protect the public?

Question 21

Does approaching your Association with an illegal act constitute whistleblowing?

Answer 21

approaching your Association with the illegal act does not constitute whistleblowing since the information is not made public.

Question 22

a troublemaker differs from a whistleblower in two important ways:

Answer 22

• Method – a troublemaker typically leaks information anonymously
• Motive – a troublemaker leaks for personal gain and not public protection

Question 23

Methods to communicate effectively and professionally with peers, management or the public:

Answer 23

• Formal reports
• Design scopes
• Basic contracts
• Drawings
• Oral presentations