INNOVATION January-February 2015

p ract i ce ma t ter s

Find APEGBC Practice Guidelines On the Website The APEGBC website is home to a number of practice guidelines and other practice-related documents for engineers and geoscientists. In addition to engineering and geoscience discipline- specific guidelines, other documents relevant to professional practice are available: • Organizational Quality Management Guideline – Retention of Project Documentation • Organizational Quality Management Guideline – Direct Supervision • Bulletin: H-2 - Choosing a Professional Liability Insurer • APEGBC/ ACEC-BC Budget Guidelines for Consulting Engineering Services To access these or Specifically, the JPB have discussed the report with the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) and have agreed to assist FLNRO staff on water quality policy analysis, bulletin development and any related communications and training. In turn, FLNRO has committed to assist the associations in developing guidance on watershed assessments. Further updates about the guidance documents and other initiatives will published as more information becomes available. Do you have a professional practice related question? Contact the APEGBC Practice Advisor at hrad@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.6054. independent watchdog for sound forest practices in BC, in its Special Investigation Report, Community Watersheds: From Objectives to Results on the Ground , April 2014, recommended that APEGBC and ABCFP develop guidance for their members on the appropriate content for a watershed or hydrological assessment. As a result, the JPB will be considering the formation of a task force of professionals with expertise in watersheds and hydrological assessment. The task force is expected to work on developing guidance documents that would be used by both forest professionals and APEGBC professionals.

Additional Professional Practice Resources for Members To increase member access to professional practice and ethics guidance, APEGBC is introducing additional resources in the form of staff practice advisors. Practice Advisor Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng., will provide practice and ethics advice and assistance to members and other stakeholders via phone, email and in-person inquiry. His du- ties also include providing input on government legislation and contract management services on the work APEGBC does with government, as well as staff support to a number of professional practice related committees and divisions including the Municipal Engineers Division (MED); the Division of Environmental Professionals (DEP); the Division of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DEERE); the Climate Change Advisory Group and the Sustainability Committee. Harshan can be reached at hrad@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.6054. An additional practice advisor, a professional geoscientist, will also be available in the near future, in order to provide advice on practice matters affecting the professional geoscientists in addition to providing further support to Organizational Quality Management Program certified companies. Vancouver Building By-law APEGBC members who work with the Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL) are reminded that the 2014 VBBL came into effect January 1, 2015. The digital version of the 2014 VBBL has been released online and is now available for purchase through the Queen’s Printer: bccodes.ca/vancouver-bylaws.aspx?vid=QPLEGALEZE:bccod es_2012_view. More information is available through the City of Vancouver website: vancouver.ca/your-government/vancouver-building- bylaw.aspx. Access to future errata and revisions of the 2014 Vancouver Building and Plumbing System By-laws will also be available through this website. Questions about the VBBL may be directed to City of Vancouver staff at infoVBBL@vancouver.ca or 604.873.7611. FAQ Section on the APEGBC Website APEGBC will be rolling out an engineering and geoscience practice-related frequently asked questions section on its website in early 2015. In eventually making responses available for as many of these questions as possible, APEGBC is aiming to address mem- bers’ most common questions in as timely a manner as possible. Members will also be encouraged to submit their practice related questions via the website or email at practiceadvisor@apeg.bc.ca. Practice Guidelines from the APEGBC/ABCFP Joint Practice Board APEGBC and the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) operate a Joint Practice Board (JPB) which addresses areas of overlap in professional practice between the members of the two associations. The Forest Practices Board (FPB), an This update provides information on professional practice developments and resources relevant to APEGBC engineers and geoscientists.

other APEGBC guidelines, visit: apeg.bc.ca/guidelines.

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