INNOVATION January-February 2018

A S S O C I A T I O N

QUALITY MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES UPDATED Updated versions of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s six quality management guidelines have recently been published and are now available on the association’s website. No new technical requirements have been introduced in this most recent suite of updates, but some revisions and additions have been made to the Quality Management Guidelines – Use of Seal to provide further clarification on a number of topics. Version 2.0 supersedes Version 1.2 of the Quality

applied biology, and professional forestry. The aim of the audit was to assess the enabling legislation and performance of professional associations that govern QPs. Engineers and Geoscientists BC participated in the audit on November 20, 2017, and provided a significant amount of information on the ways in which it utilizes proactive and reactive regulatory programs to ensure engineering and geoscience is conducted safely and to high standards. To date, the provincial government has requested the participation of members of the professional associations in a survey on professional reliance distributed to Engineers and Geoscientists BC members working in the resource sector. In the coming months, the provincial government has indicated that it will offer a webinar to members of each professional association. Public feedback is also being sought on this issue through the provincial government’s EngageBC website, engage.gov.bc.ca/ professionalreliance. As a part of this consultation process, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has provided a public statement (See opposite page). As the review continues, Engineers and Geoscientists BC looks forward to working with government to contribute to a stronger professional reliance system, and members are encouraged to participate in consultation opportunities as they arise. A final report is expected to be completed by spring 2018. 3.6 How to Seal • 3.6.4.2 Electronic Seals and Digital Certificates • 3.6.8.1 Non-ink Signatures • 3.6.9.3 Unacceptable Seals Appendix A: When to Apply Seals (re-ordered, additional scenarios added) The following guidelines were revised to align formatting for greater cohesiveness as a whole, and for consistency with the Quality Management Guidelines – Use of Seal : • Direct Supervision (v.1.3 ) • Documented Checks of Engineering and Geoscience Work (v1.3) • Documented Independent Review of Structural Designs (v1.4) • Documented Field Reviews During Implementation or Construction (v1.3) • Retention of Project Documentation (v1.3) The quality management guidelines are available in the Practice Resources section of the association’s website at egbc.ca/Quality- Management-Guidelines.

Management Guidelines – Use of Seal . Updates in this latest version include additions and revisions on a number of topics: 3.2 Which Documents Require Sealing • 3.2.1.3 General

• 3.2.4.1 CADD Drawing Files • 3.2.5.1 Bound Documents • 3.2.6.1 Reviewed Documents • 3.2.7.2 Copies of Originally Sealed Documents • 3.2.9.1 Standard Drawings • 3.2.10 Emails • 3.2.12 Design-build Drawings/Documents

ASSOCIATIONS AUDITED IN PROFESSIONAL RELIANCE REVIEW On October 3, the provincial government announced it would be undertaking a review of the Province’s professional reliance model to ensure that the highest professional, technical and ethical standards are being applied to resource management in BC. The review will assess the current legislation governing

qualified professionals (QPs) in the natural resource sector upon whose professional recommendations the government relies, as well as the role their professional associations play in upholding the public interest. It will also look to identify best practices with respect to QPs doing work under the professional reliance model, and make recommendations regarding resource decisions made by government, conditions governing the involvement of QPs in those decisions, and the appropriate level of government oversight to assure the public their interests are protected. Following the announcement, Engineers and Geoscientists BC issued a statement providing its full support of the review. “As a regulatory body, we take our duty to protect the public very seriously,” said Ann English, P.Eng., CEO and Registrar. “We welcome any opportunities to strengthen or add to the regulatory tools we already have in place.” The review began with an audit of five professional associations, including Engineers and Geoscientists BC and the associations governing agrology, applied science technology,

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