INNOVATION September-October 2017

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As the official publication of Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, Innovation is circulated to almost 34,000 BC-registered professional engineers and geoscientists, other professionals, industry and government representatives, educational institutions and the general public. The magazine is published six times each year on a bi-monthly basis.

Council Repor t | Brand Launch | Disciplinar y Notice | Storage Rack Regulations | L ife Member Bylaw

INNOVATION SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA

HEALTH AND SAFETY IN MINERAL EXPLORATION

CHALLENGES IN RISK ASSESSMENT

2017 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS

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A critical requirement in every successful project Michael Yuan, P.Eng.

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INNOVAT ION

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | volume 21 number 5

COVER STORY HEALTH AND SAFETY IN MINERAL EXPLORATION

NEWS / DEPARTMENTS

Perspectives on field work and safety in BC’s mineral exploration industry

6 NEWS 8 ASSOCIATION 10 COUNCIL REPORT

Warren Mirko

28 PRACTICE 33 DISCIPLINE 38 MEMBERSHIP

WE ARE ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA As we approach 100 years, BC’s association for engineering and geoscience professionals is introducing a new face to the world

COMMENT

4 VIEWPOINT 5 LETTERS

OTHER

COURTING DISASTER Risk assessments present increasing challenges for professionals

34 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 38 CLASSIFIED 38 DISPLAY ADVERTISERS INDEX

Dr. R.H. Guthrie, P.Geo.

> BEYOND INCREMENTAL ENERGY AND CARBON GOALS IN A GLOBAL MARKET Developing context-based sustainability strategy and goals

ON THE COVER Health and safety practices are vital to managing risk in dynamic work conditions in mineral exploration. Page 20

Ronan Chester; Rylan Dobson; Dara Edmonds; Dr. Jamie Gray-Donald; and Dorota Kwasnik, P.Eng.

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INNOVAT ION

V I E W P O I N T

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | volume

21 number

PLAYING THE LONG GAME I first became interested in being involved with the association three years ago when the strategic plan was launched for 2014-2017. In that time, participating in this organization’s governance has made me more acutely aware of all the work that the association has been doing, as well as the challenges we face and our successes to date. Engineers and geoscientists lead busy professional lives. Often, beyond the immediate sphere of, How does this affect me, my practice, and my ability to do safe and responsible work? our thoughts don’t always extend to the various happenings of this association.

ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2

Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 Email: info@egbc.ca Internet: egbc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

COUNCIL 2016/2017 President Bob Stewart, P.Eng. Vice-President Dr. Ed Casas, P.Eng. Immediate Past President Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) COUNCILLORS C.J.A. Andrewes, P.Eng.; S. Cheema, CA, CPA R. Farbridge, P.Eng.; C. Hall, P.Eng./P.Geo. S. Hayes, P.Eng.; K. Laloge, CPA, CA, TEP; S. Martin, P.Eng. C. Moser, P.Eng.; R.B. Nanson, P.Eng. S.R. Rettie, P.Eng., FEC; L. Spence, P.Eng. K. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC; J. Turner, P.Ag. (ret); D. Wells, JD ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. Chief Executive Officer and Registrar T.M.Y. Chong, P.Eng. Chief Regulatory Officer and Deputy Registrar J.Y. Sinclair Chief Operating Officer M.L. Archibald Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement J. Cho, CGA Director, Finance and Administration D. Gamble Director, Information Systems P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. Director, Professional Practice, Standards and Development D. Olychick Director, Member Services G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. Director, Registration E. Swartz, LLB Director, Legislation, Ethics and Compliance V. Lai, CGA Associate Director, Finance and Administration M.A. Rigolo P.Eng., Associate Director, Engineering Admissions L. Steele, P.Geo., Associate Director, Professional Practice EDITORIAL BOARD J. Bracho, P.Eng.; E.A. Brown, P.Eng.; K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA; S. Chiu, P.Eng.; T. George, P.Eng.; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng. G. Grill, P.Eng.; R. Ord, P.Eng.; A.M. Westin, GIT; M.J. Zieleman, EIT Advertising material must reach the publication by the first day of the first month (e.g., May 1 for the May/June issue), or by the first business day immediately preceding the first day of the first month. Advertising Contact: Gillian Cobban Tel: 604.929.6733 Email: advertising@egbc.ca Innovation is published six times a year by Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia. As the official publication of the association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this association. Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and photos. By submitting material to Innovation , you grant Engineers and Geoscientists BC a royalty-free, worldwide licence to publish the material; and you warrant that you have the authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines (egbc.ca/innovation-editorial) and is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof, including credits. All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission. Design/Production: Fusion FX Design & Marketing Inc Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd on recycled paper Subscription ratesper issue$4.50;six issuesyearly$25.00. (Ratesdonot include tax.)

Bob Stewart, P.Eng. President president@egbc.ca

Yet, were you to ask, we’d agree that someone should be responsible for making sure that standards and practices are upheld and up to date; that someone should ensure that the current system of licensing professionals in BC is equipped to handle the increasing number of applications as well as international and inter-provincial mobility; that someone is working to ensure that scientific expertise informs policy decisions affecting The 2014–2017 Strategic Plan has sought to tackle these challenges in a very real way, setting goals and objectives with clearly defined outcomes and performance indicators. Progress has been reported regularly at Council meetings throughout the year and summarized in our annual reports. In line with the plan, in 2016/2017, we have: • Increased available practice guidance to members, as well as access to and awareness of practice guidelines and resources. • Worked with employers/industry to improve the standard of organizational quality management practices. • Communicated to the public how we’ve upheld standards of conduct and ethics for our professions. • Developed and implemented a strategy to increase public understanding and awareness of engineers and geoscientists and the work of the association as a regulator. • Collaborated with other Canadian regulators to develop practices for greater harmonization of registration requirements. • Reached out to and engaged with government to improve public safety, respond to climate change, and increase emergency preparedness. The strategic plan provided a frame for us to tackle complex long-range challenges, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished as an organization. I’m also full of optimism for where we are going as we embark on the new 2017–2020 Strategic Plan , which will bring our duties under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act even more sharply into focus. Over the next three years, the plan’s back-to-basics framework will see Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia: • Increase clarity about our regulatory responsibilities for members and the public. • Identify, improve and introduce processes and tools that will allow us to carry out our regulatory duties and licensing functions more effectively. • Deliver timely, outcomes-focused complaints and enforcement processes. • Increase members’ awareness and use of professional practice resources. • Support greater diversity and inclusion in our professions. It’s my hope that this roadmap for the future sparks your interest as it did mine—it’s up to all of us to champion the association and professions we want to see. For ethics. For excellence. For progress. the practice of engineering and geoscience in our province. For an association like ours, that someone is us. You and me.

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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Innovation , Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

US Postmaster: Innovation (ISSN 1206-3622) is published bimonthly for $25.00 per year by Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail, 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 98372-9221. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing offices, US PO #007-927. POSTMASTER send address changes (covers only) to Innovation , c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016.

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L E T T E R S

Letters to the editor containing your views on topics of interest are encouraged. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily endorsed by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Letters should be 300 words or less and can be emailed to innovation@egbc.ca. Find information at egbc.ca/Submitting-to-Innovation.

Editor’s note: For more information, see Page 10, July/August 2017 issue of Innovation . “New Procedure for Submitting Motions for 2017 Annual General Meeting.”

ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER OR ASSOCIATION’S RULES? Innovation July/August describes changes to the procedures for presenting motions at the October 21, 2017 Annual General meeting. Details of these new ʻrules’ are found on the association’s website. Association bylaw 2(i) states “The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of meetings…in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws or the special rules of order of this association.” Therefore, if the association wants to establish ʻAGM special rules,’ it must propose a change to the bylaws or introduce these ʻspecial rules’ at a general meeting and have them approved by the members. A significant problem with these ʻspecial rules’ is that motions must be presented 30 days before the AGM, September 21 for the 2017 AGM, before the ʻspecial rules’ could be approved at the October AGM. The current approach presumes members’ consent, rather than bringing these proposed rules forward for approval at the AGM for implementation in 2018. The ʻspecial rules’ also state that motions may only be introduced at the AGM with the consent of a 2/3 vote. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), Section 39 states that a 2/3 vote is only required to accept a motion if the motion “is outside the object of the society or assembly as defined in the bylaws.” There is no requirement in RONR that a 2/3 vote of the meeting is required to accept any valid motion. These ʻspecial rules’ should not be applied presumptively before they are approved by members, consequently RONR must govern for the October AGM. There is no need to rush to apply these ʻspecial rules’ to this year’s AGM without time for due member consideration. This will only serve

to hinder members from introducing motions which may be contrary to the views of Council. —Ernest Portfors, P.Eng. North Vancouver, BC

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L E T T E R S

RE: “ENGINEERS MUST DIRECT EFFORTS TO SOLAR-BASED POWER” Response from the Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Climate Change Adaptation Group to the letter “Engineers Must Direct Efforts to

on the topic. CCAG encourages engineers and geoscientists to stay informed about the evolving scientific evidence on human-induced climate change as well as the potential risks and impacts related to their work. j Resources: UK National Academy of Sciences, “Climate Change Evidence and Causes,” available at: https://royalsociety.org/~/ media/Royal_Society_Content/policy/ projects/climate-evidence-causes/ climate-change-evidence-causes.pdf “Climate Insights 101” course offered by Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is available at: http://pics.uvic.ca/ education/climate-insights-101

Solar-based Power,” published in the July/August 2017 issue of Innovation . Authoritative sources such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) materials provide information on the established science of climate change such as a summary of climate change evidence and causes. The UK National Academy of Sciences and the Canadian Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions are just few of many credible references available to decision makers, policy makers, educators, and individuals seeking authoritative answers on climate change, and they include answers to many frequently asked questions

Martin Jobke appointed as President of Associated Engineering

Martin Jobke, P.Eng. has accepted the role of President of the Associated Engineering group of companies, effective January 1, 2018. As part of the company’s leadership succession, Associated Engineering’s Board of Directors selected Martin, a civil engineer with 33 years of experience, to succeed President & CEO, Kerry Rudd, P.Eng., who will retain the role of CEO after the transition. Kerry states, “Martin has demonstrated leadership and a vision for integrated, collaborative project delivery that will support our clients and guide Associated Engineering’s continued

N E W S

NOTICE OF DEPARTURE: JANET SINCLAIR, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Engineers and Geoscientists BC announces the departure of its Chief Operating Officer, Janet Sinclair, effective September 30, 2017. Ms. Sinclair joined Engineers and Geoscientists BC in 2001 as Manager of Professional Development, later taking on the roles of Associate Director of Member Services and Communications in 2005; Director, Communications and Engagement in 2007; and finally Chief Operating Officer in 2011. She has been responsible for operational and member support functions, overseeing the association’s communications and stakeholder engagement, member services, information technology and government relations.

growth and path forward.” Associated Engineering is an employee-owned, Canadian

Janet Sinclair

consulting firmwith a 70-year history of providing uncompromising, client- focussed service. Our commitment

A past president of the BC Society of Medical Laboratory Science, Ms. Sinclair is also an Honourary Fellow of both Engineers Canada and Geoscientists Canada. On behalf of Engineers and Geoscientists BC, we thank Ms. Sinclair for her contributions as a member of the association’s leadership team and wish her all the best as she takes on her new role as the Executive Director of the Insurance Council of British Columbia.

to client satisfaction, technical excellence, and innovation has

resulted in national and international recognition, including twice winning the Schreyer Award, the highest award for Canadian consulting engineers.

www.ae.ca

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A S S O C I A T I O N

LIFE MEMBERSHIP UNDER REVIEW For many years, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has awarded life memberships under the association’s Bylaw 10(c.1). As a result of concerns raised about the bylaw, this practice has been discontinued while the matter is under review. Under the current bylaw, members may apply for life membership if they are 70 years of age, have been practising for 35 years or more, and have been a member in good standing for 20 years or more. Concerns have been raised with Engineers and Geoscientists BC that the bylaw is discriminatory on the basis of age. In light of the allegation of discrimination, Council has decided to stop awarding life membership until this issue has been examined in detail. Life membership requires a member to be retired from all gainful employment and does not provide practice rights. There are currently just over 2,400 life members of the association. We are working diligently to identify an interim solution for members who may be affected in the 2017/2018 renewal period. We have reached out to these members, and are gathering their input as we develop our next steps. Council will be reviewing the bylaw that governs this process, as well as related bylaws. If any changes become necessary, Council may be proposing bylaw revisions for member consideration in 2018. We are committed to keeping members informed as we learn more about this issue. If you have any questions about this process, please contact lifemember@egbc.ca. The Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC , were initially published in October 2016, commissioned by the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. They were revised in March 2014 to address dam safety reviews for mining dams with assistance from the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The latest version of the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC is available at egbc.ca/ guidelines. Questions regarding the updates to the guidelines can directed to Lindsay Steele, P.Geo., Associate Director of Professional Practice at lsteele@egbc.ca.

UPDATES TO DAM SAFETY REVIEW GUIDELINES ADDRESS ENGINEER OF RECORD Engineers and Geoscientists BC recently updated its professional practice guidelines for legislated dam safety reviews. The latest version of the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC , version 3.0, is now available on the association’s website at egbc.ca/guidelines. The guidelines provide the basis for an appropriate standard of care in professional practice when carrying out dam safety reviews. They provide guidance on the specific aspects of dam safety reviews relevant to the governing legislation, Dam Safety Regulation 40/2016 , depending on the purpose of the dam involved. This latest version of the guidelines reflect recommendations made by the Chief Inspector of Mines and the Auditor General in their reports following the Mount Polley dam breach, that there be clarification of the term Engineer of Record. A section providing more context on Engineer of Record responsibilities has now been included in the Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC guidelines. Additionally, some language in the guidelines has been updated to reflect recent changes to the BC Heath, Safety and Reclamation Code and the Dam Safety Regulation. Key sections where the changes have occurred include: ∙Definitions – Engineer of Record and Design Engineer added ∙Section 1.3 – Language added on Engineer of Record ∙Section 2.2.3 – New section added describing the role of the Engineer of Record ∙Section 3.6 – Revisions made to reflect climate change impacts ∙Appendix B Mining Dams – Revisions made based on changes to the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code

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COMPLETE YOUR PRACTICE DECLARATION FOR 2018 In preparation for your membership renewal for 2018, please be sure to update your annual practice declaration and contact information this autumn. The declaration asks members to identify their industry of practice, areas of professional expertise, and employment setting. Practice declaration information provided by members helps Engineers and Geoscientists BC to more accurately target professional practice information by relevance to members, and develop appropriate guidance and resources. The annual membership renewal package for 2018 will be sent to your most current mailing address or email address the association has on file, so please be sure to verify your contact information before October 31, 2017. When you update your contact information, you can also adjust your communication preferences to select the communications you wish to receive from Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Update your practice declaration, contact information, and communications preferences by logging into your account on the Engineers and Geoscientists BC website: egbc.ca. MOTIONS FOR THE 2017 AGM The Engineers and Geoscientists BC annual general meeting will be held at 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 21, 2017, in Whistler, BC. According to the procedure for submitting motions for the 2017 AGM, members were asked to submit motions for consideration at the meeting 30 days in advance, 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 21, 2017. Members were advised of the procedure and the proposed revised meeting rules in the July/August 2017 issue of Innovation (Page 10), the July, August and September 2017 e-newsletters, and on the association’s website. At the time of publication, three motions have been received. Advanced motions will be published on the website, so please check egbc.ca/agm for the latest update.

2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT Now available on- line: egbc.ca/annual- report. Request a print copy by contacting us at 604.430.8035, toll-free at 1.888.430.8035 or info@egbc.ca.

2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT

MORE ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS AVAILABLE As a professional regulator, Engineers and Geoscientists BC recognizes the value of continuous learning and development to the practice of BC engineering and geoscience professionals. This is why we offer numerous technical, business and managerial seminars and workshops based on member feedback. This includes web-based delivery. The association’s live webinars and Online Learning Centre make it easy to enjoy the flexibility and convenience to learn whenever or wherever you choose. Available through the Engineers and Geoscientists BC website, our Online Learning Centre is expanding and provides more options by which members can achieve professional development. Last year, 24 online course offerings were hosted, drawing in members from across the province. There are currently eight upcoming live webinars scheduled this fall including the following presentations: How Engineers and Geoscientists Get in Trouble – The Annual Review of Investigation and Discipline; and Overview of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s 2017/2018 Operating and Capital Budget. New webinars are continuously added to our events calendar throughout the year. In addition to live webinar offerings, the association’s Online Learning Centre features video recordings of previously held seminars, synchronized with presentation slides and handout material, making professional development opportunities more accessible to members. Currently 13 recordings are offered, including technical, business and managerial topics. An additional five new recordings will be available to members this month, which include: Professional Practice Trends, Human Rights and Diversity Professional Practice Guidelines, and Mitigating Risk through Insurance, all of which are free offerings. View upcoming webinars on our website: egbc.ca/Events/ Distance-Education. Visit our Online Learning Centre: egbc.ca/Practice-Resources/ Professional-Development/.

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C O U N C I L R E P O R T

Competency-Based Reporting of Engineering Experience A final date of July 1, 2019, was approved for transition of all engineering applicants to the competency-based assessment method for experience review, regardless of status of application and reporting route. Policy on Currency of Experience To qualify for registration an applicant must show that their engineering or geoscience experience is sufficiently current to demonstrate competency with present-day Canadian codes, legislation, technical standards, safety, and regulations. Council approved a policy that requires that two of the four years of experience are to have occurred in the last four years and that all four years of experience are to have occurred in the last seven years. This policy applies to those who apply for registration after September 8, 2017. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES Council approved the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Flood Assessment in a Changing Climate (Version 2.0) and the Quality Management Guideline – Use of the Seal (Version 2.0) for final editorial and legal review, prior to publication. Council also endorsed the Seismic

S E P T E M B E R 8 , 2 0 1 7 Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance. The following are the highlights of the September 8, 2017 meeting. POLITICAL NEUTRALITY POLICY Engineers and Geoscientists BC has a policy of political neutrality which confirms that, as an organization created by government legislation to serve the public interest, it is inappropriate for the association to support political parties or partisan activities. The updated policy provides additional clarity regarding the activities in which Engineers and Geoscientists BC will not engage. UPDATES TO REGISTRATION POLICIES Policy on Non-Accredited Reputable International Programs Engineers and Geoscientists BC maintains a list of Non- Accredited Reputable International Programs to facilitate review of academic qualifications for applicants who attended non-accredited institutions. Council approved amending the criteria for institutions to qualify for this list.

Retrofit Guidelines (Third Edition) and Seismic Performance Analyser 1 (Version 3.0) For Use on Low Rise Buildings in BC. Council endorsed the revisions to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code for final editorial and legal review. POLICY ON BYLAW CONSULTATION This policy was revised to better articulate that consultation with stakeholders occurs prior to final decision by Council on proposed bylaws, and that decisions regarding the consultation process are the responsibility of Council rather than the Executive Committee. STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE FOR 2014-2017 Council received its final report on the outcomes achieved related to the strategic plan for 2014-2017. Extensive detail relating to this year’s activities are presented in the association’s annual report. REGISTRATION ADMISSIONS REPORT Council received a report on registration activity for the most recent reporting period. ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATION, AND DISCIPLINE REPORTS Council received reports on enforcement, investigation, and discipline activities for the reporting period.

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AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Council accepted the report of the Audit Committee and approved the financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Council also reviewed the reserve funds available and set the General Operating Fund target to be a minimum of three months of operating expenses starting in fiscal year 2017/2018.

STANDING AWARDS COMMITTEE Dr. James McEwen, P.Eng. Cheryl Nelms, P.Eng. SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Kerly Acosta Hitchcock, P.Eng. Nelson Lee, P.Eng.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION REPRESENTATIVE Colin Smith, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) DIRECTOR TO GEOSCIENTISTS CANADA Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., FGC j

GRANTING OF LIFE MEMBERSHIPS ON HOLD Concerns have been raised with Engineers and Geoscientists BC that the Life Member Bylaw 10(c.1). is discriminatory based on age. In light of this allegation, Council has decided to stop awarding life membership until the issue has been examined in detail. More information on this matter can be found on page 8. Council decided to engage the Professional Standards Authority to perform an audit of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s processes. It is expected that this review will provide recommendations on areas where the organization can improve as guided by the Authority's Standards of Good Regulation. A P P O I N T M E N T S 2017/2018 COUNCIL ELECTION, ALTERNATE SCRUTINEER Paul Blanchard, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) REGULATING FOR THE FUTURE: MODERNIZING ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BC’S PROCESSES

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F E A T U R E

WE ARE ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA

AS WE APPROACH 100 YEARS, BC’S ASSOCIATION FOR ENGINEERING AND GEOSCIENCE PROFESSIONALS IS INTRODUCING A NEW, MODERN FACE TO THE WORLD.

included engagement with members, stakeholders, and the public. Members were kept informed through regular updates in association communications such as Innovation , and at association events. Below, we have answered a few of the most common questions regarding the new brand. WHY DOES THE ASSOCIATION NEED A NEW BRAND? WHY NOW? The drive to develop a refreshed brand grew out of a desire for greater recognition for the professions and the association, and a need to modernize the brand to reflect the values that members said were most important to them—ethics, excellence, and progress. This is accomplished through a simplified business name that emphasizes the names of the professions, rather than an acronym, and a modern visual identity that better reflects today’s members. In addition to raising the profile of our members and the work that they do, these changes will also support our goal to be seen by the public as a progressive regulator that works in the public interest. WILL MY PROFESSIONAL SEAL OR CERTIFICATE CHANGE? No. While our business name has changed to Engineers and Geoscientists BC, our legal name remains the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia, and professional seals and certificates will continue to be issued under this name. WERE MEMBERS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE BRAND? Yes. Consultation was an integral part of this process, and included engagement with members, stakeholders, and the public over a three-year period through surveys, focus groups, and interviews. A working group of members led the development of the brand, and Council approved the new name and logo.

On August 23, 2017, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia unveiled an updated brand identity. From now on, the association will be doing business as Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia. With the new name comes a new visual identity and a new logo, and—most importantly—a clear strategy for expressing what the association and its members are: modern, progressive, diverse, and practising to the highest professional and ethical standards. The transition to the new brand began in 2014, and was a key deliverable of Council’s 2014–2017 Strategic Plan : to develop and implement a brand strategy for the BC engineering and geoscience professions, and for the association. Consultation was a cornerstone of the brand development process, and

Brand identity guidelines were created to help establish a consistent and impactful visual expression for our brand. This document articulates the elements that make up the brand, including sample communications that demonstrate the brand elements in use, and templates that are used for creating specific communications.

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORD ʻ PROFESSIONAL ’ ? The decision to adopt a simplified business name without the word “professional” was a difficult one, and one to which the working group and Council gave extensive consideration. Ultimately, the decision was driven by a desire to help the public stay engaged in the work that members do by enhancing recognition and recall. It is also more inclusive by representing all members, including members-in- training, licensees and students—not just professional members. And, it encourages licensure by working to reduce the perception that only individuals practising in fields traditionally associated with professional licensure (e.g., civil engineers) are required to be registered. The professional designations (P.Eng., P.Geo.) are not changing, nor are those for our licensees and members- in-training (Eng.L., Geo.L., EIT, GIT). Your professional designation will continue to indicate to the public that you are licensed to practise your profession, and are professional, ethical, and accountable. While the association’s business name may not use the word ʻprofessional,’ this is still a cornerstone of who we are. It will be seen in how we present our members to the public: ethical, dedicated to professional excellence, safe, and progressive. It will also be seen in how we conduct ourselves: enforcing high standards of entry and practice, and taking action when these standards are not met. We believe it is far more compelling to show, rather than tell, how members demonstrate their professionalism. SHOULD I USE THE ACRONYM EGBC? No. We are Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Our new name is intended to increase public recall and recognition of the professions and our organization. By having the names of the professions heard and displayed, it helps to raise the profile of our members, and better explains who we are. Therefore, it is important that the acronym is not used. The acronym is only used in rare circumstances, such as website URLs, where character count is limited. HOW MUCH DID IT COST TO DEVELOP THE NEW BRAND? Costs were accounted for within the association’s budget over the past three years, and involved working with a consulting firm to research and define a brand that would achieve the goals set by Council. These goals were: to raise the profile of the engineering and geoscience professions and the association, and to create greater clarity around our role as a regulator that works in the public interest. The work included in-depth research, consultation with members, the public, and stakeholders, and creative development. In total, the cost of this work was $250K, and was spread

out over three years to manage expenditures. WHAT ABOUT THE ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS ACT? WILL IT REQUIRE A CHANGE? No. Only our business name is changing to Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Our legal name remains the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia, in alignment with our Act. View Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s brand video on our website at

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To help launch our brand, advertisements were published in several publications across BC, promoting public awareness of engineering and geoscience professionals and their association.

egbc.ca and help us celebrate by sharing it with your colleagues and networks. To help launch our brand, advertisements were published in several publications across BC. Visit our website to view a few of our ads. j Have a question about the brand that we didn’t answer here? Contact communications@egbc.ca and visit egbc.ca to learn more.

The diamond shape of the logo is representative of both the natural and built world that engineers and geoscientists work within. The lower half is symbolic of what lies below the surface; and the upper half, the built environment that lives

above the surface. While the symbol is abstract, it may also be associated with natural phenomena like mountains, strata, and waves, or built structures such as cables, arches, or trusses. The diamond shape is also representative of the precision and outstanding quality of our members’ work—the pinnacle of excellence: the coming together of geoscience and engineering, and the care and unity we have with our natural environment.

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COURTING DISASTER THE INCREASING CHALLENGE OF RISK ASSESSMENTS DR. R.H. GUTHRIE, P.GEO.

INTRODUCTION On April 6, 2009, at approximately 3:32 AM, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake devastated the medieval Italian town of L’Aquila, about 90 km east of Rome, killing more than 300 and leaving thousands homeless. Ultimately, it wasn’t just the devastating human toll that made this event newsworthy, but also the legal consequences to a group of Italian scientists that formed part of the Italian National Commission for Forecasting and Preventing Major Risks (the Major Risks Commission).

ruling was overturned two years later, but the impact to the global scientific community was sobering. As geotechnical scientists and engineers, we are called upon to make judgments about the conditions and characteristics of the Earth and Earth processes. Those judgments are intended to guide development; to contribute to the understanding of environmental, economic, or societal safety; to advise civil design; and to prevent catastrophic outcomes of the human footprint. All too often we are expected to perform Herculean leaps In 2009, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake devastated the medieval Italian town of L’Aquila, killing more than 300. P hoto : “L’A quila ” UCL M athematical and P hysical S ciences - licensed under CC BY 2.0

Those six scientists (three seismologists, a volcanologist and two seismic engineers) were tasked with estimating the risk of a major earthquake to the town in light of several small- and medium-sized events that occurred in previous months and those locals who had been predicting a major event. The Commission had estimated that there was little risk of a large earthquake. The earthquake occurred despite the commission’s estimate, and in 2012, the scientists were sentenced to six years in prison and €9,000,000 in damages. The

DR. R.H. GUTHRIE, P.GEO.

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of knowledge based on very limited data for a litigious society that relies on our expertise. And let’s be clear. The public does rely on our expertise, and as a self-regulating profession that claims expert knowledge about the workings of the Earth, we encourage and promote that model. We owe ourselves, and the public, a duty of care to limit our own liability by being aware of, and communicating, what we know, and conversely what we don’t know. We also owe it to ourselves and the public to clearly communicate the notion of residual risk and uncertainty, and how that residual risk can change as a result of changing conditions (including Definitions of hazard and risk may be superfluous; however, they are still widely misused in geotechnical engineering and warrant reviewing in light of the present topic. Hazard Hazard is widely used to describe threats to humans and what they value including life, well-being, material goods and the environment. Ambiguity arises wherein the term hazard is used as both a colloquialism and as a specialist term with different meanings or levels of precision for different disciplines. In geotechnics, hazard should be limited where practical to the probability, within a specific time and area, that an event or events (geotechnical, geological or geomorphological processes) will adversely affect humans or the things humans value. development). DEFINITIONS Other conditions can be described as threats, dangers, or susceptibility. Risk Risk is also widely-used to describe threats to humans and what they value. Geotechnical engineers and the public frequently misuse the word risk to mean hazard, or indeed, any measure of probability (such as susceptibility).

Formally, risk must embody both the probability of a hazard (or the sum of hazards) occurring, and the consequence(s) of that event. The most general risk equation is given as: R = H�C Where R =risk, H =hazard and C =consequence. In reality, the basic risk equation is normally divided into component parts including: spatial and temporal probability of a hazard or a probabilistic model of hazards, the magnitude (volume, area, intensity, runout, etc.) of the elements at risk, and the value, vulnerability and exposure of those elements. A more refined equation therefore looks something like the following: R S = P(H T,S �∑(E V �V�E X ) Where R S =specific risk, P =probability, H T,S =temporal and spatial likelihood of a hazard of a given magnitude respectively, and E V , V and E X is the value, vulnerability and exposure respectively of a given element at risk.

It shouldn’t surprise the reader to learn that many of these terms can be further broken down. Residual Risk Residual refers to the risk that remains following an event, assessment, or mitigation. It reflects our uncertainty about the stochastic nature of the physical world, the potential for even low probability events to occur at any time, and our knowledge and identification of more likely events that remain following an assessment or mitigation. In the L’Aquila case, the knowledge of the day was that small earthquake swarms were not statistically correlated with a major earthquake (this assumption is being rigorously re-examined globally as a result of the outcome). The residual risk of a major earthquake remained but was inadequately communicated. INCREASING RISK AND INCREASING CHALLENGES OF RISK ASSESSMENTS While credible arguments can be made for a decreasingly risky world (increased lifespans, wealth and general

Aftermath of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake P hoto : UCL M athematical and P hysical S ciences - licensed under CC BY 2.0. psd

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human health, earthquake resistant infrastructure, better land use zoning, emergency management applications, and increased medical care), there are objective measures whereby geotechnical risk has increased substantially. With a global population at more than 7.5 billion and growing, humans have disrupted natural systems and imposed themselves on the landscape. Obvious examples include climate change and subsequent changes to sea level, slope stability, distribution of permafrost, flooding and storm intensity, as well as geotechnical risks that result from a systematic intrusion into, and occupation of, higher hazard areas. The assessment of geotechnical risk cannot rely unquestioningly on standards and practices developed by those pioneers of the discipline. We must continue to use our best understanding and judgment in a world where the rate of change, and our role in it (as both drivers of change and those affected by change) is increasing, and our assessments should in some manner, account for that change. Errors in judgment are assured, but hopefully through the careful and judicious application of our knowledge, training and experience, and clear communication to our clients, we do indeed serve the public good. Abdulahad et al. (2010) 1 reviewed 41 legal cases involving geotechnical practice in Canada between 1982 and 2006. While not strictly risk assessments, risk is implicit in each example. Of those cases, more than 50 percent were based on different soil conditions and recommendations than expected from the geotechnical report. The courts allowed the actions based on a provision of reasonable evidence to expect different soil conditions (about 40 percent of the time). Nasmith (1986) 2 stated similarly that incorrectly located boreholes are among the most common errors in geotechnical engineering. In addition, slope stability and landslide risk assessments are inherently high-risk for the practitioner. They rely

on uncertain knowledge, changing ground conditions, and constantly changing driving forces (such as the weather, manipulation of the slopes, and re- direction of water among other things). The questions remain: How do we, as a discipline, increase our predictive accuracy in an increasingly complex world? How do we communicate effectively to our clients both the legitimacy and the uncertainty in our work? How do we provide practical, useful advice that decreases geotechnical risk? ANSWERS IN THE CODE Geotechnical scientists and engineers conducting hazard and risk assessments perform a valuable public service. The engineers and geoscientists’ code of ethics is designed to protect the public, but simultaneously offers protection to the practitioner. In this case, answers to the above questions are framed in the context of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Code of Ethics:

assignments only when qualified by training or experience. It is a human condition to overestimate our knowledge or the accuracy of our own judgment. We’re simply not very good at knowing what we don’t know. An antidote to this is, ironically, training and experience. The more we learn, the more we are exposed to the exceptions to the rule, to the rare black swans, to solutions arrived at through an entirely different mechanism. We have a duty therefore, to recognize when independent or senior review is helpful (almost always) to cross-pollinate and discuss our ideas with peers and colleagues, to mentor junior and intermediate staff, and to approach other disciplines with respect. Another antidote to the training and experience issue occurs when a problem is approached by an engineering geologist or geomorphologist and a geotechnical engineer working together. Each has a comprehensive background that is not likely to be fully realized by the other, but together can dramatically

Tenet 2: Undertake and accept responsibility for professional

C ontinues on page 35...

Chiesa delle Anime Sante. Damage to the dome of the Church of the Holy Spirit in L'Aquila following the 2009 earthquake. P hoto : UCL M athematical and P hysical S ciences - licensed under CC BY 2.0

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