Innovation Fall 2025

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Professional practice inquiries

I’ve encountered a situation that doesn’t appear to meet professional practice standards. What do I do next?

Practicing registrants are likely to encounter situations throughout their careers where they find concerns with the practice of another individual. While registrants are required under section 58 of the Professional Governance Act to report concerns to Engineers and Geoscientists BC when they have reasonable and probable grounds to believe the actions of another individual poses risk of significant harm, many concerns can be addressed through the following proactive, professional steps first. 1. Gather information Before acting, take reasonable steps to confirm that your concerns are legitimate. It is always best practice to review the information at your disposal and check it against relevant professional practice standards such as legislation, codes, and guidance documents to assess if there is, in fact, a problem. Following this process will help confirm the existence of an issue and how to address it. If the concern is outside your scope of practice, consider consulting a peer or independent expert. Collect facts and context to clarify whether a problem exists or if it may stem from a misunderstanding. 2. Discuss with relevant parties Professional concerns are often resolved through respectful, direct communication. Speak with the person involved to share your observations and take the time to understand their explanation. Keep the conversation focused on technical or practice-related concerns. In some cases, concerns may be fully addressed through discussions with the individual or individuals involved. If differences remain, consider requesting a third-party review. The Professional Practice Guidelines – Peer

Review provide guidance on conducing these reviews. Throughout the process of communicating with the other party and any subsequent reviews that may take place, it is important to document discussions and findings. 3. Elevate the concern If the concern persists and you believe it cannot be resolved through discussion or review, consider escalating. This might mean raising the issue with project leadership, a client, or another authority within or outside your organization. Filing a complaint with Engineers and Geoscientists BC is appropriate when concerns persist and the issue has not been resolved. Keep in mind that the complaint process does not offer an immediate solution to practice concerns; however, it is the right course of action to help address risks associated with the practice of an individual. 4. Know when to report Principle 9 of the Code of Ethics requires registrants to report the practice of anyone that may pose a risk of significant harm to the environment or the public. It is important to note that if at any point you have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the practice of an individual may pose a risk of significant harm to the public or environment, you must act promptly and report to Engineers and Geoscientists BC and any other appropriate authority. This also includes any practices which may be illegal or unethical.

David Slade, P.Eng. Practice Advisor

Guidelines and advisories

Scan the QR code to see all professional practice guidelines and practice advisories.

Upcoming professional practice guidelines: • Professional Practice Guidelines – Climate Resilience Retrofits • Professional Practice Guidelines – Subsurface Investigations

Innovation Fall 2025

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