Stamping EIT's structural work
Stamping EIT's structural work
(OP)
What is the consensus regarding stamping the work of junior engineers at the firm. I have been asked to start stamping all the structural work in the office. It is good work and meets all the definitions of "responsible charge" so its no ethical dilemma there.
My problem is more philosophical in that I am simply an employee with no ownership in the firm. At other (larger) firms I was employed at, typically only the business owners/principals were asked to stamp others' work; you stamped your own work, but not others' work, as an employee.
My mental hangup with this new request by the boss is that I don't mind "hanging my license out" for others but I do mind others "hanging my license out" for others. Two others is one too many in my current mindset.
I have had my license for nine years now and it STILL tightens my schincter somewhat to stamp my own work that I engineered from top to bottom. I will have to come to grips with this new request and I will basically be repeating a large percentage of this EIT's engineering in my check of the drawings before I will be OK stamping it. Lincoln freed the slaves and and structural engineering jobs are plentiful and I know where the office front door is located; this is only a problem as long as I want it to be a problem I guess.
Are many of you licensed guys being asked to stamp the work of others under your responsible charge as a simple employee?
My problem is more philosophical in that I am simply an employee with no ownership in the firm. At other (larger) firms I was employed at, typically only the business owners/principals were asked to stamp others' work; you stamped your own work, but not others' work, as an employee.
My mental hangup with this new request by the boss is that I don't mind "hanging my license out" for others but I do mind others "hanging my license out" for others. Two others is one too many in my current mindset.
I have had my license for nine years now and it STILL tightens my schincter somewhat to stamp my own work that I engineered from top to bottom. I will have to come to grips with this new request and I will basically be repeating a large percentage of this EIT's engineering in my check of the drawings before I will be OK stamping it. Lincoln freed the slaves and and structural engineering jobs are plentiful and I know where the office front door is located; this is only a problem as long as I want it to be a problem I guess.
Are many of you licensed guys being asked to stamp the work of others under your responsible charge as a simple employee?






RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
Also, make sure you ask for compensation in pay for your new responsiblity. You are taking on quite a responsiblity when you stamp others work, and sticking your reputation on the line for others. It is a big deal and you should treat it as such. No matter how much time you say you'll devote to reviewing the work, you'll usually be pressed for time.
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
Do you feel that you are adequately being compensated for this new responsiblity?
Are you being given adequate time to review this work before you stamp it?
Are you the EIT's supervisor? If not why doesn't his supervisor stamp the work?
Do you actively oversee the EIT's work while he is doing it or are you reviewing it after the fact?
Is your name included on the company's E&O insurance policy?
Are their others at your firm who stamp drawings? What is their feelings on this?
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
I already have a verbal agreement with the boss about liability insurance and will get it in writing for the statute of repose (7 years Colorado, 10 years New Mexico). I long ago signed all my valuable possessions (house, land, cars) to my wife for liability reasons to keep some lawyer from crawling from underneath his rock and going after that stuff.
I had not thought about the certificate of authorization stuff, but that is something to consider.
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
One issue is whether you actually supervise these people, and you seem satisfied on that end. One is whether you trust them enough to know whether you need to check every last dimension and number, or just know they did a good job and stamp it.
If they actually do have an EIT, by all means encourage them to get their PE.
Make sure you have an understanding with your boss as to the extent for which they would hold you responsible for errors. If they expect you to check every last detail, then they need to allow you time for that. And if not, they need to be aware that errors are the EIT's, not your own.
It would make a difference as well how complicated and how critical your work is- whether you're building suspension bridges or outhouses.
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work
Make sure you are considered a Senior person having supervisory responsibility over those individual for whom you will REVIEW and sign (technical supervisory responsibility might be different than administrative supervisory responsibility, depending on your firm's structure). Since you are taking the responsibility for the design you must adequately review that design for concurrence.
RE: Stamping EIT's structural work