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  • 1.  How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 02-24-2020 08:01 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 02-24-2020 08:01 AM
    Hi all,

    Hope you're doing great!

    I would like to start a thread on the contributions and value (aside from business value and fanancial ones) to the general public and the society brought by a) engineer; b) contractor; c) construction manager d) project owner respectively?

    As far as I know, project owner, engineer and contractor should take the ownership of general public's safety. How do they implement this responsibility differently?

    Aside from the above, what else contribution do they bring to the general public? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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    James Wang, M.ASCE
    Senior Cost Estimator
    Turner & Townsend
    Shenzhen, China
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  • 2.  RE: How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 02-27-2020 01:49 PM
    Working for a federal, state, or municipal government provides a more direct responsibility to the public. However, even working for a private engineering company on a private project still has a responsibility to anyone that uses that facility. There should be considerations for safety, ease-of-use, understanding, etc. Each person who works on the project should work together to ensure these considerations are met.

    As a project manager I always made sure the construction site was well marked with signage and barrels to avoid confusion to the public. Older drivers have specific needs that must be accommodated.

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    Yance Marti P.E., M.ASCE
    Civil Engineer IV
    City of Milwaukee
    Milwaukee WI
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  • 3.  RE: How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 02-27-2020 11:35 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 02-27-2020 11:35 PM
    Hi Yance,

    Thanks for your insights!

    Public authorities and engineers altogether are responsible for and contribute to the safety of the general public who may be the stakeholders during construction and are intended users once the project is completed.

    I believe contractors also are responsible for the general public in the construction of projects by adhering to specifications, safety regulations, etc.

    I still hope to hear more voices from other members on this thread!

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    James Wang], M.ASCE
    Senior Cost Estimator
    Turner & Townsend
    Shenzhen, China
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  • 4.  RE: How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 03-02-2020 08:51 AM
    Edited by Chad Morrison 03-02-2020 08:54 AM
    Job site safety extends well beyond the site itself.  Surrounding sidewalks and streets need to have some level of protection from falling objects and cranes.  We once added a couple of floors over an active hospital.  A crash deck had to be installed to protect the occupants below from the construction above!

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    Chad Morrison P.E., M.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
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  • 5.  RE: How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 03-05-2020 07:43 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 03-05-2020 07:42 AM
    Hi Chad,

    Great point!

    I can't agree more! Thanks for your first-hand insights from the Construction side.

    I hope other members will join this discussion!

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    James Wang, M.ASCE
    Senior Cost Estimator
    Turner & Townsend
    Shenzhen, China
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  • 6.  RE: How owner, engineer, contractor implement their responsibility to the general public?

    Posted 06-12-2020 01:22 PM
    Suggest a foundational resource for thinking about, and responding to your question(s):

    •  3rd edition, ASCE Manual 73 "Quality in the Constructed Project,"  2012.


    Stay Healty!
    Cheers,
    Bill

    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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