This will be a long response.
First of all I have been fortunate to have worked over 30 years as a Civil Engineer out in the field performing inspection and construction administration, being the on-site engineering manager (OEM), essentially monitoring the contractor's activities, for the Engineer of Record (EOR) and the Owner. The projects I worked on as OEM included Wastewater treatment plants, multiple municipal utility installation and road reconstruction projects and a half dozen municipal and industrial landfill projects. In addition my career included engineering project management and becoming the Engineer of Record on projects ranging from $300,000 to over $5,000,000.
Just like in this Case Study, I worked summers as an intern construction inspector, while attaining my BSCE.
Constructing civil projects is a collaborative effort between the Owner, his design engineer and the contractor. In my experience, the vast majority of contractors are honest people who simply want to give the Owner defined finished product and be able to built it at a resonable profit. The plans and specifications need to be well written, without ambiguities, for the contractor to perform the work for the amount stated in their bid. I have also seen contractors that were not honest, but that is a different topic than what is being discussed here.
In a typical construction project the on-site engineer is responsible for observing that the contractor is performing the work in accordance with the plans and specifications. The Engineer of Record in most instances has to certify in writing that the project was built exactly as shown on the Record Drawings. The EOR is completely dependent on the integrity of the on-site employees to be working solely for the EOR. If an EOR employee is receiving any form of favors from the contractor, the contractor will eventually expect some favor in return.
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Eric King P.E., M.ASCE
Pearland TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2017 12:12
From: Steve Starrett
Subject: Engineering Ethics Case Study 2.
Dear ASCE Members,
I hope to stimulate conversations on ethical dilemmas that engineers may face. So, please consider the following engineering ethical dilemma and contribute to the advancement of our profession by providing your thoughts on the situation George faces. Thank you.
Best Regards,
Steve
George is an engineering student working during the summer for a state DOT as an assistant construction inspector. One day, John the engineer George is assisting goes into a contractor's supply trailer and picks us a radial power saw in good working order. John says to the nearby construction superintendent, "This saw looks like a piece of junk. I bet you were about to throw it away. Should I just take it off your hands?" The superintendent looked John over and said, "Go ahead and just take it." John on his way out of the trailer picked up an extension cord and then put his goodies into his state pickup. George later described the situation to other engineering construction inspectors and they said, "Oh, that is just how John is. He has been that way for decades." George then mentioned the situation to the district construction engineer who ignored what George was telling him. George isn't satisfied with the lack of interest the construction inspectors have in addressing this situation.
What advice do you have for George?
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Steve Starrett Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE
Kansas State University
President - ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute
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