CHAPTER TWO

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:a.

b.
c.
d.

understand the role and responsibilities of professional

engineer working with consultant
understand the role and responsibilities of professional
engineer working with contractor
understand the role and responsibilities of professional
bodies
understand the Code of Professional Conduct

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

1.0

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

Working as a consulting engineer

Working for a main contractor
2.0

Role and responsibilities of the professional

engineer working as a consulting engineer

Design stage to the client/owner

Design stage to the contractor
Design stage to the public
Construction stage to the client and the contractor

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
2.1

Design stage to the client/owner

Responsibilities :
Design and supervision of the civil and structural
engineering works.
To design the engineering works that are safe, both
during construction and when in use.
To ensure that the design executed is safe, there
should be design checks for safety during construction
and upon completion.
The engineering work is to be constructed economically
The engineering work must meet the functions specified
in the clients design brief.
The engineering work has to be durable and fire
resistant.
Requirements for the maintenance of the structure
should not be overlooked, properly considered at early
design stage to provide safer environment, save money
and practical.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

2.2

Design stage to the contractor

Responsibilities :
The consulting engineer has no contract with the main
contractor and he only acts as an agent for the client.
To prepare a design for the contractor to construct
safely in accordance with the conditions of contract.
He has a duty of care to give special instruction and
advice on the critical aspects of the design for the
construction work.
He makes the contractor aware of the needs of the
design during construction
He has to communicate his design intentions on
drawings and specifications as information for the
contractor to construct.
He should advise on possible methods of construction
for the contractor to consider.
He should have a good knowledge of the method of
construction and temporary work involved.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

If he does not have the knowledge of the method of

construction and temporary work involved, it is his duty
of care to seek expertise from another party to assist
him in such areas of work.
2.3

Design stage to the public

Responsibilities :
To ensure that the work poses no danger to the public
safety, both during construction and maintenance.
His work should achieve the functional, aesthetic, and
building standards as required by local authorities.

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

2.4

Construction stage to the client and the

contractor

Responsibilities :
To administer the construction contract.
Ensuring that construction work is executed by the
contractor according to the safety requirements of the
regulatory bodies.
He, together with the architect, has to make certain that
the safety plan submitted by the main contractor to
DOSH is approved before commencement of physical
work on site.
To ensure that safety measures are executed by the
main contractor in a time manner in accordance with
the approved safety plan throughout the contractual
period.
The clients main concerns are project completed within
the contractual period, with no delay, within his budget
and the end results will have the quality as specified
and in accordance with the construction drawings.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

These objectives can be achieved through the supervisory

role of the consulting engineer, working together with the
contractor.
The main contractor is solely responsible for the
methods and sequence of construction, the approved
safety plans by the authorities, his own management,
supervision and coordination of the construction work.
The consulting engineer should have no role in these
duties, they belong to the contractor. Therefore, the
professional engineer on behalf of the consulting
engineer does not take over the contractors
responsibility for the construction work and his site
working methods.

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

Temporary structures including scaffolding, personal

protection systems, working platforms, temporary
supporting systems, lifting equipment, tower cranes and
material handling systems are critical elements of the
overall safety construction plan. There is a need for a
professional engineer to carry out the structural design for
such works. Since the main contractor is responsible for
temporary work, the professional engineer responsible for
such temporary structures has to be engaged him. The
consulting engineers on his part has a responsibility to
ensure that all temporary work, which requires the
professional services of a professional engineer is
complied with in accordance with DOSH.

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

To review and comment on the design and the drawings

for the temporary work submitted by the contractor.
Such review and comment should not be deemed as
assuming responsibility for the temporary structures.
The responsibility for all temporary works still remains
with the main contractor.
The consulting engineer has a duty of care to inform
the contractor early, on the late changes in the project
and where alterations have been made. He has to
ensure that these variations are fully known to all
parties involved with the work. Late changes may
require changes of design conditions for temporary
work.

CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

3.0

Role and responsibilities of the professional

engineer working for a main contractor

Construction stage to the client

Responsibilities :
Usually works as a project manager or construction
manager for the main contractor.
Safety in construction
He should perform his professional duties with duty of
care and with regard to public interest.
He has a critical role in the project implementation.
His job functions are to provide the technical services
for construction operations, with the aim of reducing
cost in the construction, minimizing construction time,
making sure quality of the work is achieved and
maintained, providing a safe working environment for
his workers, using effectively, the required methods,
techniques, tools and equipment.

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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

The main contractor has absolute control of all activities

on site. He has full access to the site and has full
control of the equipment, which he uses.
There are parties present on site, who are the clients
representatives, subcontractors working on other
aspects of the project, visitors to the site and member of
the public having access to the site or walking around in
public areas around the perimeter of the site. It is his
responsibility to ensure that such third parties are not
exposed to risks, which will endanger their safety. His
site safety plan must meet this requirement.
He should have a team of properly qualified safety
personnel assisting him in executing his role to ensure
safety in construction.
He is responsible for the provision of safety for all
workmens access structures, scaffolding, catch and
working platforms, material handling, heavy lifting and
hauling systems, tower cranes, and earth retaining
systems, taking into account the imposed construction
loads acting on the uncompleted and completed
structure.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

Any design requirements which are specified by DOSH

for these areas of temporary works have to be fulfilled
by the professional engineer engaged by the contractor.
The professional engineer should have the competency
to design for the temporary work as required. He has to
design for the safe performance of the temporary works
and carries full responsibility for the design and
supervision of the building of such works for the
contractor. He also has to ensure that the safety project
plan submitted to DOSH for approval prior to
commencement of physical works, is implemented and
monitored periodically to ensure compliance.
The professional engineer engaged by the contractor,
should be given adequate information on the design
intentions on drawings and specifications to enable him
to devise safe methods of construction. He has the
responsibility of informing the consulting engineer on
the method of construction of the structure and to
ensure that the construction method and sequence of
work does not conflict with the consultants design
intention for the structure.

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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

4.0 Some of the preventive measures for ensuring

in construction.

safety

General
Temporary works

4.1 General
Method statements for the construction work should not
just describe the work methodology but also the safety
aspects of getting it done.
A good safety management system should be adopted
on site with an earnest commitment towards a safety
culture. Such commitment should be shown by every
member of the construction team from the lowest level
to highest.
Overall safety must be integrated into the design phase
as well as the construction phases.
Major hazards and the potential consequences should
be identified during planning, designing and
construction.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

A study should be initiated on the risk assessment, risk

avoidance and risk reduction strategies for the construction
work.
Contingencies safety plans need to be prepared in
advance for safety problems to be resolved when required,
and a clear line of communication within the site
organization has to be established.
A team of safety personnel working full time with the
professional engineer under the employment of the
contractor for safety construction should act independently
and be given full power from the top management to
execute its duties and responsibilities in an effective
manner.
It is in the clients interest that he employs a team of full
time safety personnel to monitor the progress of the safety
plan on site. This is to check on the contractor to ensure
that he committed to his safety plan.
Engineers should keep their knowledge of developments in
technology and practice up to date.

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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

More emphasis should be given to the appreciation of

construction and maintenance issues.
Improvement in the communication of design intent
between parties in construction.
Do not compromise on compressed project design
schedules unless one has full knowledge of the amount
of work involved.
Employment of capable experienced engineers who are
committed to lead the design/construction team with
direction and effective checking of the work.
Do not depend too much on computers to do the design
work to avoid the danger of over reliance and lack of
critical appraisal by more experienced staff. Skill of
verifying the computer output through the use of simple
calculations should not be discarded.
Peer review of designers work by more experienced
engineers should be encouraged. Such checks do not
occur usually for commercial reasons. Checking that
the design is acceptable, comes under the professional
duty of care and statutory duties of the pofessional
engineer.

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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

4.2

Temporary works

A comprehensive review of the design and safety

measures of all complex temporary works by a third party
even if the proposed temporary works submitted by the
contractor have been designed and endorsed by a
professional engineer. This is important particularly in
cases where deep excavation within existing building are
involved or where falsework with heavy propping for
transfer structures is necessary.
All aspect of temporary works must comply with the codes
of practice and regulations, which are being used for the
design of permanent structures.
Temporary structures should be designed to resist all
loading, which will be encountered during construction, and
with an adequate safety factor that should not be less than
that for permanent works.
When different parts of the temporary works are designed
individually and independently, the design check should be
carried out on an integral basis.
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CHAPTER TWO
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

It should not be taken for granted that when the

temporary works are designed and endorsed by a
professional engineer, there is no necessity for a design
check. Approval of safety requirements without the
necessary design evaluations or inspections during
construction should not be acceptable.
Professional engineers who are not competent and do
not have the working experience in complex temporary
works should not endeavor to undertake design for
such work.
Make sure that the professional fees are commensurate
with doing a proper job and that the professional
engineer is fully aware of the complexity of the job,
whether it be for the permanent or temporary work.

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CHAPTER TWO
CHARACTERISTIC OF
GOOD AND BAD DESIGN
Good Design

Meet all requirement

Works all the time
Meet cost requirement
Requires little or no maintenance
Is safe
Creates no ethical dilemma

Bad design

Meets only some technical requirement

Works initially, but stops working after a short time
Cost more than it should
Requires frequent maintenance
Poses a hazard to users
Raises ethical questions

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