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Time for licenced Engineers?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
As a result of a discussion within a Linkedin group. I had originally raised the issue of the EC UK or IET legally licencing Engineers and had agreed to bring this discussion from Linkedin to the IET members in an appropriate community for a frank and open debate.

​The circumstances surrounding this discussion was the tragedy of Grenfell Towers and my personal observation that some of the alleged decision makers, had no technical qualifications to make decisions on public safety. I am wondering how far the inquiry will go to reveal that issue. 

​

As I currently work in Canada we do have an act of law governing the conduct of its licenced Engineers and this makes the Engineer have some higher degree of responsibility for public safety.


​Questions

1)    Given the impact of Grenfell, does EC(UK) have to now start considering licencing? What are the perceived hurdles to achieve this?

​2)    If not. What can we do within our profession to improve pubic safety with an objective to prevent another 'Grenfell' ?


I am ​Interested to get IET members responses.

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    I used to be quite sympathetic to this idea and I still am to a certain extent, but we need to get our own house in order first.


    My enthusiasm declined very greatly when I realised that much of the argument came from Chartered Engineers who seemed to have little understanding of, or respect for the expertise of those trained via apprenticeships to become a craftsperson, technician or engineer. My interpretation of Bob’s comments is that he was respectful of these people who typically have a sound fundamental understanding and thousands of hours of relevant experience. I’m open to any rational argument about how someone should be defined as “suitably qualified and experienced” for particular roles. Unfortunately the last time I got involved in the forums , the person who I challenged just seemed to feel that he was “entitled” as Mehmood describes.


    In general UK legislation has made us one of the safest countries in the world and where additionally focussed regulation has been needed, that has often been at the interface with consumers to attack rogue traders. Any skill is better than none provided that the person is not led into to overconfidence, or allowed to pass themselves off as something that they are not. An overly academic approach can easily be as dangerously naïve in the wrong circumstances as the “three-day tradesperson”.


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    I used to be quite sympathetic to this idea and I still am to a certain extent, but we need to get our own house in order first.


    My enthusiasm declined very greatly when I realised that much of the argument came from Chartered Engineers who seemed to have little understanding of, or respect for the expertise of those trained via apprenticeships to become a craftsperson, technician or engineer. My interpretation of Bob’s comments is that he was respectful of these people who typically have a sound fundamental understanding and thousands of hours of relevant experience. I’m open to any rational argument about how someone should be defined as “suitably qualified and experienced” for particular roles. Unfortunately the last time I got involved in the forums , the person who I challenged just seemed to feel that he was “entitled” as Mehmood describes.


    In general UK legislation has made us one of the safest countries in the world and where additionally focussed regulation has been needed, that has often been at the interface with consumers to attack rogue traders. Any skill is better than none provided that the person is not led into to overconfidence, or allowed to pass themselves off as something that they are not. An overly academic approach can easily be as dangerously naïve in the wrong circumstances as the “three-day tradesperson”.


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