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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.

Parents

  • Jack Lord:

    I consider BT and British Gas "engineers" are technicians, not engineers..




    Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with this, there are problems. What is the definition of an 'Engineer'? If it is someone who is registered CEng, then that is easy, but is someone who is in the process of applying and who subsequently succeeds not an engineer until he/she is granted CEng? Then what about those accumulating experience to apply? And don't forget some can gain CEng by the alternative route and not have the exemplifying qualifications.

    Until we (and I am talking here about the whole of the UK) come up with a legal definition of and Engineer, understood and accepted by the general populace, we are going to be stuck with this problem.

    Alasdair

Reply

  • Jack Lord:

    I consider BT and British Gas "engineers" are technicians, not engineers..




    Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with this, there are problems. What is the definition of an 'Engineer'? If it is someone who is registered CEng, then that is easy, but is someone who is in the process of applying and who subsequently succeeds not an engineer until he/she is granted CEng? Then what about those accumulating experience to apply? And don't forget some can gain CEng by the alternative route and not have the exemplifying qualifications.

    Until we (and I am talking here about the whole of the UK) come up with a legal definition of and Engineer, understood and accepted by the general populace, we are going to be stuck with this problem.

    Alasdair

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