Mike,
I was at the Kentucky licensure website several years back, and you could
download the whole state law on this. I did and read it through. It said that
if you designed any equipment for the public that was electrical, you were
supposed to carry a valid engineers license in that state. To be a PE there,
you had to have a 4 year BSc degree in the field, then work for two more years
under a licensed PE as an EIT to be allowed to take the test. If you then could
pass the test, you were granted your license. I then e-mailed the director
about what I had read and asked what all was included under design. He wrote
back and told me it meant everything, and that designing anything without a
license was breaking the law. He also mentioned that even using the term
engineer with your name was considered illegal. I don't have the link to the
website, but you can look this all up there if they haven't changed it. The
director does answer the e-mails also.
Now the way a lot of companies get around this is hiring ones without a license
and placing them under a licensed engineer as a "designer" or "draftsman".
They'll have like a VP of Engineering who is licensed, and will view over any
drawing before they hit the shop, or any materials purchased. That's the way I
worked at both places as I never wanted to get a license over law suits. Belive
me, my boss was tied up in every one they had and it was several at a time
where it was mining related. You have people out there who are just waiting to
say they got hurt off a piece of equipment to file a law suit. I helped bust
one of these by designing and building a full scale model of a drill arm with
wood. The guy suing was required to show how it happened in court, and his butt
couldn't hit the lever that he claimed caused his hand to be mashed. The man
was found to have done this his self! After it got out, two other employees
stepped forward and verified what the guy done.
Another way around this if you own a business is to have an EE or ME look at
all the prints, ok the design, and stamp it. That relieves you of any
liability. I did this when I ran the shop I had as I was building equipment for
the railroads and the coal mines. I had friends doing both, and I paid them for
their professional services.
I think the state licensure boards turn a blind eye to a lot unless someone
reports something or your a large corporation. Then, if they do, you better
have all your ducks in a row, or one could be looking at both fines and jail
time. If you get a chance, drop by that website, or e-mail the director. He can
enlighten you more really than the law that is written as he knows how the
courts interpret it.
Best,
Will
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 6/26/06 at 3:44 PM Michael Tope wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Will Matney" <craxd1@verizon.net>
>
>> Gary,
>>
>> You would think being sued is the worst part. What if a disgruntled
>> customer reported you to the state license board? You would then have a
>> review about your engineering license. Here, they beileve the reporter
>> more, and your guilty to them having to prove yourself innocent. If they
>> pull your license, you can no longer be an engineer. If one even says
>that
>> you can do this over a limit, and they see this, you could sure loose
>that
>> slip of paper and your stamp. According to how bad it is, or what all
>the
>> reporter said to them, it could be a temporary suspension all the way to
>a
>> permenant. It's according to what you can prove. Then, I guess one could
>> find a job as a draftsman or in sales. It's worse today too. People have
>> gotten law suit crazy, and attorneys don't hold no punches back if they
>> think there's extra money they can collect. Even if you fight all this
>> succesfully, how much out of pocket expense did it cost you? Even though
>> things can be done over the limit, I will har
>> dly ever tell someone to do something other than published standards.
>> Heck, if you tell someone to build something some way, and it doesn't
>work
>> out, you can be in trouble for doing engineering without a license! That
>> is if someone is mad enough to report you. Another thing is if you've
>> designed something to be used by another manufacturer. They will sue for
>> down time if your product caused it. That can run into tons of money.
>The
>> reason I know about this is I used to have to design and build full
>scale
>> mock ups or models of our equipment to be used in court cases. I've
>heard
>> some of the craziest stories about law suits that can be heard. It's a
>> shame to say, but today, people will sue you at the drop of a hat.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Will
>>
>>
>
>Will,
>
>Since when do you need a PE license to be an electronic design engineer?
>Only a handful of the design engineers that I have worked with over the
>years actually had a PE license.
>
>73, Mike W4EF........................................
>
>
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