Professional Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Specified Category Practitioners

Professional Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Specified Category Practitioners Risk Analysis (Rev 3 - 27 October 2014

1. BACKGROUND: THE COMPETENCY PARADIGM

1.1 Appreciation of the Different Levels of Education:

Knowledge of mathematics, engineering science and engineering knowledge underpins the understanding of the level of complexity in solving engineering problems and undertaking engineering activities. Registered practitioners in this grouping are well aware of their registration category limitations, and whenever they are confronted with an engineering problem or activity outside their competence, are compelled by the ECSA’s Code of Conduct to seek advice from a suitably qualified and experienced (competent) practitioner to assist. It must be emphasised that the underpinning educational knowledge is the determining factor and a quality service provided to a customer largely depends on the application of this knowledge in the interest of the recipient. Unregistered persons in this grouping are at liberty to ignore this fundamental principle. The following table sets out the competency levels in simple terms:

Category Competency Description Level 1. Registere Specifically- Limited to a narrow field of engineering applying level 5 d in a defined on the 10-level National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Specified engineering underpinning knowledge to specified practical engineering Category. problems and problems and activities (e.g. lifting machinery inspector). activities. Working strictly in accordance with the relevant legislation, standards, codes and instructions. Repetitive type of work. 2. Profession Well-defined Wide field of engineering applying level 6 on the 10-level al Engineering engineering NQF underpinning knowledge to engineering problems Technician problems and and activities within a specific discipline (e.g. electrical activities. engineering). A limited degree of interpretation is required. Working within established codes and procedures, in a familiar context. 3. Profession Broadly-defined Specialised complex field of engineering applying NQF al Engineering engineering level 7 on the 10-level NQF underpinning knowledge to Technologist problems and engineering problems and activities within a certain activities. discipline (e.g. civil engineering). Some research, investigation and modelling might be necessary to clarify customer requirements. Codes and procedures may have to be adapted by innovative thinking to solve unique problems.

1.2 Appreciation of the Outcomes-based Registration Requirements:

ECSA prescribes a set of eleven generic outcomes to achieve registration. The outcomes are similar but not identical for the professional categories and the specified categories. To distinguish between the levels for the different engineering practitioners, level descriptors (“complex”, “broadly-defined”, “well-defined” and “specifically-defined”) which are calibrated with the SAQA level descriptors and range statements, are applied. During the candidacy development period, i.e. between graduation and registration, candidates must undertake development activities to meet the eleven outcomes prescribed for registration. This establishes a training and development methodology to follow after registration of how engineering work must be tackled – a template for all practitioners to be followed for their entire career. The eleven outcomes can be summarised in generic format as follows:

1. Confirm understanding of instructions received and clarify if necessary; 2. Use theoretical training to develop possible solutions: select the best and present to the recipient; 3. Apply theoretical knowledge to justify decisions taken and processes used; 4. Understand role in the work team, and plan and schedule work accordingly; 5. Issue complete and clear instructions and report comprehensively on work progress; 6. Be sensitive about the impact of the engineering activity and take action to mitigate this impact; 7. Consider and adhere to legislation applicable to the task and the associated risk identification and management; 8. Adhere strictly to high ethical behavioural standards and ECSA’s Code of Conduct; 9. Display sound judgement by considering all factors, their interrelationship, consequences and evaluation when all evidence is not available; 10. Accept responsibility for own work by using theory to support decisions, seeking advice when uncertain and evaluating shortcomings; and 11. Become conversant with your employer’s training and development program and develop your own lifelong development program within this framework.

To provide the best possible service to customers the eleven outcomes achieved for registration must always be applicable/achieved. If this is done, the recipient of the service can have the maximum confidence that the service provided is up to standard, and the risk of poor service can be contained.

In addition to satisfying the requirements of the eleven outcomes, exposure during the candidacy phase must be aimed at developing responsibility for work undertaken as shown in the following table:

Nature of Engineering Work and Degrees of Responsibility A: Being Exposed B: Assisting C: Participating D: Contributing E: Performing Works in team Undergoes Performs specific without induction, Performs specific Performs specific processes as supervision, observes work with detailed processes, under directed with recommends work processes, work approval of work close supervision. limited outputs, of competent outputs. supervision. responsible but practitioners. not accountable Level of responsibility to supervisor is Full responsibility Limited Full responsibility appropriate to a Responsible to to supervisor for responsibility for for supervised registered person, supervisor immediate quality work output work supervisor is of work accountable for applicant’s decisions 2. IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAJOR (SIGNIFICANT) RISK IF PRACTITIONERS FR`OM THIS GROUP IS NOT REGISTERED:

Non-registered practitioners in this grouping work outside the discipline imposed by the ECSA Code of Conduct, and are therefore not compelled to adhere to the important stipulation of not attempting to undertake engineering work for which they do not possess the necessary/appropriate contextual knowledge, skills or experience. They might be under a false impression that they are competent to undertake work beyond their competence since they have not been subjected to ECSA’s stringent registration process. The risk of engineering work being done by practitioners above their competence can be dangerous and the service provided to the public can be detrimental, even if it was not the intention of the unregistered practitioner.

2.1 Risks Associated in the Utilisation of Unregistered Practitioners regarding the Different Levels of Education:

The risks are given in the following table:

Category Competency Risks Identified if Unregistered Practitioners Level Undertaking Engineering Work at this Level 1. Registered in a Specifically- Without basic underpinning mathematical, scientific and Specified defined engineering knowledge the required understanding of the Category. engineering “specifically-defined engineering work” to be done will be problems and difficult. No assurance can be given to the customer/client activities. that the engineering activity will be carried out safely and correctly, and that higher level problems will be referred to suitably competent (registered) practitioners as they might emerge. 2. Professional Well-defined Without adequate underpinning mathematical, scientific and Engineering engineering engineering knowledge the required understanding of the Technician problems and “well-defined engineering work” to be done will be difficult. activities. No assurance can be given to the customer that the engineering activity will be carried out safely with due consideration of the H&S of the public and the protection of the environment and correctly, and that higher level problems will be referred to suitably competent (registered) practitioners as they may emerge. 3. Professional Broadly-defined Without sound underpinning mathematical, scientific and Engineering engineering engineering knowledge the required understanding of the Technologist problems and “broadly-defined engineering work” to be done will be activities. difficult and introduce risks to the H&S of the public and the protections of the natural environment. No assurance can be given to the customer that the engineering activity will be carried out safely and correctly, and that higher level problems will be referred to suitably competent (registered) practitioners as they may emerge. 2.2 Risks Associated with the use of unregistered (competent) persons

IN RESPECT OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of professionals Work identified for Risk of not using risk (i.e. Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this Grouping a competent low, of risk competent to person medium or undertake significant) the identified work Engineering problem solving and No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Aeronautical work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Discipline and (Aircraft design, structures, carried out safely knowledge the the propulsion, wind tunnel testing and correctly, and required corresponding and performance, hydraulic, that higher level understanding of the level of this pneumatic and avionics problems will be “broadly-defined”, grouping systems, aerodynamics, referred to suitably “well-defined” or practitioner in avionics, aero-elasticity, stability competent “specifically- the following and control, flight testing, (registered) defined” disciplines: airport/airfield management and practitioners as engineering work to Chemical, certification and safety they may emerge. be done will be Civil, programmes). Responsibility for difficult and Electrical, The distinction between the correct introduce risks to Industrial, practitioners in the group execution of the the H&S of the Mechanical depends on the level i.e. engineering work public and the and Broadly-defined for will not be protections of the Metallurgical Technologists, Well-defined for supported by a natural environment. Technicians and Specifically- Code of Conduct. defined for the Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Agricultural work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Discipline and (Agricultural energy carried out safely knowledge the the engineering, renewable and correctly, and required corresponding energy, product process, that higher level understanding of the level of this structures and facilities, waste problems will be “broadly-defined”, grouping handling and management referred to “well-defined” or practitioner in and aquaculture engineering, suitably “specifically- the following mechanisation, irrigation, competent defined” disciplines: hydrology and agricultural (registered) engineering work to Chemical, water use management, practitioners as be done will be Civil, natural resources, food they may emerge. difficult and Electrical, engineering, environmental Responsibility for introduce risks to Industrial, and rural infrastructure). the correct the H&S of the Mechanical, The distinction between execution of the public and the Metallurgical practitioners in the group engineering work protections of the and Mining depends on the level i.e. will not be natural environment. Broadly-defined for supported by a Technologists, Well-defined Code of Conduct. for Technicians and Specifically-defined for the Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the Chemical not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Discipline and work or the type of activity activity will be engineering the (Processes where hazardous carried out safely knowledge the corresponding substances are present in and correctly, and required level of this significant quantities, that higher level understanding of the grouping processes where chemical problems will be “broadly-defined”, practitioner in reactions present particular referred to “well-defined” or the following hazards, processes involving suitably “specifically- disciplines: advanced water treatment for competent defined” Aeronautical, potable water, advanced (registered) engineering work to Agricultural, process control and process practitioners as be done will be Civil, simulation). they may emerge. difficult and Electrical, The distinction between Responsibility for introduce risks to Industrial, practitioners in the group the correct the H&S of the Mechanical, depends on the level i.e. execution of the public and the Metallurgical Broadly-defined for engineering work protections of the and Mining. Technologists, Well-defined will not be natural environment. for Technicians and supported by a Specifically-defined for the Code of Conduct. Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the Civil not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Discipline and work or the type of activity activity will be engineering the (Structural, geotechnical, carried out safely knowledge the corresponding transportation, environmental, and correctly, and required level of this hydraulic and municipal). that higher level understanding of the grouping The distinction between problems will be “broadly-defined”, practitioner in practitioners in the group referred to “well-defined” or the following depends on the level i.e. suitably “specifically- disciplines: Broadly-defined for competent defined” Aeronautical, Technologists, Well-defined (registered) engineering work to Agricultural, for Technicians and practitioners as be done will be Chemical, Specifically-defined for the they may emerge. difficult and Electrical, Specified Categories. Responsibility for introduce risks to Industrial, the correct the H&S of the Mechanical, execution of the public and the Metallurgical engineering work protections of the and Mining will not be natural environment. supported by a Code of Conduct. IN RESPECT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this using a medium or of risk competent to Grouping competent significant) undertake person the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by can be given to underpinning Engineer and practitioners in this grouping is the customer that mathematical, Professional not dependant on the place of the engineering scientific and Certificated work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Engineer in (Power, electronics, carried out safely knowledge the the Electrical telecommunications and and correctly, and required Discipline and computer software that higher level understanding of the the engineering). problems will be “broadly-defined”, corresponding The distinction between referred to “well-defined” or level of this practitioners in the group suitably “specifically- grouping depends on the level i.e. competent defined” practitioner in Broadly-defined for (registered) engineering work to the following Technologists, Well-defined practitioners as be done will be disciplines: for Technicians and they may emerge. difficult and Aeronautical, Specifically-defined for the Responsibility for introduce risks to Agricultural, Specified Categories. the correct the H&S of the Chemical, execution of the public and the Civil, engineering work protections of the Industrial, will not be natural environment. Mechanical, supported by a Metallurgical Code of Conduct. and Mining IN RESPECT OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the Industrial not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Discipline and work or the type of activity activity will be engineering the (Agri produce process, carried out safely knowledge the corresponding automation and control, and correctly, and required level of this enterprise resource that higher level understanding of the grouping management, fabrication, problems will be “broadly-defined”, practitioner in industrial efficiency, industrial referred to “well-defined” or the following machinery, manufacturing suitably “specifically- disciplines: logistics, manufacturing competent defined” Aeronautical, technology, operations (registered) engineering work to Agricultural, research, plant engineering, practitioners as be done will be Chemical, process design, process they may emerge. difficult and Civil, engineering, production Responsibility for introduce risks to Electrical, engineering, quality the correct the H&S of the Mechanical, management, robotics and execution of the public and the Metallurgical production automations, engineering work protections of the and Mining safety engineering and value will not be natural environment. engineering). supported by a The distinction between Code of Conduct. practitioners in the group depends on the level i.e. Broadly-defined for Technologists, Well-defined for Technicians and Specifically-defined for the Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer and practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, Professional not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Certificated work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Engineer in (Lifting, hoisting and materials carried out safely knowledge the the handling, pumps and fluid and correctly, and required Mechanical power, heating, cooling, that higher level understanding of the Discipline and ventilating and air problems will be “broadly-defined”, the conditioning, fuels, referred to “well-defined” or corresponding combustion, engines, steam suitably “specifically- level of this plant turbines, aircraft competent defined” grouping propulsion systems, (registered) engineering work to practitioner in automobiles, trucks and practitioners as be done will be the following special vehicles. Fire they may emerge. difficult and disciplines: protection, nuclear energy Responsibility for introduce risks to Aeronautical, generation and steel the correct the H&S of the Agricultural, structures). execution of the public and the Chemical, The distinction between engineering work protections of the Civil, practitioners in the group will not be natural environment. Electrical, depends on the level i.e. supported by a Industrial, Broadly-defined for Code of Conduct. Metallurgical Technologists, Well-defined and Mining for Technicians and Specifically-defined for the Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer in practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, the not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Metallurgical work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Discipline and (Physical metallurgical carried out safely knowledge the the engineering which is the and correctly, and required corresponding analysis, design, production, that higher level understanding of the level of this characterisation, failure problems will be “broadly-defined”, grouping analysis and application of referred to “well-defined” or practitioner in materials, including metals, for suitably “specifically- the following engineering application based competent defined” disciplines: on the understanding of (registered) engineering work to Aeronautical, matter and engineering practitioners as be done will be Agricultural, requirements, extractive they may emerge. difficult and Chemical, metallurgical engineering Responsibility for introduce risks to Civil, which is the research, the correct the H&S of the Electrical, planning, design and execution of the public and the Industrial, operating commercial-scale engineering work protections of the Mechanical processes for the extraction of will not be natural environment. and Mining metals or intermediate supported by a compounds from ores by Code of Conduct. chemical or physical processes, including those at high temperatures, the operation and optimisation of chemical plants). The distinction between practitioners in the group depends on the level i.e. Broadly-defined for Technologists, Well-defined for Technicians and Specifically-defined for the Specified Categories. IN RESPECT OF MINING ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE Other Level of risk professionals Work identified for Risk of not using (i.e. low, Nature/Explanation who are Practitioners in this a competent medium or of risk competent to Grouping person significant) undertake the identified work Engineering problem solving No assurance can Significant Without sound Professional and activities carried out by be given to the underpinning Engineer and practitioners in this grouping is customer that the mathematical, Professional not dependant on the place of engineering scientific and Certificated work or the type of activity activity will be engineering Engineer in (Conducting research on carried out safely knowledge the the Mining responsible mineral and correctly, and required Discipline and excavation, designing mineral that higher level understanding of the the excavation processes, problems will be “broadly-defined”, corresponding establish production control referred to “well-defined” or level of this standards, application of suitably “specifically- grouping technology, management of competent defined” practitioner in engineering solutions and (registered) engineering work to the following processes, engineering practitioners as be done will be disciplines: services, projects and they may emerge. difficult and Chemical, maintenance, risk Responsibility for introduce risks to Civil, management and the correct the H&S of the Electrical, specification of safety execution of the public and the Industrial, requirements). engineering work protections of the Mechanical The distinction between will not be natural environment. and practitioners in the group supported by a Metallurgical depends on the level i.e. Code of Conduct. Broadly-defined for Technologists, Well-defined for Technicians and Specifically-defined for the Specified Categories.

3. CONCLUSION

ECSA registration for engineering practitioners means that confidence is provided that the required accredited educational standards for the level of engineering work undertaken have been satisfied. It also means that the outcomes essential for best engineering practise have been met and entrenched in the registered practitioner, giving confidence that educational standards are consistently and appropriately applied in practice. It furthermore means that the registered practitioner will accept responsibility for the work undertaken. It finally provides assurance that the engineering work undertaken will be done ethically in accordance with a Code of Conduct.

The risk of using persons not registered with ECSA in the Categories of Professional Engineering Technologist, Professional Engineering Technician and Specified Category Practitioner grouping undertaking identified engineering work is simply unacceptably high.