Module 10: Professional Practice

Question 1

Professional practice

Answer 1

is the act of behaving appropriately in the professional workplace and in professional encounters so as to bring prestige and respect to the profession and to ensure public safety.

Question 2

The following things contribute to professional practice

Answer 2

• Education and Training.
• Understanding of professionalism.
• Understanding of Law.
• Understanding of Ethics.
• Experience.

Question 3

OACETT Rules of Professional Practice

Answer 3

OACETT captures its expectations about the professional practice of engineering technicians and technologists through the OACETT Rules of Professional Practice. These rules are a companion piece to the OACETT Code of Ethics and are also part of the OACETT By-law.

Question 4

Professional misconduct

Answer 4

is any behaviour that is not appropriate for those who are responsible, through the practice of their profession, for the health and welfare of the public.

Question 5

The Discipline Committee determines:

Answer 5

that a member has committed professional misconduct one of the following penalties can be assessed:
1. Suspension of membership.
2. Expulsion from OACETT.
3. Costs.

Question 6

Professional responsibility

Answer 6

is the responsibility that comes with being in a position in which employers, clients and the general public trust you to do the right thing based upon your expertise and experience.

Question 7

Professional liability

Answer 7

arises when professionals are liable to compensate clients for work which is inadequate or wrong.

Question 8

Three consequences for professional liability

Answer 8

Discipline Proceedings. Criminal Sanctions. Civil Action.

Question 9

Professional liability Insurance (PLI):

Answer 9

provides insurance for the following four groups:
1. Professionals.
2. Clients.
3. The public and other third parties.
4. The profession as a whole.

Question 10

Three options to consider to maintain professional practice:

Answer 10

• Self Compliance.
• Mandatory Continuing Professional Development.
• Professional Practice Review.

Question 11

Self-compliance:

Answer 11

gives professionals the personal responsibility for ensuring they are professionally competent.

Question 12

Mandatory Continuing Education:

Answer 12

is a system whereby the professional association, through regulation or by-law, sets minimum continuing educational requirements for its members in order for them to maintain certification or licensing.

Question 13

A Practice Review:

Answer 13

is a thorough review of the professional’s practice at his or her place of employment. The intent of the review is to coach and assist the professional rather than judge.

Question 14

The OACETT Rules of Professional Practice define professional misconduct in much more detail:

Answer 14

1. negligence, an act or omission in the carrying out of the work of a practitioner that constitutes a failure to maintain the standards that a reasonable and prudent practitioner would maintain in the circumstances;
2. failure to make reasonable provision for the safeguarding of life, health or property of a person who may be affected by the work for which the practitioner is responsible;
3. failure to act to correct or report a situation that the practitioner believes may endanger the safety or the welfare of the public;
4. failure to make responsible provision for complying with applicable statutes, regulations, standards, codes, by-laws and rules in connection with work being undertaken by or under the responsibility of the practitioner;
5. signing or sealing a final drawing, specification, plan, report or other document not actually prepared or checked by the practitioner;
6. failure of a practitioner to present clearly to his/her [their] employer the consequences to be expected from a deviation proposed in work, if the judgment of the practitioner is overruled by non-technical authority in cases where the practitioner is responsible for the technical adequacy of the work;
7. a breach of the Act or By-law, other than an action that is solely a breach of the Code of Ethics, or the Rules of Professional Conduct;
8. undertaking work the practitioner is not competent to perform by virtue of his/her [their]training and experience;
9. failure to make prompt, voluntary and complete disclosure of an interest, direct or indirect, that might in any way be, or be construed as, prejudicial to the professional judgment of the practitioner in rendering services to an employer or to a client, and in particular without limiting the generality of the foregoing, carrying out any of the following acts without making such a prior disclosure:
   a). accepting compensation in any form for a particular service from more than one party;
   b.) submitting a tender or acting as a contractor in respect of work upon which the practitioner may be performing as a technology professional;
   c.) participating in the supply of material or equipment to be used by the employer or client of the practitioner;
   d.) contracting in the practitioner’s own right to perform engineering technology services for other than the practitioner’s employer; or
   e.) expressing opinions or making statements concerning matters within the practice of public interest, where the opinions or statements are inspired or paid for by other interests;
10. conduct or an act relevant to the practice of engineering technology that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by technology professionals as disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional.

Question 15

The OACETT Code of Ethics has three statements that are pertinent to competence and professional develipment issues. These are that members shall:

Answer 15

• undertake and accept responsibility of professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience. (b.)
• provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction. (c)
• keep informed to maintain proficiency and competence, to advance the body of knowledge within their discipline and further opportunities for the professional development of their associates. (f)