The Engineering Council, the regulatory body for the engineering profession in the UK, has issued updated Guidance on Risk for the engineering profession, which it says it is suitable for engineering professionals ‘at all career stages'.
The Engineering Council said: “Risk is an inherent part of all engineering activities, so it is essential that all engineers and technicians are able to identify, assess, understand, and appropriately manage, risk. It is also crucial to be able to communicate on risk, both to other professionals and the public.”
The revised Guidance on Risk describes the role of all those engaged in engineering in dealing with risk, and their responsibilities to society. It sets out the key stages of managing risk, and emphasises the need to exercise informed judgment and identify what is an acceptable level of risk – ‘the risk appetite’, with six principles to ensure that all engineering professionals integrate understanding of the environment and sustainability of resources into all aspects of their work. The full Guidance on Risk leaflet, and a convenient wallet card of the six principles, can be downloaded free from: www.engc.org.uk/risk
Alasdair Coates CEng, FICE, MCIHT, CMIOSH, CEO of the Engineering Council, said:
“Engineers have a crucial role to play in assessing and managing risk, especially as they frequently work in safety critical areas. This updated Guidance on Risk supports individual engineers and technicians by providing key principles that can be incorporated into their daily practice with engineering teams, interdisciplinary teams and when communicating risks to the wider public.”
The Guidance is reviewed periodically and – following consultation with the engineering community – this edition replaces and updates the previous Guidance on Risk. The Engineering Council also produces guidance on Security, Sustainability and Whistleblowing, in addition to the Statement of Ethical Principals, published jointly with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).
