Innovation in Establishing the Standard of Care in a Self-Regulated Profession

Abstract

Under Law, professional geoscientists have a duty of care that they must adhere to when they carry out their activities. The question is, when a duty of care exists, what is the standard of care that is owed? Geoscience regulators in Canada and around the world are working with geoscientists to develop innovative solutions in establishing the standard of care that must be met. By clearly establishing what our expectations are concerning standard of care, we are setting common ideals and goals as a professional community. Both society, geoscientists and employers of geoscientists look to regulatory associations for guidance on professional practice, therefore regulators need to strive to support and educate their members by developing tools and resources that allow members to meet the standard of care expected of them. The paper describes innovative approaches being offered to assist members of Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and is based on an oral presentation given by the author at the International Geology Congress in Cape Town South Africa in August 2016. RESUME En vertu de la loi, les geoscientifiques professionnels ont un devoir de diligence auquel ils doivent se conformer dans l'exercice de leurs activites. La question qui se pose est la suivante : lorsqu'il existe un devoir de diligence, quelle est la norme de diligence a respecter? Les organismes de reglementation geoscientifiques au Canada, et ailleurs dans le monde, travaillent de concert avec les geoscientifiques a l'elaboration de solutions novatrices pour etablir la norme de diligence a respecter. En etablissant clairement nos attentes concernant les normes de diligence, nous etablissons des ideaux et des objectifs communs en tant que regroupement professionnel. La societe, les geoscientifiques et leurs employeurs attendent des associations de reglementation des conseils sur les usages professionnels. Les organismes de reglementation doivent donc s'efforcer de soutenir et former leurs membres en dotant des outils et des ressources qui leur permettent de respecter les normes d'usage en vigueur. L’article qui suit, et qui decrit les approches novatrices proposees aux membres de la Engineers and Geoscientist British Columbia est base sur une presentation orale donnee par l'auteur au Congres international de geologie a Cape Town, en Afrique du Sud, en aout 2016.