Eliminate Industrial Exemption for Engineers

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the industrial exemption be eliminated in private industry for engineers in responsible charge of hazardous processes and those that develop and/or market potentially hazardous products or procedures.

The primary purpose of licensure in any technical area, be it medicine or engineering, is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. The industrial exemption allows engineers to practice in an industrial setting without obtaining licensure. This has been in effect for many years in the United States.

While we understand that the wholesale elimination of the industrial exemption is a long term professional goal, we propose that the exemptions be eliminated on engineers in responsible charge of products, procedures or processes that are hazardous to the public and/or the environment and support the following:

1. Require designs and modifications of hazardous or dangerous products, processes, and procedures be directed and approved (stamped) by a licensed professional engineer employed by the private company.

2. Allow the individual firm's risk management department to determine if the product, process, or procedure is hazardous and, as a result, require a professional engineer to be in responsible charge.

3. The requirement would also apply to State and Federal Civil Service Operations and the Military and would be phased in over a 10- year period after promulgation.