Significance of Safety in Civil Engineering Practice, in the Public Interest

This position paper of ASCE has been prepared, endorsed, and published to serve as a reference in the formulation of policies or position papers of the Society. The intent of the statement is to present the philosophies on which the civil engineering profession should act in considering the major question of safety to the public. It attempts to define the relationship between safety and civil engineering practice with its effect upon the public, environment, and the owner. To achieve a sense of confidence by the public in the products of the engineering profession will require that a continued effort be placed on the task of developing designs that achieve the basic economic objectives of the owner while insuring that the system will operate reliably and in an accepted environment.