Professional Responsibility—Constructor's Role

The Kansas City disaster and the subsequent ASCE‐sponsored Construction Industry Roundtable Meeting focused attention on the relationship and relative roles and responsibilities of the professional engineer and constructor. The public has bestowed on the professional the responsibility for public safety. The constructor's role in the construction of the project can be subdivided into three major areas: (1) Execution of stipulated work; (2) quality control; and (3) project safety. Each of these areas interface with the professional engineer and his public safety trust. Clarity of appropriate roles and responsibilities combined with good communication is essential if the construction industry is to maintain the public's trust and confidence.