Resource
Good Samaritan Statutes for Design Professionals
ISSUE
During emergency situations caused by natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other catastrophic events, professional engineers are often called upon—and readily volunteer their services—to assist with relief and recovery efforts. These services include ensuring the safety of structures, buildings, infrastructure, piping or other systems. However, more than 30 states and the federal government fail to extend immunity to professional engineers who provide critical services in an emergency.
As proven by the relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, professional engineers’ expertise in assessing structural, mechanical, electrical, or other infrastructure is invaluable to assisting federal, state, or local governments that may have limited resources during emergencies. Therefore, it is crucial that the federal and state governments establish liability protections that provide immunity for professional engineers during a declared emergency so that engineers can quickly volunteer their services without being deterred by liability concerns. In return, the government would be able to quickly mobilize professional engineers to adequately evaluate threats to the public’s health and safety.