Working as Engineering Consultant for Foreign client from India and want to double check my precautionary actions or add some that does not put me in liable in future
First my career background.
Civil Engineering graduate a decade ago. Worked for 2 years at my uncles manufacturing unit and later left as it was not aligning with my study and vision. After that for 3 years, I worked at an Australian based firm in India. Learnt about CAD software and precast construction.
Before leaving it, I joined a client on Upwork for part time freelancing for 2 years and later joining it as consultant and its been a little over 2 years now. I was trained for making preliminary designs for Retaining wall projects. I was trained by their engineer for 2 weeks when I joined, during which I also asked the trainer on google meet that if the design fails, who is liable. The trainer said, we have all the disclaimers in all of our drawings and emails that the drawings are not for construction and to be reviewed by local structural PE engineer. The client has trademarked products of Segmental Retaining Wall blocks in Canada and has tie ups with other precast manufacturers in USA and Canada.
I want to know that in future, lets say a wall that is constructed shows cracks due to insufficient design with an year or two, who has the liability of the project cost. I know the primary liability will be to stamping structural engineer. But for some states in Canada & USA don't require stamping if the wall height is less than that of 1 meter.
Why I think the client is slowly transferring the liability towards me:
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The contract is of a Consultant Engineer responsible for making Preliminary drawings and not of an employment, although its a full time contract.
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Within months of joining, the client gave a new company email ID and a company teams account. I think its because in future, if there are any disputes, I have no access to emails and teams conversation.
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The software that I was trained on, is managed by the engineering coordinator in the company, makes changes every now and then that affects the design of the SRW blocks required. Meaning the software afterwards shows lesser number of blocks than required, which might fail the wall in future.
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Now there is difference in Preliminary Drawings (Not for construction drawings) & IFC Drawings (Issued For Construction). I am only preparing the first ones as per my contract but the top management keeps on pushing me be included in the later ones as well.
Some precautions I took from my end:
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I BCC myself and include my personal email in every email that I send for project submission.
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I include email disclaimer that I am not a Professional Structural Engineer and I am not liable for this drawings
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All the drawings that I submit has a big "NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION" tag in every pages and also a disclaimer that the drawings are to be reviewed and stamped by a Professional Structural Engineer and not to be used for construction.
Give me some ideas/insights on this. I know the last option is to part ways with the client. I want to know if I can be with same client with this or more precautions. Or the stress that I am carrying is pointless?
Posted Sep 25, 2026, 11:08 PM UTC