The Iron Ring reminds us to do our best in determining why something failed in the built or natural environment, or why an accident happened and someone was injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We assist in the settling of a claim or the resolution of a dispute by determining cause, or serve the court if it goes that far. Get the data, analyse it, determine cause, pass it on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We do this ethically “…to the best of our knowledge and power…” and, “…without passing bad workmanship…”. And, furthermore, “Without refusing our time for any works to which we may be called to set our hand”. But for certain, “Our fair wages we will openly take… and also ask pardon for our assured failures and derelictions.” (Excepts from The Obligation<\/em> in the the Appendix)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engineers have been doing this for a long time. We’re reminded during The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer<\/em> to keep doing it every time we look down at the Iron Ring on our working hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, being human with our frailties we make mistakes and bad workmanship is passed on<\/em>, some quite serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, the August, 1907 failure of the Quebec City Bridge due to design flaws and mismanagement during construction resulted in the deaths of 75 workers. There was a further failure in 1916 with additional loss of life for a total of 88 workers lost – “…assured failures and derelictions<\/em>…” in the extreme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These failures gave Professor Herbert E. T. Haultain of the University of Toronto in 1922 the idea for the Ritual<\/em>. He consulted with other engineers and they called on Rudyard Kipling to craft the pledge and the Ritual<\/em>. Kipling was known for writing on engineering. The first ceremony was held in 1925. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, 2025, is the 100th anniversary of the Ritual<\/em> and the engineer obligating<\/em> – vowing<\/em> – to keep doing properly what s\/he has done for a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re further reminded this year by the beautiful poem, The Hand that Wears the Ring<\/em> by Gisela Hippolt-Squair.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> And, I’m sure, a similarly beautiful poem in French, Horizons<\/em> by Rejean Plamondon. (See the Appendix and visit www.ironring.ca)<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s nothing lofty and noble in what we do. We’re just called on to do that which characterizes a community of good, honest, ethical people, including engineers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iron Ring is down there and helping by reminding us to stay-the-course and do our best during design and construction, and during forensic investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many engineers the Iron Ring is more important than the piece of paper hanging on the wall. My engineering degree is lying on top of a filing cabinet in my office. My iron ring is in plain view on my little finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Posted by Eric E. Jorden, M.Sc., P.Eng. Consulting Professional Engineer, Forensic Engineer, Geotechnology Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, November <\/em>26, 2025.\u00a0ejorden@eastlink.ca<\/strong><\/span>)\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Appendix<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Obligation <\/span> <\/strong>in The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer<\/span><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n I (name of the engineer<\/strong>) in the presence of these my betters and equals in my Calling, bind myself upon my Honour and Cold Iron, that, of the best of my knowledge and power, I will not henceforward suffer or pass, or be privy to the passing of, Bad Workmanship or Faulty Material in aught that concerns my works before mankind as an Engineer, or in my dealings with my own Soul before my Maker.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n MY TIME I will not refuse; my Thought I will not grudge; my Care I will not deny towards the honour, use, stability and perfection of any works to which I may be called to set my hand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n MY FAIR WAGES for that work I will openly take. My Reputation in my Calling I will honourably guard; but I will in no way go about to compass or wrest judgement or gratification from any one with whom I may deal. And further, I will early and warily strive my uttermost against professional jealousy and the belittling of my working-colleagues in any field of their labour.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n FOR MY ASSURED FAILURES and derelictions, I ask pardon beforehand of my betters and my equals in my Calling here assembled; praying that in the hour of my temptations, weakness and weariness, the memory of this my Obligation and of the company before whom it was entered into, may return to me to aid, comfort and restrain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ***<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Poems<\/strong> <\/span> Poems that are relevant to the Iron Ring and the Ritual of the Calling of an engineer<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hand that Wears the Ring <\/span> <\/em><\/strong>by Gisela Hippolt-Squair\u00a0. <\/span> <\/em>Gisela was born and raised in Quebec, her second home. She lives and works in communications for the Alberta professional engineering association APEGA <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your lifelong journey <\/strong>starts today. A shining path reveals the way, laid down by those who came before, from nearby lands and distant shores. Your destiny will now take wing. Proud the hand that wears the Ring.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n With vision bright and thoughts set free, a world awaits where you will see the facets of your labour’s art reflect the dreams within your heart. Through innovation, futures spring. Skillful the hand that wears the Ring. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet lightly step upon this course; speak not with bluster nor with force. Observe with spirit, heart, and mind; all ways of knowing you will find. Authentic words should never sting. Humble the hand that wears the Ring. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beware demands that often lead to bridging over want and need. Each compromise a step too far that blurs the line of who you are. Your public duty sets the bearing. True the hand that wears the Ring. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Integrity must be your guide. Let ethics temper misplaced pride. Dishonour cannot know your face, as deeds shall leave a lasting trace. Uphold the Code\u2014it spans all things. Heavy the hand that wears the Ring. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For iron binds you to this land, from oceans deep to mountains grand. Make no advance at its expense without a means for recompense. Into your care our world for keeping. Wise the hand that wears the Ring.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Horizons<\/span><\/strong> Qu\u00eate en t\u00eate (Rejean’s poem continues but I don’t read French and I’m unable to be certain I’m presenting it properly. I thought it better to refer the reader to www.ironring.ca where Rejean’s poem is presented properly, in full) <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Iron Ring reminds us to do our best in determining why something failed in the built or natural environment, or why an accident happened and someone was injured. We assist in the settling of a claim or the resolution … Continue reading
par <\/em>R\u00e9jean Plamondon<\/em> <\/span>
R\u00e9jean is an engineering professor and researcher at Montreal\u2019s Polytechnique University. He is the author of a number of scientific papers, and five books of poetry from 1990 to 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
JE R\u00caVE
d\u2019imprimer
en quatre dimensions
ma feuille de route<\/strong>
Mon Curriculum Sapiens
Signature de changements
constructifs
Source d\u2019innovations
cr\u00e9atrices
d\u00e9crypt\u00e9es
dans la simplicit\u00e9
d\u2019un instant d\u2019inspiration
Un clin d\u2019\u0153il \u00e0 la s\u00e9rendipit\u00e9
JE R\u00caVE
d\u2019avoir
une influence positive
sur mon \u00e9poque
et celles des si\u00e8cles \u00e0 venir
Laisser des traces tangibles
dans les for\u00eats de l\u2019inexplor\u00e9
et par ricochet
donner des ailes
au temps
pour qu\u2019il plane
fi\u00e8rement
sur mes r\u00e9alisations
scientifiques et soci\u00e9tales
C\u0153ur en t\u00eate …<\/em> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n