A disciplinary hearing began Monday for Regina engineer Scott Gullacher, who designed a bridge in rural Saskatchewan that collapsed hours after it opened in 2018.
The Saskatchewan Association of Professional and Geoscientific Engineers (APEGS) alleges that Gullacher broke the rules when he designed the bridge.
A group of three will hear evidence of formal complaints that Gullacher violated the 1997 Statutes Regulating the Engineering and Geosciences Professions.
Four of the complaints concern Gullacher ‘s involvement in the design and construction of the Dyck Memorial Bridgewhich collapsed hours after it opened, in the rural town (RM) of Clayton.
A fifth complaint alleges that Gullacher violated the statutes in the general design of five municipal bridges in another four RM of the province.
On Monday morning, Gullacher was asked whether or not he would plead guilty to the charges against him. Gullacher’s lawyer, Peter Bergbusch, said his client would ask for “no opposition.”
After a brief break, the three-person panel said Gullacher’s “non-contest” pleaded not guilty and that the hearing would continue.
Collapse of the Dyck Bridge
On September 14, 2018, Clayton Rural Township (RM) announced on its Facebook page that “the bridge in memory of Dyck is now complete and open.”
Later that day, the bridge collapsed. No one was injured.
The association alleges that Gullacher did not practice “in a careful and diligent manner” when designing the bridge and the screws that were supposed to hold it. APEGS also states that Gullacher offered services or advice in an area outside its professional competence.
Scott Gullacher faces a disciplinary hearing regarding his involvement in the design of six bridge projects in Saskatchewan. (Kirk Fraser / CBC)
The association also alleges that it was not “careful and diligent” in its bridge design in four other Saskatchewan RMs: Scott, Caledonia, Perdue and Mervin. In 2019, Saskatchewan Province The Ministry of Highways places weight restrictions on bridges after a review by a consultant.
Potential sanctions
If the three-person group finds Gullacher to have committed misconduct or professional incompetence, he or she could face several consequences.
He may be expelled or suspended from APEGS, or his work may be suspended or restricted under certain conditions.
The court could also impose a $ 15,000 fine.
The hearing was adjourned Monday afternoon and will resume Tuesday at 2 p.m. CST. It is expected to last until Friday.