OAR 809-020-0011: Responsibility to Employer

(1) A geologist shall avoid conflict of interest with a client/employer and shall disclose the circumstances to the client/employer if a conflict is unavoidable. (2) A geologist shall not, during the time of the geologist’s retention or employment by a client/employer, use information developed for, or the resources of, said client/employer for private gain or in any other manner that may conflict with the client/employer’s interest without the knowledge and consent of the client/employer, except as specified in OAR 809-020-0006(8) Responsibility to Profession. In the case of a former client/employer, a geologist shall honor agreements with that former client/employer with regard to proprietary information, except as specified by OAR 809-020-0006(8). (3) A geologist shall either engage or advise a client/employer to engage other experts or specialists if the client/employer’s interests are best served by such service. (4) A geologist shall give due notice of withdrawal of service from a client/employer. Due notice shall be either 30 days or a time mutually agreed to by the geologist and the client/employer, whichever is less. However, a geologist may withdraw from service without due notice if: (a) The geologist fails to receive compensation, or has reasonable cause to believe that compenstion for services performed will not be received; (b) The geologist knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that continued employment will result in a violation of this Code, ORS Chapter 672, the related administrative rules, or will otherwise be illegal; (c) The geologist knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that the client/employer is involved in illegal or fraudulent practices, or practices dangerous to the public health, and welfare and property; (d) The geologist knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that continued employment will result in sickness or injury to the geologist or the geologist’s dependents. (5) A geologist shall not accept compensation concurrently from more than one client/employer on a project, unless the circumstances of payment are fully disclosed and agreed to by all financially interested parties.