1. A professional engineer or engineering firm, or any employee or representative of a professional engineer or engineering firm, who is assisting or representing the professional engineer or firm, shall only be liable for any injury on a construction project or site resulting from a breach or disregard of construction safety standards or practices on the construction project or site for which compensation is recoverable under R.S.34:15-7 et seq., if:

a. The professional engineer or firm has by written contract expressly assumed, to the extent stated therein, responsibility for the implementation, discharge or monitoring of safety standards or practices; or

b. In a multi-prime project, the professional engineer or firm is the representative of the project owner and no contractor has been designated to be responsible for site safety; or

c. It is shown that:

(1) The professional engineer or firm, including its employees or representatives, was present at the portion of the project or site for which the engineer had provided services, prior to or at the time of the accident, or both; and

(2) The professional engineer or firm, including its employees or representatives, had actual knowledge of the site conditions which are alleged to be a cause of an imminent danger; and

(3) The professional engineer or firm, including its employees or representatives, had the opportunity to notify the responsible contractor and worker of the presence of the site conditions which are alleged to be a cause of an imminent danger, and failed to do so within a reasonable period of time. If that notice is provided, and the responsible contractor fails to respond within one business day, the engineer or firm shall immediately provide that notice to the project owner.

L.1999,c.112,s.1.