Forensic Experts http://www.forensicdjs.com Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:29:08 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.forensicdjs.com/images/M_images/rss-logo.jpg http://www.forensicdjs.com Forensic Experts http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/asphyxiation-accident-on-construction-site.html Johann F. Szautner, P.E., PLS :::: Case Synopsis: Two construction workers were retrieved unconscious from a sanitary sewer manhole. They were assigned to prepare the sanitary sewer manhole for construction specification compliance testing. Both men succumbed to asphyxiation, a result of entering this manhole, the atmosphere of which had a severely depleted level of oxygen and contained a high concentration of CO2, according to subsequent testing. The contractor was cited by OSHA for work place safety violations. The manufacturer and supplier of the manhole components was named a 3rd party co-defendant in the ensuing litigation. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:05:23 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/not-so-common-sense.html Marlin Buckley, Master Plumber/Electrician :::: Case Synopsis: A mechanical contractor was hired to replace a large cooling tower atop a building as part of a renovation project at a Philadelphia university. The university hired a consulting engineering firm to produce plans and specifications which detailed the installation. In turn, the mechanical contractor provided submittals indicating the equipment and other materials which were to be installed. The exact brand and model of the equipment, which the engineer had specified, was submitted as the proposed installation. The engineer approved the submittal, the contractor procured the equipment and materials, and the installation was completed and commissioned. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:02:44 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/food-preparation-machine-guard-accident.html Thomas J. Cocchiola, P.E., CSP :::: Case Synopsis: A worker in a food processing facility was injured while cleaning a stainless steel conveyor belt on a meat pasteurizing machine. Workers are required to clean the machine for a daily inspection by a government inspector. Workers routinely cleaned the stainless steel belt with the conveyor in operation to expedite the daily process because the meat pasteurizing machine was not equipped with controls to incrementally move the conveyor. On the day of the accident, the moving conveyor belt apparently snagged the worker’s clothing and pulled her toward a series of unguarded conveyor rollers. Unfortunately, her hand was caught and injured in an unguarded inrunning pinch point. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:27 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/new-technology-in-the-evaluation-of-a-guiderail-collision.html Steven M. Schorr, P.E. :::: Case Synopsis: A southbound vehicle leaves the roadway to the left in the area of an exit, and strikes a guiderail at an angle of approximately 85 degrees [almost perpendicular]. The vehicle breaks through the guiderail, travels down a ravine, and rolls over, killing the operator. The claim versus the governing authority was that the guiderail had been previously damaged and, as a result, was weakened. Further, the claim was that had the guiderail been in its proper, undamaged condition the vehicle would not have broken through and would not have ultimately rolled over and the operator would not have been killed. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:56:31 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/landscaping-trailer-electric-brake-system.html R. Scott King, BSME :::: Case Analysis: Landscaping dump truck and trailer were involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer that was parked on the roadway shoulder. After the incident, police inspected the landscaping trailer and determined its brakes were “out of adjustment”, thus contributing to the incident. The ensuing Complaint echoed the findings and conclusions expressed in the police report. Service records revealed a third-party maintenance company performed minor services to the trailer several months before the incident and, because of this, was joined in the suit. Their defense counsel retained an engineering expert familiar with trailer brakes to investigate and, if possible, counter the complaint allegations. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:53:56 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/fall-from-apartment-without-guardrails.html Robert M. Skaler, NCARB :::: Case Synopsis: The Plaintiff and his two college roommates rented a third floor apartment above the pizzeria. The building had two apartments, one on the second floor, and one on the third floor. The Plaintiff’s bedroom was on the second floor of the building, accessed only through a trap door in the floor of the shared third floor apartment and the hatchway staircase. There was an exit door from the Plaintiff’s second floor bedroom that opened onto a open covered porch that had no guardrail protecting its open side. Additionally, the porch was part of the means of egress’s “exit accessway”, serving as a landing for an exterior fire escape that led to the grade below. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:50:13 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-industry-news/u.s.-department-of-transportation-teams-with-espn-and-state-farm.html U.S. Department of Transportation Teams with ESPN and State Farm® To Go ‘On the Road’ to Wipe Out Distracted Driving; Participation in two-week pro football training camp bus tour to raise ‘Put it Down’ awareness :::: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today that it has joined forces with State Farm and ESPN’s “On the Road to Camp”—a cross-country bus tour that will take ESPN’s senior analyst Chris Mortensen and Insider Adam Schefter to all 32 pro football training camps in 19 days. The tour, which runs from July 29 to August 16, aims to generate awareness of the real and increasingly serious dangers caused by distracted driving. On separate buses, carrying the “Stop Distracted Driving” message, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will cross the nation visiting all 32 team training camps. Together, they will log more than 15,000 combined miles before they meet in New Orleans on August 16. “Distracted driving is an extremely dangerous and life threatening practice. We are excited to go On the Road with ESPN and State Farm to share the message that all of us need to stop distracted driving. By reminding all drivers to simply put it down, we can help put an end to the dangers of distracted driving and keep our roads safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:24:25 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-industry-news/telegraph-to-get-smart-traffic-signals.html David Shepardson / The Detroit News :::: Traverse City -- The Michigan Department of Transportation will unveil smart traffic signals on a five-mile stretch of Telegraph Road this fall -- a move to smooth traffic flow along the busy Oakland County thoroughfare. The signals, stretching from Nine Mile to 14 Mile roads, will alert drivers of next-generation vehicles about coming red lights and tell them to slow down or speed up to avoid stopping, said Kirk Steudle, director of MDOT. In this case, the traffic signal sends out a beacon that says, 'I'm green and I'm going to be green for 20 seconds,'  Steudle said. The car might say on the dashboard, 'if you go 44 or 42 miles an hour, you will make all the lights.'  From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100802/AUTO01/8020417/#ixzz0vZmv2TSS (http://detnews.com/article/20100802/AUTO01/8020417/#ixzz0vZmv2TSS) Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:20:51 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/rear-passenger-seat-belt-reminder-system-proposed.-feedback-requested.html In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by Public Citizen and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requesting public comments regarding a request to amend the Federal motor vehicle safety standards and require automotive manufactures to install rear passenger seat belt reminder systems. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:42:25 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-industry-news/toyota-acknowledges-flaws-caused-loss-of-car-control.html The New York Times (7/14, B1, Bunkley) reports on the front page of its Business Day section, Toyota said Wednesday that its investigation of about 2,000 vehicles reported to experience sudden acceleration found evidence that sticking accelerator pedals and interference by floor mats...did indeed cause some of the incidents. But a company spokesman noted that none of the vehicles with a sticking pedal was involved in a crash, and he did not know how many of those identified as having problematic floor mats had crashed. According to the Times, It is the first time since the recalls that Toyota has acknowledged that its internal review, which is continuing, found sudden-acceleration complaints to be valid. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:58:25 +0100