Expert Details
Personal Injury, Industrial/Construction Safety, Compliance, Auditing, OSHA Standards
ID: 723166
Michigan, USA
to the automotive “Big Three” he was the safety director at a sheet metal stamping plant and was the corporate safety director for an automotive supplier. In this capacity he was responsible for safety in 14 plants,
covering a span of seven (7) states. During his tenure he has been responsible for safety in stamping, assembly (automotive and drive train), machining, plastic (SMC, blow molding, and extrusion molding) plants.
Expert has over 15 years experience in machine design to incorporate OSHA and corporate safety standards. He has been included from equipment conception through completion of the build stage. This included
print review and equipment review at predetermined build stages. Equipment complexity has ranged from small single station presses, welders, assembly stations, to multi-station machining, welding, and assembly
lines. Complex lines have included multiple robots stations, vertical and horizontal gantries, and transfer lines. Employee safety process incorporated simple guarding, electrical interlocks, light screens, and
pressure-sensing devices.
Expert has been involved in construction safety related to the use of, but not limited to: bulldozers, excavators, screeds, dump trucks, cement trucks, and scaffolding.
Expert has been involved in multiple facility audits reviewing areas such as, but not limited to; OSHA standards, equipment safety, employee/operator compliance to instructions and rules, ergonomics, workers
compensation documentation, and contract compliance. Additionally, he was a member of an audit team conducting several audits to QS-9000 criteria.
Expert is a retired United States Air Force officer. During his military career he served as a pilot and civil engineering officer. While serving as a pilot he flew missions in Europe, North Africa, the continental United
Sates, including Hawaii. As a civil engineering squadron commander he led teams to locations throughout Europe and the continental United States, as well as on humanitarian missions to Central America and the
Caribbean. On these missions it was common for him to interface with the country’s Ambassador, or their Minister of the Interior.
Expert started assisting in litigation cases in 2005. He has assisted in both plaintiff and defense cases, and has trial and deposition experience. Expert's extensive experience in working with individuals, of all levels,
has proven to be invaluable in assisting him win the confidence of others, and taught the importance of negations and open communications.
What do I bring to the table?
- 30+ years safety experience
- Defense and plaintiff expert witness case history, nearly 50/50 ratio
- Retained in 21 states
- Trial and deposition experience
- Professional engineer
- Certified Safety Professional
- Retired Chrysler safety engineer
- Retired US Air Force pilot
He interviewed employees at a three shift chemical manufacturing plant to evaluate the safety attitude of the employees, hourly and salary.He investigated a crane tip-over accident to determine the root cause.He has been retained as a safety expert for the following types of cases: Operator injury caused by crane load striking him; Hand injury; Material handling accident; Fork truck mishap; Elevated platform mishap; Chemical injury; Rail car incident; Semi/pedestrian fatality; Overhead door accident; Pile driver accident; Slip and Fall.He has investigated hundreds of industrial safety accidents while working in the automotive industry.He has performed many safety audits in the 30+ years he has worked in the automotive industry.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1971 | Degree: BAA | Subject: Industrial Technology | Institution: Central Michgian University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2005 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Member | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provide expertise in safety engineering, accident investigation, accident reconstruction, industrial/construction accident consulting, expert witness testimony, and related expertise to a wide variety of clients. As of March 2020 I have been retained for 164 cases in 30 states with 65% plaintiff and 35% defense cases. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 2007 | Employer: Chrysler | Title: Safety Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Corporate Level: Advise DaimlerChrysler manufacturing plants on safety issues; Provide assistance as requested; Ensure DaimlerChrysler manufacturing plants are operating in concurrence with corporate, federal, and state laws and regulations.Plant Level: Responsible for the safety of 2,500 hourly and salary employees; Supervise a staff of nine; Ensure compliance with governmental and corporate safety and environmental regulations; Interact with outside contractors to ensure new equipment meets all applicable standards; Monitor outside construction crews for compliance with governmental and corporate construction standards; Recommend changes when compliance is marginal; Develop training programs and direct their implementation; Negotiate safety grievances; Perform accident investigations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 1996 | Employer: Ford Motor Company | Title: Safety Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for the safety of 3,500 hourly and salary employees. Supervised a staff of five. Ensure compliance with governmental and corporate safety and environmental regulations. Interact with outside contractors to ensure new equipment was in compliance with all applicable standards. Monitor outside construction crews for compliance with governmental and corporate construction standards. Recommend changes when compliance was marginal. Developed training programs and directed their implementation. Negotiate safety grievances. Perform accident investigations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 1996 | Employer: United States Air Force Reserves | Title: Civil Engineering Officer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Supervised a staff of four officers, ultimately supervising 150 men. Commanded squadron on national and international missions. Responsible for all phases of construction safety and building techniques. Responsible for compliance with all environmental and safety regulations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1990 to 1994 | Employer: Aeroquip, Automotive Group | Title: Safety Manager | Department: Automotive Group |
Responsibilities:Responsible for 14 plants in seven states. Dotted line supervisor for 14 safety supervisors. Supervised staff of three. Performed accident investigations. Ensured compliance with corporate and governmental regulations. Performed safety and environment audits. Applied for necessary environmental permits. Directed disposal of hazardous wastes. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1990 | Employer: Hawthorne Metal Products | Title: Safety Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Ensured compliance with corporate and governmental regulations. Developed and implemented safety training programs. Performed environmental and safety audits. Supervised staff of two. Performed accident investigations. Applied for required environmental permits. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1977 to 1985 | Employer: General Motors Corporation | Title: Production Supervisor and Safety Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Supervised up to 40 hourly employees. Die Design. CAD Instructor. Industrial Engineer. Work study analysis. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1973 to 1976 | Employer: United States Air Force | Title: Pilot | Department: |
Responsibilities:Aircraft commander on national and international flights. Supervised flight crew of 5. Flying safety officer. Training officer. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1973 to 1996 | Agency: USAF | Role: Pilot, Civil Eng Officer | Description: He served both active duty in the USAFR Reserves as a C-130 Pilot and Civil Engineering Officer. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Society of Safety Engineers |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS AND LICENSES State of Massachusetts – Registered Safety Engineer Board of Certified Safety Professionals – Certified Safety Professional Licensed Pilot: Multi-engine, Instrument, Commercial license |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert wrote several technical manuals for the United States Air Force Civil Engineering School outlining course materials for teaching the proper use and set up of water purification units, building construction, heavy equipment use during runway repair, personal protection equipment, contingency operations, chemical warfare, tent city construction. He also wrote and conducted many simulated attach scenarios. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Served as an expert witness, for both the plaintiff and defense, in industrial/construction/commercial safety injury cases that have resulted in litigation. He has also worked, as a private consultant, for companies wishing to improve their safety record. He has investigated hundreds of industrial accidents during my 30 plus years as a safety engineer, with General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. In addition to the automotive “Big Three” he was the safety director at a sheet metal stamping plant and the corporate safety director for an automotive supplier responsible for occupational health and safety at 14 plants in 7 states. During this time, he investigated hundreds of accidents, and potential injuries. He specializes in personal injury cases and have found the same accident investigation process, and root-cause analysis, works well for a diverse number of accident scenarios. Since his retirement, effective January 1, 2008, he has been retained for over 130 cases in 27 states. These cases include a good plaintiff and defense mix. His experience working for both the plaintiff and the defense exemplifies his familiarity with both sides of litigation. Through this experience, he has learned to look at all aspects of an incident, and is able to look at a case from both the plaintiff & defense side. Expert has trial, deposition, and arbitration experience. He has a PE (Professional Engineer) license from Massachusetts with a safety discipline, and a CSP (Certified Safety Professional) certification. Expert's expertise includes process safety management which goes one step further in accident investigations. To put it simply, one should ask…Is there an adequate safety plan and is it followed? Obviously, these are two very different things. Knowing this can help determine how strong a case is, and an evaluation of the safety process plan is something that can help determine the strength of your clients claim. He is very familiar with occupational safety and health (OSHA) standards, ANSI standards, and ISO standards. For a number of years, Expert was active with a Michigan OSHA standards sub-committee. His career spans both employee and equipment safety related issues. The various types of incidents he has investigated include, but is not limited to: -Chemical burns -Construction type vehicles -Conveyors (overhead and floor level) -Crane (bridge/wheeled/tractor) -Electrical arc flash -Electrical lockout--tagout -Employee/operator failures to comply -Employee training/instruction failures -Equipment design failures -Equipment malfunctions -Ergonomic related injuries -Oil refinery turn around safety issues -Hand and power tools -Improper equipment cycling -Limit (safety) switch failures -Loading docks -Machine grinding operations -Machine guarding -Overhead doors -Powered industrial trucks (all types) -Railroad crossing failures -Scaffolding incidents -Slip, trips and falls -Recreational sports accidents He has experience in machine design to incorporate appropriate regulatory safety and design standards. This includes print and equipment review at predetermined build stages. Equipment complexity has ranged from small single station presses, welders, assembly stations, etc., to multi-station machining, welding, and assembly lines. Complex lines have included multiple robotic stations, vertical and horizontal gantries, and transfer lines. Employee safety process incorporated include, but not limited to, simple guarding, electrical interlocks, light screens, and pressure sensing devices. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Expert wrote a training manual for basic ergonomics addressing ergonomic injuries to the: back; upper and lower torso; neck and shoulders; arms and wrists; legs, knees, and ankles. He taught multiple courses, using this manual, covering causes of ergonomic injuries, symptoms, and preventive actions to combat ergonomic injuries. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Expert has extensive knowledge of Industrial and Construction safety, and is very competent in his knowledge of OSHA standards. For a number of years he was active with the Michigan OSHA standards committee. His career spans both employee and equipment safety related issues. The types of accidents he has investigated includes, but is not limited to: powered industrial vehicle; fork truck; personnel cart; tug; dolly trains; lock out-tag out; electrical; arc flash related; limit (safety) switch failure; equipment malfunction; equipment design; improper equipment cycling; conveyors (overhead and floor level); hand tools; grinding operations; crane operations (bridge, wheeled, and tractor) roll over, load imbalance, operator/load mishaps; pile driver; slip and fall (inside and outside parking lot- weather related); railroad crossing; switcher truck; pedestrian; loading dock; overhead door; chemical burns; ergonomic related injuries; and employee/operator failure to comply with standards, training, and instruction. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert is experienced in contract writing, interpretation, and compliance gained while working in industry, construction, and the United States military. |
Fields of Expertise
A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Program, accident investigation, federal safety regulation, industrial safety, injury prevention, machine safety, occupational safety, plant safety, safety, safety auditing, safety code, safety data collection, safety design review, safety engineering, safety management, safety plan, safety procedure, safety recordkeeping, safety standard, safety testing, safety training, accident, accident causation, accident reduction, accident reconstruction, electrical accident, employee protection, eye safety, fall protection, lock out tag procedure, personal protection equipment, chemical injury, forklift truck, industrial accident, industrial safety compliance, neck injury, industrial plant construction, construction industry standard, safety compliance, OSHA compliance, industrial accident investigation, evacuation, electric circuit safety, heat stress index, Hazard Communication Standard, power supply safety, cumulative trauma disorder, safety equipment, OSHA labeling, chemical safety training, ergonomic tool design, ergonomic tool, process-engineering safety, chemical processing system safety, contractor safety management, confined space safety, construction safety management, electrical safety code, electrical safety standard, maintenance safety, mechanical product safety, systems safety engineering, Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accident analysis, fault tree analysis, process safety, process safety management, safety device, protective clothing, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation, human factors engineering, ergonomics, electrical safety, contractor safety, construction safety, chemical safety