Human factors and ergonomics is a science that studies how people interact with or use all types of products, machines, equipment, and environments. Human factors experts study the effects of people’s mental, perceptual, and physical capabilities and limitations on these interactions. Working with engineers and architects, human factors professionals design and build easy, efficient, and safe products, machines, and environments.
Our human factors experts and ergonomists have spent decades studying and researching topics such as: visual, auditory, and tactile perception; attention and distractions; learning and memory; vigilance and fatigue; anthropometry, lifting and muscle strength; control/display design; warning and instructional material; and risk perception. They have also spent many years in industry and government using this knowledge to research and design consumer and commercial products, roadway environments, work place safety and training programs, hearing conservation programs, and warnings and materials.
We investigate issues of:
- Attention and distraction
- Control / display design
- Expectancy and positive guidance
- Memory and knowledge
- Open and obvious
- Stress and fatigue
- Vision and hearing
- Workplace safety
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- Conspicuity
- Driver behavior and performance
- Lighting and noise levels
- Night vision
- Risk perception
- Training and instructions
- Warning adequacy
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Please contact our human factors and ergonomics practice group leader, Dr. William J. Vigilante, Jr., to discuss your case and determine which of our experts is the most appropriate to address the matters at hand.
- Pedestrian Strike - Experts Investigate Fatal Pedestrian-Vehicle Collision
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to cross midblock on a four-lane, urban roadway. The incident occurred at night as the victim was attempting to visit a nightclub on the southbound side of the roadway. The victim had parked her vehicle at an unrelated business on the northbound side of the roadway because the nightclub’s parking lot was in a state of disrepair. Street lights ran along the roadway. However, the street light in front of the club’s entrance was Out. Robson Forensic was retained to reconstruct the incident and determine the causes of the collision.
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- Highway Construction – Expert Investigates Collision with Construction Vehicle
A driver was injured when her car collided with a construction vehicle on a state highway. The construction vehicle exited a work zone from a median crossover between the northbound and southbound travel lanes and entered directly into the passing lane in the southbound direction. The injured driver crashed into the back of the construction vehicle. Robson Forensic experts were retained to determine the cause(s) of the incident.
This case settled favorably for our client before trial.
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- Parents' Expectations and Beliefs Toward the Relative Safety of Riding Bicycles at Night
This study examined parent’s expectations, attitudes, and perceptions toward the relative safety of their children riding bicycles at night with reflectors and/or head and tail lights.
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- Motorcycle Helmets - Expert Study on Consumers' Perception of Protection
This study examined consumer beliefs towards the level of protection offered by motorcycle helmets varying in price ($35, $60, $120, $240); level of certification (none, DOT, SNELL, both DOT and Snell); and at high versus low speed lay-down type crashes.
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- Consumers’ Interpretation of the Statement: “Do not leave [insert product here] unattended”
Consumer’s interpretation and understanding of the commonly encountered instruction/warning “do not leave unattended” with respect to three different types of consumer products were examined. Two hundred and eleven respondents were surveyed in the Los Angeles, CA area. The majority of the participants interpreted the phrase differently than how the warning designer intended.
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- Children's Expectations & Beliefs Toward the Relative Safety of Riding Bicycles at Night
This study examined middle-school-aged children's expectations, attitudes, and perceptions toward the relative safety of riding bicycles at night with reflectors and/or head and tail lights.
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- Robson Forensic Case Reports: Specialty
Specialty Cases inlcuding double homicide, visibilty, trailer injury, boating issues, engine defects, peir falls, anchor chain injury, icing issues and more.
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- Forensic Ergonomics: An Introduction to Theory and Practice
The field of human factors/ergonomics has grown into countless areas of human-system
interactions, from product and machine design to driver safety and workplace injury
reduction. There is now a large body of well established and empirical research to serve as the
foundation for analyzing personal-injury and property-damage incidents to determine what
happened, why it happened, could it have been safely mitigated, and who was responsible to
ensure it did not happen. As such, human factors/ergonomics scientists and practitioners are
being called upon in greater numbers to assist the courts in determining just outcomes for
litigants. Their analyses and conclusions are being used to establish theories of liability for
assigning corporate and social responsibility as well as defenses to such allegations.
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- Boat Collision - Expert Investigation into Criminal Charges Resulting from Death
A woman passenger was killed and three others were injured when a power boat collided with a personal watercraft (PWC). Robson Forensic was retained to reconstruct the collision
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- Alcohol Impairment - Robson Forensic Experts
When alcohol is identified as a factor in an injury incident, it is
often assumed to be the only cause. Our experts determine if
alcohol played a causative or contributing role.
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- Child Supervision - Robson Forensic Experts
A child’s safety depends in large part on the quality of adult supervision. Effective supervision is much more than
merely watching children play.
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- Jury Finds for Plaintiff in Hospital Warnings Case
A patient fell and was injured when he stepped through an open door from a hospital cafeteria onto a patio.
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- Aging Consequences - Robson Forensic Experts
Consequences of aging can include decreases in physical
strength and agility, poorer balance, reductions in visual,
auditory and sensory ability, and increases in the time required
for perception, analysis and reaction. Preventing injuries to
this growing population requires special attention to facilities
and products that serve them. Issues may include hot water
temperature settings, evenness of walking surfaces, product
safety features to accommodate lower grip and lifting strength,
placement and selection of warning and informational signs, and
adjustment of escalators, elevators, and automatic doors.
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- Child Safety - Robson Forensic Experts
Robson Forensic has 20 years of experience analyzing
aspects of cases and claims that are unique to child injuries.
Our sports, recreation, facility design and product experts
are active in organizations promulgating standards and
procedures aimed at protecting children from injury.
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- Human Factors - The Science of Perception and Interaction
Robson Forensic, Inc. Human Factors experts provide scientific answers to
questions involving perception, warnings, instructions and conspicuousness. We
evaluate if the conditions that resulted in cases or claims were open and obvious
as presented to the claimant.
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- Robson Forensic Brochure
Robson Forensic has been providing high quality and professional forensic engineering, architectural, scientific and
investigative services throughout the United States since 1987. Robson Forensic provides expertise in a broad range of forensic and technical disciplines.
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