Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs) are the industry term for what are more colloquially referred to as wheelchair lifts. Despite the shorthand, VPLs are designed to accommodate users with or…
Dan L. Short, Jr., CEI Elevator & Escalator Expert
Dan Short is an elevator and escalator expert with over 25 years of industry experience as a mechanic, maintenance supervisor, and operations manager. His expertise extends to all aspects of the elevator industry, including new construction, modernization, maintenance, service and repair, cost estimating, and worker supervision and safety. Dan applies his expertise to forensic casework involving injuries, damage valuations, and other economic loss claims.
Dan has experience working for independent service companies, major elevator and escalator manufacturers, as well as smaller manufacturers. He has direct experience as a mechanic and supervisor of mechanics for commercial and industrial systems, residential elevators, and vertical platform lifts (or “wheelchair lifts”). He has significant hands-on experience performing maintenance, service, and repair across many different models and vintages of elevators and escalators.
Dan is a National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities – QEI-1 Certified Elevator Inspector, and he is OSHA 30 Certified. Dan is an active member of the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities.
ELEVATOR INVESTIGATIONS
Elevator safety incidents and claims involving the installation, repair, and modernization of equipment. Specific incidents include mis-leveling or re-leveling of the elevator car; sudden stops, drops, or jolts; over speed events; erratic door operation; entrapments; hoistway injuries; and maintenance worker injuries.
Relevant equipment and systems include passenger, freight, and residential systems. Relay logic, solid state, SCR DC and VVVF AC drive controller systems. Geared, gearless, MRL and PM/AC traction hoist machines. Traction hoist and governor cables. Holed and hole less hydraulic elevator passenger, freight and residential applications. Hydraulic jack, pump, tank, pressure piping and valve assemblies. Hydraulic jack and cylinder operation and protection. Elevator door operating systems; cab and hoistway systems including door detection devices and gate reversal edges. Metal tape, reflective sensor and magnetic vane hoistway leveling systems. Chain and cable driven electromechanical table selector and leveling systems. Car sling, platform and cab construction; standard, corner post and cantilever applications. Governors, Type A, B and C safeties and activation. Hall and cab signal fixture installation and operation. Car and hoistway door equipment including door panels, door gibs, operators and door detection devices. Hoist machines and machine brakes including overspeed protection and unintended motion devices. Cab finishes including interior wall panels and drop ceilings. Emergency Operation and Signaling Devices. Firefighter Emergency Operation. Emergency or Standby Power systems; transfer and operation. Code required inspections and testing.
ESCALATOR INVESTIGATIONS
Escalator safety incidents and claims involving the installation, repair, and modernization of equipment. Specific incidents include sudden stops, clothing and appendage entrapments, direction reversals, over-speed conditions, brake failures, and maintenance worker injuries.
Relevant equipment and systems include solid state and VVVF AC drive controllers. Remote and in truss machine rooms. Single and modular multi drive motor applications. Single and multi-brake applications. Drive assemblies. Steps, tracks and step chains. Comb plates and floor plates. Handrails and handrail drives. Safety devices, safety switches; location and application. Balustrades, skirts and decking. Steps, step treads, step risers and demarcation lighting; Comb plates, comb impact switches; Handrails, handrail speed switch and broken handrail switch; Anti-slide devices; Floor surfaces; Signage, Sleep mode operation. Code required inspections and testing.
WHEELCHAIR/ASSISTIVE LIFT INVESTIGATIONS
Safety incidents and claims involving electric and hydraulic powered lifts. Specific incidents include mis-leveled platforms, sudden drops or jolts, failed safety stops, and maintenance worker injuries.
Professional Experience
Robson Forensic, Inc.
Associate
2025 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving elevators, escalators, moving walkways and related transportation equipment. Investigations include modernization, maintenance, repair, inspection, failure analysis and causation, standards, codes and regulations.
TK Elevator
Manager-Service and Repair Operations
2022 to 2025Managed the maintenance and repair operations in the Charleston, WV office. Worked closely with sales and branch manager to survey and bid new acquisitions. Scheduled test and repair crews to ensure all testing was up to date and repairs were completed in a timely manner. Solved problems that were escalated by maintenance mechanics and customers.
Otis Elevator
Maintenance Supervisor
2021 to 2022Responsible for supervision and support of maintenance and service mechanics in the Orlando, Florida area. Responsibilities included surveying and estimating for new unit acquisition, making sure all contract work was fulfilled and that all open order work was completed in a timely manner, helping maintenance mechanics find and order parts needed to complete maintenance tasks, training all field employees in the company safety policies and procedures, and entering all field employees time and expenses.
TK Elevator
Operations Manager
2019 to 2021Managed the maintenance and repair operations in the Charleston, WV office. Worked closely with sales and branch manager to survey and bid new acquisitions. Scheduled test and repair crews to ensure all testing was up to date and repairs were completed in a timely manner. Solved problems that were escalated by maintenance mechanics and customers.
DC Elevator
Elevator Mechanic
2017 to 2019Experienced in the maintenance, service and repair of Otis, TK, Schindler, Kone, MCE, Elevator Controls Inc., Virginia Controls, National Wheel-o-Vator, Custom, Savaria, Garaventa, Symmetry and various, now obsolete controllers and manufacturers such as ESCO, Westbrook and Dover. Performed maintenance, troubleshot and repaired commercial, residential, private elevators and escalators as necessary. Worked on and led a test crew that performed Cat I and Cat V testing on multiple types of elevators.
Oracle Elevator
Elevator Technician
2016 to 2017Experienced in the maintenance, service and repair of Otis, TK, Schindler, Kone, MCE, Elevator Controls Inc., Virginia Controls, National Wheel-o-Vator, Custom, Savaria, Garaventa, Symmetry and various, now obsolete controllers and manufacturers such as ESCO, Westbrook and Dover. Performed maintenance, troubleshot and repaired commercial, residential, and private elevators and escalators as necessary in the Indianapolis, Indiana area then the Lexington, Kentucky area. Troubleshot and repaired elevators as necessary. Worked on and led a test crew that performed Cat I and Cat V testing on multiple types of elevators.
DC Elevator
Elevator Mechanic
2000 to 2016Began trade as a helper and transitioned from new installation to an adjuster’s apprentice after the first year, followed by a move to a maintenance route technician during year 2. Completed the Certified Elevator Technician (CET) 4 year certification program in June 2008. Experienced in the maintenance, service and repair of Otis, TK, Schindler, Kone, MCE, Elevator Controls Inc., Virginia Controls, National Wheel-o-Vator, Custom, Savaria, Garaventa, Symmetry and various, now obsolete controllers and manufacturers such as ESCO, Westbrook and Dover. Performed maintenance, troubleshot and repaired elevators as necessary. Worked on and led a test crew that performed Cat I and Cat V testing on multiple types of elevators.
Professional Credentials
Certified Elevator Inspector, ASME QEI-1, No. C-7578
OSHA 30 Certified
Professional Memberships
National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities
v. 04/22/26