Articles

A large segment of the truck driving population is composed of drivers who work locally and are home most nights. In this article, commercial trucking expert Jeff Boesger explores the unique challenges that LTL delivery drivers regularly face.

LTL truck companies often employ drivers with diverse experiences and abilities, including over-the-road drivers, regional drivers, shuttle drivers, and local drivers. LTL, (Less than Truckload) drivers make multiple small deliveries and freight pickups within a local area. Because of the multi-stop nature of their deliveries, these drivers (especially if untrained or inexperienced) are at risk for vehicle accidents: injuries from unloading/loading and moving product from truck to truck; slips, trips, or falls in the ordinary course of work; and being struck by equipment while working in various shipping and receiving locations.

The experts at Robson Forensic investigate a variety of product liability claims and incidents to understand how they occurred. Manufacturing and product safety expert, Phil Shettig, is experienced both in the design of consumer products and the manufacturing processes that produce textiles as well as finished textile products. In this article, he discusses the standards that apply to fabric flammability and the factors that contribute to the flammability of the textiles used in a product. The raw source material, the gauge of the knit, fabric weight, dyes and chemicals used in treating the fabric, and any treatments applied to the end product all have an impact on flammability and flame intensity.

In this article, police practices expert Jeff Jannarone describes Traffic Incident Management procedures and the potential dangers that exist for first responders and motorists at the scene of a Traffic Incident.

Cellular towers require frequent service calls to repair, upgrade, or install new communications equipment. They are also subject to routine inspection related to the structural integrity of the tower and associated climbing facilities. In this article, Structural Engineer Anthony Volonnino looks through the lens of a specific fall incident to discuss some of the standards and safety features intended to protect communications workers when working at heights.

In 2018, there were over 800 trampoline parks in the United States, up from just a handful a decade earlier. The incidence of injuries at these facilities has grown even more rapidly than the facilities themselves, which has presented a challenge for oversight agencies, with fewer than a dozen states having their own regulations specific to trampoline parks. In this document, Dr. Laura Miele-Pascoe discusses the surge of injuries being reported from trampoline park patrons and the current standard of care for trampoline park (TP) operators and attendants which, when followed, can reduce the risk of patron injury.

When a railroad crossing gate failed to lower in time and a police car had to swerve at the last second to avoid being struck by an oncoming suburban train, reporter Chris Hush of NBC 5 Chicago reached out to railroad engineering expert Augustine Ubaldi P.E. for comment.

The flatbed segment of the trucking industry has a unique set of challenges and hazards that, if not properly managed, can lead to worker injuries or deaths. In this article, commercial trucking expert Brooks Rugemer discusses the hazards that exist in hauling and loading/unloading cargo from a flatbed truck, and provides examples of what can go wrong.

In this article, machinery experts at Robson Forensic provide an introduction to hydraulic systems and the hazards they present. Hydraulic systems are used everywhere, from forklifts to landing gear to industrial systems and the largest earth-moving machinery. Some of the most complex and critical life safety hydraulic systems are found on board ships and aircraft. Expertise in those environments translates well to industrial applications on terra firma. Required to be powerful and reliable, hydraulic systems are not, however, immune to malfunction and failure.

A significant portion of our machine guarding investigations involve situations where machine guards need to be removed and/or workers must place their hands within a machine’s point-of-operation. The scope of these investigations will typically go beyond an evaluation of mechanical or electrical guards to include administrative protections such as lockout/tagout procedures.

In this article, industrial engineer Harry Ehrlich provides an explanation of lockout/tagout within the context of industrial safety.

When Autumn arrives, family recreation turns to popular seasonal traditions like pumpkin picking and fall fairs, where kiddie rides, hay rides, corn mazes, sleigh rides and the like are a big part of the fun. Farms and small venues often offer rides with an old-world or homemade appeal. These rides and their operators must still meet industry standards of care for safety. Amusement Ride Safety expert Dan Doyle explores the standards and best practices that apply to kiddie rides and seasonal amusement attractions.

Wheelchairs are a common type of medical equipment used to transport an individual in a seated position, with the purpose of increasing mobility for a person with functional impairments. In this article, healthcare expert and physical therapist Christian Mongrain discusses the types of wheelchairs, their maintenance, industry standards, and the types of accidents and injuries that can occur from improper use or care.

As the design of roller coasters and amusement rides become ever more complex, it is important to take into consideration those areas through which a ride vehicle operates with respect to its proximity to humans and the potential for harm. In this article, amusement park safety expert Dan Doyle describes the different mechanisms and procedures that the industry has incorporated to provide safeguards against injury for riders, as well as ride attendants and bystanders.

In this article, New York highway and construction expert Richard Khorigan, P.E. discusses the unique challenges involved in performing construction projects in a busy metropolitan area with a complex infrastructure. New York City and the surrounding Metropolitan area include more than 6,000 miles of roadways that interconnect via an overlapping system of bridges and tunnels. The engineers at Robson Forensic regularly provide expert witness investigations involving construction claims and injuries.

Registered Architect and Certified Safety Assessor Sylvia Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has extensive knowledge and experience designing schools and institutional buildings which meet rigorous standards for safety compliance. In this article, Sylvia discusses the importance of meeting not some, but all of the recommended safety features through protective infrastructure design. In the wake of recent school shootings, districts find themselves under increased pressure to make each building a safe learning and working environment.

In this article, Civil Engineer and construction expert Michael J. Tuttman explores how the essential questions of “Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How” are as important for construction projects as they are for newspaper stories. They are needed to establish the scope of the work involved, and to estimate its cost. When the unexpected happens, resulting in a construction claim, you also have to know how to deal with the “How About.”

In this article, amusement park safety expert Dan Doyle discusses emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures used during roller coaster malfunctions and other emergency scenarios. Dan approaches this conversation with more than 20 years of industry experience and first hand involvement in these critical safety situations.

The propane tank is a seemingly simple device, most often found in backyards across the country, hooked up to a grill for a barbecue. However, closer inspection reveals that these devices have been engineered to provide consumers with multiple layers of safety. In this article we open a propane tank to show you what is inside, how they have been designed with safety in mind, and why they are sometimes still involved in fires and explosions despite engineering efforts to make them safer.

Through media reports as well as our own forensic investigations, the sports and recreation experts at Robson Forensic have seen an alarming increase of incidents wherein high school aged athletes are suffering serious injuries during both individual training and team practice sessions. At the national level, there are a number of factors that are contributing to this increase in injury, including a sports culture that provides mounting pressure for athletic achievement and unprecedented access to information on new and sometimes dangerous training methods. When pursued without proper training or certification, and especially absent of an evaluation of individual athletic abilities, any training program can become dangerous. In this article, sports, fitness, and recreation expert, Dr. Laura Miele-Pascoe highlights the nature of the problem and discusses best practices for safely implementing sports training programs for high school aged athletes.

In this article, mechanical engineer Brian O’Donel, P.E. discusses crossbow finger amputations. His discussion includes an overview of crossbow anatomy, an explanation of the string motion hazard, and a description of safety precautions to protect users from injury.

The experts at Robson Forensic are experienced in investigating and testifying in crossbow injury cases and a broad range of other product liability disputes.

In this article, Civil Engineering expert, Kevin Gorman, P.E., C.C.M. discusses temporary traffic impact attenuators. His discussion includes an overview of the different types of attenuators, and an explanation of the standards and best practices in their selection, site planning, usage, and maintenance.

In this article, architect Sylvia Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP explores the complexities of designing resort environments that are both safe and functional for the wide range of activities that they accommodate. Designing a single facility that serves a broad variety of uses requires careful planning and quality architecture that is mindful of the materials and systems necessary to handle a multi-use environment.

This article explores equine abuse and neglect through the lens of an actual incident. Through examination of this dispute, equine expert, Dr. J. Tim Potter provides an introductory lesson on relevant issues, such as body condition scores, equine nutrition, exposure-related health issues, group dynamics, and dental health. Names and other identifying factors have been excluded.

Ice rink & athletic facilities expert Barbara Bogner was interviewed by NBC Nightly News at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, where she served as a Deputy Ice Technician for Figure and Short Track Skating. In this position she was one of eight Americans driving the Zamboni, and notably the only woman.

In this article, the automotive engineers at Robson Forensic provide an overview of the individual components and sensors that make advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicles possible. In related articles, our experts provide a closer examination of driver assistance systems and the human factors behind vehicle automation.