Robert J. O’Connor, P.E. Civil Engineer & Construction Safety Expert

Professional Experience

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports and testimony toward the resolution of personal injury litigation, construction defects litigation and insurance claims related to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential construction and facilities.

Experience highlights:

• Construction and General Industry Site Safety
• New York Labor Law and Industrial Code Rule 23
• NYCRR, OSHA and ANSI Regulations and Standards
• Local Codes, Rules and Regulations for Construction
• Construction Site Falls
• Personal Fall Protection Systems
• Construction Site Falling Objects
• Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents and Failures
• Equipment Operation & Excavation Incidents
• Construction Defects and Failures
• Construction Damage to Adjacent Buildings
• Premises Safety and Protection During Construction
• Property Damage Claims and Subrogation
• Property Condition Assessments and Inspections
• Structural Failure Investigations
• Civil & Structural Engineering Standard-of-Care

Principal of consulting company specializing in designs, evaluations, inspections, investigations and repairs for a wide variety of residential and commercial projects.

Forensic investigations and expert witness reports and testimony. Construction supervision, multiple trade construction coordination for large commercial projects, building inspections, structural evaluations, building code evaluations and construction field changes working with owners, buyers, lenders, attorneys, architects and builders.

Design of buildings, expansions, rehabilitations, structural repairs, site work, bulkheads, docks, retaining walls, septic systems, drainage systems and site grading, as well as other site structures and elements. Preparation of design and construction documents and reports. Evaluate compliance with local codes, rules, and regulations.

Perform commercial and residential Premises Safety Evaluations and Property Condition Assessments, and prepared reports documenting the conditions.

Adjunct Professor at LIU Post for Building Construction and Inspection courses. Senior Instructor for general practice and safety, liability issues and reports, technical investigations and field training courses. Instructor for prior courses in property condition assessments, building codes, construction and building regulations and safety, blueprint reading and construction estimating.

Develop program and course content, write course materials, prepare handouts, and prepare computer based visual presentations and course materials. Assist the CW Post Program Coordinator and Provost with course content, approvals and coordination.

Project management and jobsite supervision for construction of mechanical systems on large multi-story commercial, industrial and residential building projects.

Managed overall projects and supervised field construction operations. Coordinated work with the owner and general contractor. Ordered equipment and materials, scheduled manpower, directed field operations, maintained field records, and verified compliance with contract documents.

Responsible for jobsite safety, on-site safety training, on-site safety meetings, quality control assurance and coordination of contractor trades. Prepared estimates, contracts, change orders, schedules, reports, shop drawings, and submittals.

Assembled, inspected and/or utilized fabricated frame scaffolding, hanging scaffolding, baker (rolling) scaffolding, manlifts, equipment lifts and personal fall protection systems to facilitate construction operations and supervision. Rigging and direction for heavy rooftop mechanical equipment and material lifts.

Design, layout, and installation of mechanical systems for smaller projects including fabrication and installation of equipment, ductwork, refrigerant lines, piping, power circuits and control wiring. Also diagnose problems with existing equipment.

Assist with safety requirements and standards related to Property Condition Assessments, inspections and evaluations of commercial and residential buildings, as well as general construction, structural, electrical and mechanical technical issues.

Assist with preparation of educational materials and standards, lecture on building regulation and inspection related topics, and serve on the Education Committee.

Building Department Superintendent and Chief Building Inspector responsible for residential and commercial plan review, inspections, construction safety and reports related to general building construction, structural elements and building systems. Reviewed and assisted with development of local code provisions and requirements.

Performed inspections to verify compliance with codes, rules and regulations, particularly those for more complicated or larger projects. Developed inspection and permitting guidelines as well as procedures, assisted with developing web based permitting and managed general building department operations. New York State Certified Code Compliance Official.

Project management, designs, evaluations, and inspections for various commercial and industrial projects. Managed design and evaluation projects for communication facilities, specialty rooftop equipment installations, industrial projects, building modifications and rehabilitations.

Coordinated with clients and sub-consultants, managed design and drafting personnel, supervised preparation of contract documents, reviewed completed drawings and designs and provided construction phase services including construction supervision.

Prepared and reviewed construction site safety plans and guidelines. Performed forensic investigations and prepared reports. Provided expert witness testimony at proceedings related to design, construction and code issues for industrial facilities.

Prepared designs, plans and specifications as well as performed inspections related to various commercial and industrial projects for private and municipal clients. Performed structural analyses, designs and evaluations for new construction, rehabilitations and reinforcement of existing buildings and structures.

Worked with local municipalities providing assistance with plan reviews, design checks, inspections, and building code issues. Worked as interim Building Inspector for various municipalities, including the Village of Roslyn

Inspected and utilized fabricated frame scaffolding, hanging scaffolding, baker (rolling) scaffolding, manlifts and personal fall protection systems to facilitate construction supervision and inspections.

Civil Engineer 1989-1995

Design and construction phase engineering and inspections for various building and municipal projects. Design of site work, foundations, buildings, roadways, bridges, waterfront facilities and public works facilities. Prepared Contract Documents and performed construction phase services.

Acted as owner’s on-site construction representative on various commercial and industrial projects. Supervised construction to ensure compliance with project and industry requirements. Supervised construction operations involving the use of excavators, backhoes, mobile cranes, barge cranes, and heavy highway equipment.

Chaired jobsite progress meetings, including discussions of jobsite safety issues. Performed plan reviews, building code reviews and progress inspections for various owners. Inspected and utilized scaffolding, manlifts and personal fall protection systems to facilitate inspections and evaluations.

Engineering Technician – Jobsite Supervision, Inspections and Testing
1985-1989
Supervised construction operations, performed on-site inspections and testing, verified compliance with safety requirements, wrote field inspection reports, maintained construction records and coordinated construction activities with the general contractor, subcontractors and owner.

Performed on-site field testing and laboratory testing for various industrial, commercial and highway projects for private and municipal clients. Checked design calculations, reviewed construction phase shop drawings, reviewed contractor submittals and claims, and prepared construction cost estimates. NICET Certified Construction Inspector and Technician.

Part-time position with the purchasing department managing the inventory of the university’s physical assets.

Identified, labeled and tracked existing and new assets such as computers, projectors, visual aid equipment, and other office or classroom equipment and furniture. Also assisted with development of computer based inventory and tracking system and prepared asset reports.

Mason and Foreman for large multi-story residential and commercial housing projects.

Reviewed building construction plans and specifications, and laid out construction from the drawings. Built masonry elements including foundations, structural walls, building facades, masonry veneers, partitions, chimneys and finished masonry. Performed walkthrough inspections with the building designer and job superintendent to ensure compliance with project requirements

Erected, utilized and disassembled exterior and interior scaffolding and temporary bracing. Field trained on scaffolding and fall protection systems. Also operated various construction equipment, and performed rigging for equipment and material lifts.

Professional Credentials

Licensed Professional Engineer: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
NCEES Professional Engineer Verified Credentials
ASCE Structural Engineering Institute Charter Member

Education

• Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, NY (Summa Cum Laude), 1994
• Associate of Science, Engineering Science, State University of New York at Farmingdale, Farmingdale, NY, 1989
• Associate of Applied Science, Construction Technology, State University of New York at Farmingdale, Farmingdale, NY, 1985

Continuing Education

• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Training, University of South Florida
• Ensuring Pedestrian Safety in Work Zones, American Traffic Safety Services Association
• NYC Construction Site Safety Manager training course, New York City College of Technology
• OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Training Course
• OSHA 8-Hour Permit Required Confined Space Entry Training Course
• ASCE Construction Safety Seminar
• ASCE Existing Buildings - Failure and Damage Evaluations Seminar
• ASCE Structural Rehabilitations & Repairs of Existing Buildings Seminar

v. 11/25/17