ARTICLES

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Retail Stores

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Supermarkets, pharmacies, home improvement, and department stores expose their customers to many potential accident sources such as floors and aisles, which can become unsafe, and display merchandize that can topple or cause tripping. To prevent such accidents from occurring, these establishments should maintain routine scheduled inspections to insure that unsafe conditions are detected and corrected before accidents occur.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Structural Analysis

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Structural failure can often produce catastrophic results. In many cases, the damage seen after the accident is not indicative of the cause of the initial failure. Fortunately, based on physical evidence, an investigator can frequently determine how and why a structure failed.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Power Saws

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Approximately 125,000 serious injuries occur in the US each year related to the use of portable and fixed power saws. Lacerations and similar injuries, such as abrasions and avulsions, account for over 90% of these, which generally occur to males and result in losses in the tens of millions of dollars annually.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Vehicle Rollover

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

In many vehicle rollover investigations, it is necessary to know not only the speeds and motions of the vehicles involved, but the causes of injuries suffered by their occupants as well. Such investigations seek to answer questions regarding occupant ejection, effects of seatbelt use, roof crush and body-interior impacts.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Parking Lots & Garages

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Parking lots are the scene of many pedestrian accidents because of the close proximity of people and cars and the confusing traffic patterns that sometimes exist. In addition to pedestrian-vehicle collisions, many trip and fall accidents occur in parking lots as well.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Occupant Injuries

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

In many vehicle accident investigations, it is necessary to know not only the speeds and motions of the vehicles involved, but the causes of injuries suffered by their occupants as well. Such investigations seek to answer questions regarding occupant ejection, effects of seatbelt use, airbag deployment and body-interior impacts.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Ladders

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

There are over 100,000 ladder accidents annually in the U.S. requiring hospital emergency room treatment. Although many of these result from user misuse, such as an improper extension ladder lean angle against a wall causing it to slip outward, use of a damaged ladder, or failing to lock a step ladder’s spreaders, many ladders fail due to design or manufacturing defects.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Machine Guarding

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

The primary function of all guarding is to prevent an operator or bystander from being injured by a potentially dangerous portion of a machine. Often the hazard involves moving parts with the potential to cut, crush or draw-in body parts, although barrier guards may also be necessary when electrical, thermal or chemical dangers are present.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Golf Carts

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

There are roughly 9,000 golf cart related accidents requiring emergency room treatment in the United States each year. The majority of these accidents are related to either braking, cart rollover or passenger ejection. These problems are common to golf carts due to their open design, lack of seatbelts, poor braking capabilities and the uneven terrains they are driven on.

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Fork Lifts & Skid Steers

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Forklifts, industrial trucks, skid steer loaders, bobcats and other similar material-handling machines are often difficult to maneuver and susceptible to a wide range of accidents. Their nature exposes operators and nearby co-workers to falling loads, crushing hazards and lading dock falls.