By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE
Tel: (203) 329-9909
Email: Technology Associates
Codes and standards specify criteria necessary to ensure that a product, material or process will consistently and safely perform its intended function. Although standards provide minimum design requirements, conforming to a standard is not always sufficient in preventing an accident. A key aspect of accident investigation consists in determining the applicable standards and whether it was satisfied in the subject instance. Our extensive research capabilities ensure that you will be provided with the appropriate standard. We will also assess whether the standard was satisfied and if compliance with the standard served as adequate protection.
We have a large library of codes and standards and extensive experience in their interpretation and application including:
Through scientific analysis, we can help you answer pertinent questions such as:
Exterior Staircase Fall Down:
After exiting a building, an elderly woman descended an outdoor, wooden, wide set of stairs. While doing so, she lost her balance, fell, and was seriously injured. Upon inspection, we determined that the rise-height of the step where she fell was a half-inch higher than the previous steps. In addition, there was no handrail nearby. Both these items represented significant hazards and building code violations. The defendant settled the lawsuit after receiving our report.
Analysis of Current Ladder Safety Standard:
We have conducted tests and analyses to investigate the effectiveness of the ANSI ladder standards to address the dynamic flexibility of stepladders. Through physical testing and the use of finite element models of six and eight foot stepladders, we determined that the twist flexibility of most stepladders was far greater than necessary to safely accommodate uneven surfaces. We then showed that the increased flexibility contributed to the heightened potential for a three-leg contact instability.
Kristopher J. Seluga, PE, is a Mechanical Engineering, Accident Reconstruction, Biomechanics, and Safety Expert with over 20 years of experience. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Mechanical Engineering department at MIT where he worked on the development of novel three-dimensional printing technologies. Mr. Seluga is also a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and Connecticut, and has served as a member of the ANSI engineering committee for the Z130.1 and Z135 standards for golf cars and PTV's. His research interests and peer reviewed publications span the topics of Motor Vehicle Dynamics, Product Safety, and Biomechanics.
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7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Golf Carts
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: Machine Guarding
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: Computer Simulation
When an understanding of complex motions associated with various accidents is required, computer simulation is an invaluable tool, which allows the modeling and visualization of rollovers and collisions. In addition to vehicle accidents, computer simulation can also be used to create many other systems of masses and contacting surfaces, such as a toppling light pole after it has been struck.
