Spanning more than 45 years of experience in mechanical engineering, forensic investigation, and industrial safety analysis, this mechanical engineering and forensic safety expert witness specializes in mechanical systems evaluation, regulations compliance, accident reconstruction, product and process safety, and technical performance assessment. The expert has more than 30 years of experience providing consultations, depositions, and courtroom testimony involving mechanical failures, product defects, industrial incidents, construction safety matters, and engineering standards compliance. Areas of expertise include hazards analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), ergonomics, human factors engineering, safety-through-design principles, consumer product safety analysis, and laboratory and field experimental investigations. Academic credentials include a Master of Science degree in Mechanics and Materials Engineering, graduate coursework applicable toward a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. The expert also holds Professional Engineer licensure in Illinois and California.

Professional engineering leadership experience includes operation of an engineering consulting practice focused on engineering systems analysis, forensic reconstruction, product development, and technical research involving patents, standards, specifications, and engineering codes. Previous appointments included service as Principal Mechanical Engineer for a forensic engineering and safety consulting organization conducting analytical and computer-based evaluation of machines, mechanisms, structures, and industrial systems involving force, motion, stress, and operational performance. Additional engineering experience includes management of research and development operations for a bicycle and fitness equipment manufacturer involving composite structural design, automated testing systems, tooling development, and liability-related engineering review. Earlier technical work involved rotating machinery diagnostics, predictive maintenance systems, compressor and pipeline engineering, and failure investigation of high-pressure piping systems, engines, compressors, turbines, pumps, and industrial mechanical equipment.

Extensive standards-development and industrial safety activities have included leadership and participation within ASTM, ANSI, ISO, OSHA, ASSE, and other engineering and safety organizations involving safeguarding systems, construction safety, fall protection, sports equipment standards, bicycle safety systems, helmets, cranes, scaffolds, ropes courses, and industrial risk-prevention practices. The expert served as President of the Northeast Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers and received the organization’s Safety Professional of the Year award. Additional activities have included ASTM standards development involving sports equipment and bicycle systems, ANSI technical advisory participation for international bicycle standards, OSHA focus group participation, and invited presentations addressing workplace violence, accident prevention, and safety-focused design principles.

Forensic engineering and technical investigation experience includes reconstruction and analysis of incidents involving industrial machinery, amusement park rides, consumer products, sports and recreational equipment, lawn and garden machinery, hand-held power tools, watercraft hazards, and other high-speed mechanical systems. Technical evaluations have included turbine and rotating equipment diagnostics, stress analysis of automotive transfer presses, safeguarding assessments, bicycle frame and helmet design review, and operational analysis of amusement ride systems. Additional project work has involved luge track hazard analysis associated with the Vancouver Winter Olympics, ropes course and zip-line standards review, Consumer Product Safety Commission compliance testing, and evaluation of composite structures and engineered mechanical systems used in industrial, recreational, and consumer environments.

Research, publication, and instructional activities include technical publications, conference presentations, invited lectures, and engineering seminars involving industrial safeguarding, ergonomics, vibration exposure, composite structures, injury prevention, forensic product evaluation, and risk assessment methodologies. The expert has authored and presented work for major engineering and safety organizations involving hand-arm vibration, skating and skateboarding injury prevention, equipment safeguarding concepts, and operational hazard analysis. Additional academic and advisory involvement includes engineering research collaboration with universities, environmental health and safety advisory board participation, and guest lectures concerning incident analysis, design safety, product compliance, and legal aspects of industrial accident prevention.