Construction Accident Reconstruction TOC
Jon R. Abele, Esq. and Calvin Zemsky, P.E.
Table of Contents (Back to book ordering page)
Acknowledgments ix
Foreword xi
Preface xiii
Chapter 1: Investigative and Legal Procedures 1
Introduction 1
Attributes of an Expert 2
What Must Be Examined 2
Lack of Education Available 3
Mastery of the Technical Discipline 3
Discrediting an Expert 3
Case History 5
The Investigator Must Be Unbiased 6
Role of the Expert 6
Rules for the Expert 7
The 3Hired Gun2 7
Perform Work for Both Sides 12
Requirements of an Expert: 12
Summary 14
Chapter 2: Management Techniques for a Forensic
Engineering Office 17
Introduction 17
Operational Procedures 17
New Case Form 18
Employee Time Records – Recording Billable Time 19
Telcon Form 20
Expenses 20
Contract Preparation 21
Report and Exhibit Production 22
Additional Exhibit Production 25
Presenting the Corporate Image 27
Evidence Storage 27
Evidence Recording 28
Company Policy 28
Summary 29
Chapter 3: Fatal Accidents 31
Fatal Accident Statistics 31
Fatality Data 32
Contact with Objects and Equipment 33
Falls 33
Summary 34
Appendix 3.1 36
Appendix 3.2 44
Technical Notes 66
Chapter 4: Non-Fatal Construction Accidents 71
Appendix 4.1 73
Chapter 5: Caught In or Between 95
Case No. 1 95
Case No. 2 99
Case No. 3 103
Case No. 4 105
Case No. 5 106
Case No. 6 107
Endnotes 110
Chapter 6: Trench Accidents (Cave-ins) 111
Introduction 111
Background Information 111
Summary 115
Case No. 1 116
Case No. 2 118
Case No. 3 119
Case No. 4 121
Endnotes 124
Chapter 7: Overhead Accidents 125
Introduction 125
Case No. 1 125
Dropped Material From Above – Miami Seaport Bridge Pile Driver Case 126
Case No. 2 130
Case No. 3 131
Endnotes 134
Chapter 8: Crane Accidents 135
Introduction 135
Case No. 1 139
Case No. 2 141
Case No. 3 144
Case No. 4 145
Case No. 5 147
Endnotes 150
Chapter 9: Falls from Elevations 151
Introduction 151
Case No. 1 – Improperly Installed Railings 152
Building Code Requirements1 153
3.0 OSHA Regulations2 157
Calculations3 158
Nail and Spike Sizes 162
Withdrawal Load Design Values for Common Nails
or Spikes 162
Case No. 2 165
Case No. 3 166
Case No. 4 168
Case No. 5 169
Case No. 6 170
Endnotes 172
Chapter 10: Electrical Accidents 173
Introduction 173
OSHA Regulations 173
Case No. 1 175
Case No. 2 177
Case No. 3 179
Case No. 4 181
Case No. 5 183
Case No. 6 184
Case No. 7 186
Endnotes 189
Chapter 11: Floor Collapses 191
Introduction 191
Case No.1 192
Background 192
Analysis 203
Order 208
Case No. 2 208
Endnotes 214
Chapter 12: Tunnel Accidents and Explosions 219
Introduction 219
Case No. 1 221
Case No. 2 224
Case No. 3 240
Chapter 13: Roofing Accidents and Roof Collapses 243
Introduction 243
Case No. 1 243
Case No. 2 245
Case No. 3 247
Case No. 4 250
Decision and Order 250
Case No. 5 256
Case No. 6 263
Case No. 7 265
Case No. 8 267
Case No. 9 267
Endnotes 269
Chapter 14: Leading OSHA Construction Violations 271
Introduction 271
Standards Cited for SIC 1500; All sizes; Federal 272
Chapter 15: Engineering Firms and Contractors 279
Case No. 1 279
Case No. 2 281
Case No. 3 283
Case No. 4 285
Case No. 5 288
Case No. 6 291
Case No. 7 292
Endnotes 294
Chapter 16: Expert Witnesses 295
Introduction 295
Initial Employment 296
Deposition Testimony 298
Trial Testimony 301
Appendix 16.1 306
Appendix 16.2 308
Chapter 17: The Engineer and the Law
by Robert E. Pershes, Esq. 309
Introduction 309
Oral Agreements 309
Written Agreements 311
Theory of Liability 315
Summary 316
Conclusion 317
About the Authors 321
Index 323
