Madden Accident Analysis, Investigation, Reconstruction
James D. Madden, P.E.,
Board Certified Diplomate Forensic Engineer
440-838-0640, 440-832-9540
www.maddenfe.com
Board Certified Diplomate Forensic Engineer
440-838-0640, 440-832-9540
www.maddenfe.com
Forensic Engineering & Scientific Accident Reconstruction
Over 30 Years Investigating, Analyzing, Reconstructing and Testifying about Accidents
Free Initial Phone Consultation
Fixed Fee Preliminary Accident Evaluation Available
Fixed Fee Preliminary Accident Evaluation Available
Human Factors Defined
Human Factors is an interdisciplinary science combining Normal Psychology with Engineering for the purpose of studying the interaction of persons with their surroundings, the human -mechanical interface, and the safety aspects of this interface. Normal Psychology is the study of 'typical', also known as 'normal' persons, and their interrelationship with their surroundings. This covers such subjects as perception, cognition, attention, response to hazards, and the practical functioning of the senses, such as eyesight and hearing.
Summary of Qualifications and Experience of James D. Madden, P.E. with and for use of Human Factors in Forensic Engineering*
* See following sections for more details
> Human Factors has been routinely used as an integral part of our forensic engineering work over the last 30 years, in the engineering analysis of accidents, consumer products, industrial and commercial equipment, and facilities involved in accidents, including the analysis of Safeguards and Warnings when they are present, and the analysis for the need for additional or alternate Safeguards and Warnings. Human Factors is an integral part of the engineering analysis of Safeguards and Warnings, and their use, and the analysis for the need for Safeguards and Warnings.
> college coursework was taken in both Engineering and Normal Psychology, which are the inter-disciplinary bases of the Human Factors discipline
> acquired personal knowledge of Human Factors in practice and the human-machine and human-facility interfaces while working in industrial facilities, for 1-1/2 years full time and then at a number of times over the following 15-1/2 years during shorter work periods at industrial facilities, up to 3 months at a time, which directly built on the education in the principles of Human Factors acquired in college coursework in Engineering and Normal Psychology
> during 17 years working in industrial operations and design engineering, used Human Factors as an integral part of engineering design, including specification of Safeguards and Warnings, which requires the use of Human Factors.
> over 40 years of engineering experience, with:
> acquired personal knowledge of Human Factors in practice and the human-machine and human-facility interfaces while working in industrial facilities, for 1-1/2 years full time and then at a number of times over the following 15-1/2 years during shorter work periods at industrial facilities, up to 3 months at a time, which directly built on the education in the principles of Human Factors acquired in college coursework in Engineering and Normal Psychology
> during 17 years working in industrial operations and design engineering, used Human Factors as an integral part of engineering design, including specification of Safeguards and Warnings, which requires the use of Human Factors.
> two earned Engineering degrees, Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering
> post-degrees college credit coursework, short courses and seminars on technical subjects over the years
> Professional Engineers (P.E.) license (earned by examination)
> Diplomate Forensic Engineer designation, granted for meeting the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards requirements for Forensic Engineering
> over 40 years of engineering experience, with:
> 17 years experience in industrial operations, engineering design and construction assistance
> over 30 years experience in using Human Factors regularly in forensic engineering
Human Factors in Use
Human factors is an applied science, utilizing engineering in conjunction with normal psychology (the psychology of 'normal' people) to design items and facilities used by persons so that the interaction between persons and the item or facility will be efficient and safe. Human Factors is part of the engineering analysis of items and facilities to determine if the interaction between persons and these items and facilities will be safe. Such items can be of many physical types, such as industrial equipment, consumer products, components of equipment, and roadways, traffic control devices, and vehicles.
Human Factors is important in the analysis & reconstruction of accidents because human perception, cognition, attention, and the response to hazards, and the practical functioning of the senses, such as eyesight and hearing, can be important aspects of determining how the accident happened, in particular how the human-mechanical interface was involved in the accident.
Human Factors and Safety Design, Guards & Safeguards, Warnings and Codes & Standards
Human Factors is the basis for Safety Design. Human Factors and Safety Design are the bases for the use of Safeguards, such as seat belts, and Warnings and Controls, such as traffic control devices. Human Factors and Safety Design are an important part of the basis for many generally accepted Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices. These subject areas are all closely related.
Our Work with Human Factors
In our Forensic Engineering work in the Forensic Specialties, Human Factors is an integral, routine part of our engineering analysis and reconstruction of accidents, and our engineering analysis of equipment and facilities involved in these accidents. We routinely use Human Factors in engineering analysis and reconstruction of accidents and particularly engineering analyses regarding the human involvement in accidents.
James D. Madden, P.E.'s Education in Human Factors
Engineering and Normal Psychology, when combined, are the scientific basis of Human Factors, and the related studies of the human-machine interface, human-facility interface, and responses to hazards. Our Senior Forensic Engineer and Accident Reconstructionist James D. Madden, P.E. has specific education in Engineering and Normal Psychology, having taken
(as part of the Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering, and additional college work after receiving the degrees) extensive coursework in Engineering, and having minored in Normal Psychology, as part of the Bachelors degree work.
James D. Madden, P.E.'s Experience in Using Human Factors in Engineering
Mr. Madden acquired practical knowledge of Human Factors and the human-machine and human-facility interfaces while working in industrial facilities, for 1 1/2 years full-time and then at times over the following 15 1/2 years while working in engineering design. This knowledge directly built on the education in the principles of Human Factors acquired in college coursework in Engineering and Normal Psychology. The experience during the 17 years working in industrial operations and design engineering, using Human Factors as an integral part of engineering design furthered the practical knowledge of Human Factors involvement in accidents.
As a forensic engineer for over 30 years, Mr. Madden has routinely use Human Factors in engineering analysis of accidents, and equipment and facilities involved in accidents, from consumer products to industrial machinery, as well as in traffic accidents, analyzing roadways and traffic control, to determine how they might be related to a traffic accident.