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
Our Work with Codes, Standards & Recommended Practices in Our Forensic Engineering Work
In our Forensic Engineering work in all of the Forensic Specialties, use of Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices, when they exist for the equipment or facility of interest, is an integral routine part of our engineering analysis of such equipment and facilities in regard to their involvement in accidents.
Our work with Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices routinely includes determination of the adherence to such Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices, and the adherence to governmental Safety Regulations. This is an integral part of our engineering analysis of equipment, consumer products, buildings and property, industrial and commercial operations, and construction activities involved in accidents, to determine the safety of these items, facilities and activities.
A minimum requirement for engineering design and industrial and commercial operations is the proper use of Codes and Standards, including governmental Safety Regulations, such as OSHA regulations. The proper use of the applicable Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices is a minimum requirement to conform to Safety Design principles for equipment and facilities, and to conform to safe practices in industrial and commercial operations and maintenance, and construction activities.
Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices are consulted for consumer products, and residential, commercial, manufacturing, industrial and construction equipment, and components associated with this equipment, and their associated facilities.
Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices are consulted for consumer products and residential, commercial and industrial facilities, considered separately from equipment.
Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices and their relation to Safety practices
The best Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices are based on knowledge from Human Factors and are a requirement in Safety Design. Safeguards and Warnings are enshrined in many generally accepted Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices. These subject areas are all closely related.
There are numerous organizations that issue codes, standards and recommended practices. These include non-governmental industry groups such as the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, non-governmental technical societies such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association, federal government agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and state agencies such as the [state name] Department of Transportation and international organizations. Some federal agencies also have state counterparts such as MiOSHA, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
There are a very large number of industry groups, technical societies of one sort or another, and governmental agencies that issue Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices on a very large number of subjects. Many, but not all, of the American groups issue their standards in conjunction with the American National Safety Institute (ANSI). ANSI standards are often referenced in federal and state codes and standards. An international non-governmental standards group whose standards are often adopted by governments is ISO, whose English name is International Organization for Standardization.
It should be recognized that non-governmental Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices represent the opinions of specific individuals and organizations, some of which only issue "consensus" codes and standards, those that require unanimous, or essentially unanimous agreement, to include a provision. Knowledge of the organization will provide important information on the value of a code or standard in evaluating the safety of an item, whether it be, for example, equipment, a consumer product or a feature of a building. Generally speaking violating a safety provision in an applicable code is considered to be direct evidence of a safety defect. However, codes and standards do not cover all conditions and situations, and the absence of a condition or situation in an applicable code or standard does not mean that the condition or situation is safe.
Also some codes have set very low standards for safety, which must be considered when weighing the value of the code. Some non-governmental codes have been rejected for use in governmental standards. The general rule regarding non-governmental codes, standards and recommended practices is that they set the minimum standard for safety, but do not necessarily set the complete standard for safety. A conclusion regarding safety should only come from engineering analysis based on safety principles such as Safety Design principles and Human Factors, as this might be assisted by codes and standards.
Experience and Qualifications of James D. Madden, P.E. in regard to Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices
> Combined, Engineering and Normal Psychology are the scientific bases of Human Factors and the related studies of the human-machine interface and human-facility interface, which comprise a significant part of the foundation for Safety Design and Safety Design Analysis. Human Factors and Safety Design are the bases for the requirements for Safeguards as well as Warnings, and a part of the requirements for the best Codes, Standards, Safety Guidelines and Recommended Practices. James D. Madden, P.E. has specific education in Engineering and Normal Psychology, as follows:
> for Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering took extensive college coursework in Engineering
> minored in Normal Psychology as part of the Bachelors degree work
> while working in engineering design organized, participated in, and supervised the writing of Design Manuals for a major engineering design and construction company for equipment, machinery, instrumentation, piping, and valving to meet safety design requirements and applicable Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices
> while working in engineering design organized participated in, and supervised the writing of a Design Manual for a major engineering design and construction company for the design of boiler systems to meet safety design requirements and the ASME Boiler Code and other applicable Codes and Standards
> during 17 years as a design engineer and for over 30 years in forensic practice, made extensive use of Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices, including interpretation
> as an integral part of engineering design during 17 years working in industrial operations and engineering design, regularly applied Human Factors and Safety Design, the bases for the safety provisions in Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices
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as a forensic engineer for over 30 years, routinely apply Human Factors and Safety Design principles, the bases for the safety provisions in Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices, in engineering analysis of accidents, and equipment and facilities involved in accidents
> 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 forensic engineering, to date