Multidisciplinary Assessments of Personal Injury Claims on Stairways – WEBINAR

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading multidisciplinary forensic firm, is pleased to announce that our webinar series will continue with a NEW 2021 Spring/Summer syllabus. Our complimentary webinars incorporate a robust focus on education and each session is accredited for CE credits in various provinces across Canada. Join the thousands of insurance industry professionals who have participated in our past curriculums to learn from top experts across 13 distinct disciplines.

Join industry leading experts on Thursday, May 20th as they host a discussion on Multidisciplinary Assessments of Personal Injury Claims on Stairways. This dynamic webinar will be of importance to industry professionals such as insurance company personnel, risk managers, independent adjusters, the legal community + more.

Click HERE to Register

Claire Miller, B.E.SC., P.Eng. and Dr. Andrew Huntley, B.Sc., Ph.D. are pleased to discuss the role of multidisciplinary investigations in injury claims, with a specific focus on stairway falls. While many are familiar with the individual disciplines of building code, human factors assessments, or biomechanical investigations, the advantages of combining multiple disciplines in identifying technical issues associated with personal injury, especially on stairs, are less commonly discussed. They will bring real-world examples of where a multidisciplinary approach has been helpful in identifying technical issues in incidents involving stairs. The conversation will also consider best practices when multiple disciplines are involved, to ensure you are achieving the maximum benefit from these investigations.

WEBINAR

Multidisciplinary Assessments of Personal Injury Claims on Stairways

Date:

Thursday, May 20th, 2021

Time:

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST

Click HERE to Register

If you have any questions, please email Colleen Heffernan: cheffernan@30fe.com

SPEAKERS

Claire Miller B.E.SC., P.Eng.
Associate, Civil/Structural Failure
30 Forensic Engineering

Ms. Claire Miller is an Associate with the Civil/Structural Group at 30 Forensic Engineering. She graduated the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Engineering Science in Civil Engineering, with a Structural option. Claire started her career in the building forensics and rehabilitation industry, performing many field investigations, failure analyses, and repair specifications for existing buildings. Since joining 30 Forensic Engineering, Claire has conducted investigations involving compliance with building codes and standards and building failures.

Andrew Huntley B.Sc., Ph.D.
Associate, Biomechanics & Personal Injury
30 Forensic Engineering

Dr. Andrew Huntley is a Slips, Trips and Falls specialist at 30 Forensic Engineering, within the Biomechanics and Personal Injury Assessment group. He has published in some of the top biomechanics and human movement science journals and has taught courses in biomechanics and the neurophysiological control of movement at the University of Guelph and University of Toronto. He remains active in the research and teaching community, participating in ongoing projects at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute examining the effectiveness of rehabilitative balance programs, and exploring handrail dimension impacts on graspability and effectiveness in preventing falls.

2021 Spring/Summer Seminar Series at a Glance & Registration

Please find complete curriculum details below
Click on any webinar title to register

Thursday, May 13th 1:00pm EST

Managing Risk and Regulatory Requirements of Designated Substances

Thursday, May 20th 1:00pm EST

Multidisciplinary Assessments of Personal Injury Claims on Stairways

Thursday, May 27th – 1:00pm EST

The Nuances of Collision Reconstruction and Human Factors Assessments in MVAs Involving Motorcycles

Thursday, June 3rd – 1:00pm EST

Assessments of Pedestrian and Cyclist Motor Vehicle Collisions

Thursday, June 10th – 1:00pm EST

Product Liability – Summer Fun Gone Wrong

Thursday, June 17th – 1:00pm EST

Product Liability – Fire & Water: An Iconic Insurance Duo

Thursday, June 24th – 1:00pm EST

Construction with an Insurance Mindset

Thursday, July 8th 1:00pm EST

Vehicle Data Forensics

Thursday, July 15th 1:00pm EST

The Digital Witness: The Use and Limitations of Photo and Video Evidence

Thursday, July 22nd 1:00pm EST

Municipal Litigation Risk Management:  The Human Factors in Current and Future Roadway Risk and Liability Assessments

Thursday, July 29th – 1:00pm EST

Municipal Litigation Risk Management: Emerging Municipal Construction Challenges

If you have any questions, please email:
Colleen Heffernancheffernan@30fe.com

Curriculum Details

Please click on the webinar titles to register

Managing Risk and Regulatory Requirements of Designated Substances

Date & Time:  Thursday, May 13th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Deepak Bhathal B.A., CRSP, CFEI, Christopher Ciasnocha B.A.Sc., E.I.T.

Synopsis: Join 30 Forensic Engineering’s Multidisciplinary Remediation team for a discussion focused on mitigation of risk through designated substance surveys (DSSs), addressing the legal requirements prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. This session will be of interest to insurers, building owners, and property managers, as it will highlight their responsibilities under the Act. It will speak to our recent experiences with incorrect, incomplete or lack of DSSs. These aspects resulted in designated substance spills, lead to increases in scope, exceeded budgets, and significant time delays for project completion. The presentation will highlight how these can contribute to secondary property damage, including health and safety risks for operations and maintenance staff, and suggestions for risk management.

Multidisciplinary Assessments of Personal Injury Claims on Stairways

Date & Time:  Thursday, May 20th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Dr. Andrew Huntley B.Sc., Ph.D., Claire Miller B.E.SC., P.Eng.

Synopsis: Andrew Huntley, B.Sc., Ph.D. and Claire Miller, B.E.SC., P.Eng. are pleased to discuss the role of multidisciplinary investigations in injury claims, with a specific focus on stairway falls. While many are familiar with the individual disciplines of building code, human factors assessments, or biomechanical investigations, the advantages of combining multiple disciplines in identifying technical issues associated with personal injury, especially on stairs, are less commonly discussed. We will bring real-world examples of where a multidisciplinary approach has been helpful in identifying technical issues in incidents involving stairs. The conversation will also consider best practices when multiple disciplines are involved, to ensure you are achieving the maximum benefit from these investigations.

The Nuances of Collision Reconstruction and Human Factors Assessments in MVAs Involving Motorcycles

Date & Time:  Thursday, May 27th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Dr. Adam Campbell B.Kin., Ph. D., Raffi Engeian B.A.Sc., MBA, P.Eng., Derek Wong B.Sc., B.A.Sc.

Synopsis: Despite there being relatively few motorcycles on the road compared to passenger vehicles, they are over-represented in collision rates with both vehicle and human elements to consider in liability assessments of collision avoidance. Raffi Engeian, B.A.Sc., MBA, P.Eng. will discuss approaches used to reconstruct collisions involving motorcycles, and how they differ from the more traditional approaches used to assess passenger vehicle collisions. Adam Campbell, B.Kin., Ph. D. will discuss the nuances of motorcyclist performance, and the behaviour of drivers observing motorcycles on the roadway, issues of lighting and expectations that foster collision potential

Assessments of Pedestrian and Cyclist Motor Vehicle Collisions

Date & Time: Thursday, June 3rd – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Chad Gooyers, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Mark Paquette, B.A.Sc., CFEI, CVFI, P.Eng.

Synopsis: Please join us for a seminar on pedestrian and cyclist motor vehicle investigations. Hosted by Chad Gooyers, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Regional Director — Western Canada, and Mark Paquette, B.A.Sc., CFEI, CVFI, P.Eng., Regional Director — Ottawa, this session will focus on what to look for when handling motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists, as well as some of the biomechanical insights that can be integrated into traditional reconstructions of these incidents. Dr. Chad Gooyers will also provide an overview of the biomechanical techniques that can be used to establish whether proper helmet use would have prevented or mitigated the severity of head injuries sustained by unhelmeted cyclists.

Product Liability – Summer Fun Gone Wrong

Date & Time: Thursday, June 10th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Ben Desclouds, B.Eng.Mgt., P.Eng., Robert Sparling, B.Eng.Mgt., P.Eng.

Synopsis: With the summer months upon us, Ben Desclouds, B.Eng.Mgt., P.Eng. and Rob Sparling, B.Eng.Mgt., P.Eng. have put together a unique product liability presentation using case examples exclusively from the summer months. Specifically, when those leisure activities become stressful due to failures. They will illustrate the basic concepts of product design and product liability investigations using cases about boats, tubing ropes, water parks, jungle gyms, rope swings, pools, golf equipment, bicycles, gyms and much more. We will review the failures and identify any subrogation and recovery potentials.

Product Liability – Fire & Water: An Iconic Insurance Duo

Date & Time:  Thursday, June 17th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Olivia Yalnizyan, M.A.Sc., B.A.Sc., Rashmiya Raviraj B.A.Sc., CFEI, P.Eng.

Synopsis: Join Rashmiya Raviraj, B.A.Sc., CFEI, P.Eng. and Olivia Yalnizyan, M.A.Sc., B.A.Sc. for another of our product liability series, focusing on the most destructive duo in insurance: fire losses and water losses. We will take you through the engineering fundamentals of product design and manufacturing, and where engineering inadequacies lead to failures and catastrophic losses. Fire losses and water losses are two of the most common and most devastating results of product failures. Using electrical and material failure examples we will demonstrate the relationship between product liability and product design and engineering. Ultimately, we’ll provide you with a greater understanding of the impact of product design on its failure, to help you identify, understand, and pursue more of these subrogation opportunities.

Construction with an Insurance Mindset

Date & Time: Thursday, June 24th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Jeff Reitsma MBA, PMP, P.Eng

Synopsis: Jeff Reitsma, MBA, PMP, P.Eng. will examine common cost and risk issues which we have seen arise over the course of remedial construction projects. As our team is often afforded a life-cycle view of an insurance event from emergency response through restoration and recovery, we have the ability to connect the dots between activities taken over the course of a file which can lead to significantly different outcomes for insured parties, insurers and restoration contractors. Specifically, we will review critical decision points & processes in the remedial construction process itself, related to:

• Impact assessment;
• Management and documentation of scope, schedule & budget;
• Contracts & dispute resolution; and
• Post-event litigation.

We will identify some common threads, tips and tricks, and issues to be mindful of — regardless of the type of project — to enable better outcomes on construction-related matters.

Vehicle Data Forensics

Date & Time: Thursday, July 8th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Harrison Griffiths B.Sc.E, P.Eng.

Synopsis: Join Harrison Griffiths, B.Sc.E, P.Eng. for a discussion which explores the types of historical electronic data stored in modern passenger vehicles, how that data can help your investigation above and beyond the typical reconstruction, and a look into some potential sources of data inaccuracies that highlight why it can be dangerous to take the data on face value without proper consideration and analysis.

The Digital Witness: The Use and Limitations of Photo and Video Evidence

Date & Time:  Thursday, July 15th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Nishan Perera B.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Synopsis: Join Nishan Perera, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. for a modern look into how photographs and video evidence can make or break a case in liability assessments involving motor vehicle collisions. Participants will learn about the photogrammetry process and how engineers can extract data that no longer exists. Participants will also learn about video evidence, how it can be misleading and the importance of correctly interrogating these digital witnesses to get the most reliable information possible.

Municipal Litigation Risk Management:  The Human Factors in Current and Future Roadway Risk and Liability Assessments

Date & Time:  Thursday, July 22nd – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Dr. Adam Campbell B.Kin., Ph. D.

Synopsis: As a trial-experienced Human Factors expert, Adam Campbell, B.Kin., Ph. D. will take you into the courtroom to expose the common reasons why road authorities are often found at-fault for collision events, and how autonomous/connected vehicles and infrastructure will shift the current liability landscape. Dr. Campbell will also deliver practical strategies that road authorities can use to reduce their litigation risks, today and in the future.

Municipal Litigation Risk Management: Emerging Municipal Construction Challenges

Date & Time: Thursday, July 29th – 1:00pm EST/11:00am MST/10:00am PST

Speakers: Jeff Reitsma MBA, PMP, P.Eng.

Synopsis: Please join 30 Forensic Engineering’s Construction Team, led by Jeff Reitsma, MBA, PMP, P.Eng. as they review recent experience in files highlighting areas of litigation risk for municipalities and their agents, including:

• Increased frequency and intensity of storms
• Small-scale renewable energy installations
• Innovative materials & methods of construction
• Green infrastructure

If you have any questions, please email Colleen Heffernan: cheffernan@30fe.com

VANCOUVERCALGARYTORONTOOTTAWA

About 30 Forensic Engineering

30 Forensic Engineering is one of Canada’s largest and most respected multi-disciplinary forensic firms. Our core team of 65 professional engineers, experts, investigators, engineering technicians and support staff is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America serving a wide variety of industries including: Insurance, Manufacturing, Legal, Construction, Health Care, Commercial and Residential Property, Financial, Government, Hospitality, Mining, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

We provide world-class engineering and consulting expertise in:

Civil/Structural Failure
Building and Fire Code
Geotechnical and Mining
Biomechanics & Personal Injury
Human Factors
Collision Reconstruction
Transportation Safety
Renewable Energy
Environmental Health & Safety
Multi-disciplinary Remediation
Materials & Product Failure / Piping & HVAC
Fire / Electrical & Explosion investigations
Trucking

The Canadian Lawyer Magazine readership acknowledged 30 Forensic Engineering as their top choice in both forensic engineering categories:

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Aquino, Director, Marketing
paquino@30fe.com

For confidential inquiries on becoming a member of the 30 Forensic Engineering team, please contact:

Stephanie d’Obrenan, Director, Human Resources
sdobrenan@30fe.com

VANCOUVERCALGARYTORONTOOTTAWA

30 Forensic Engineering Expands Biomechanics & Personal Injury Group with the Appointment of Julia de Lange

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia de Lange B.Eng., M.A.Sc. as Associate, within the Biomechanics & Personal Injury Group.

Julia is a Biomechanics specialist at 30 Forensic Engineering, within the Biomechanics and Personal Injury Assessment group. She is also currently a Ph.D. student investigating the fracture tolerance of the human upper extremity for behind-armour blunt trauma applications, with prior experience in the injury tolerance thresholds for the human foot/ankle complex in motor vehicle collisions.

SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

  • Injury Biomechanics
  • Impact Testing of Humans and Surrogates

Dr. Rob Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury states: “We are thrilled to welcome Julia to our team, she brings a strong technical background as well as an infectious energy to 30 Forensic Engineering. Her knowledge of collision-related injury mechanisms and fundamental engineering principles further strengthens our ability to provide our clients well-reasoned and scientifically supported answers to the questions that matter.”


About 30 Forensic Engineering

30 Forensic Engineering is one of Canada’s largest and most respected multi-disciplinary forensic firms. Our core team of 70 professional engineers, experts, investigators, engineering technicians and support staff is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America serving a wide variety of industries including: Insurance, Manufacturing, Legal, Construction, Health Care, Commercial and Residential Property, Financial, Government, Hospitality, Mining, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

We provide world-class engineering and consulting expertise in:

Civil/Structural Failure
Building and Fire Code
Geotechnical and Mining
Biomechanics & Personal Injury
Human Factors
Collision Reconstruction
Transportation Safety
Renewable Energy
Environmental Health & Safety
Multi-disciplinary Remediation
Materials & Product Failure / Piping & HVAC
Fire / Electrical & Explosion investigations
Trucking

The Canadian Lawyer Magazine readership acknowledged 30 Forensic Engineering as their top choice in both forensic engineering categories:

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Aquino, Director, Marketing
paquino@30fe.com

For confidential inquiries on becoming a member of the 30 Forensic Engineering team, please contact:

Stephanie d’Obrenan, Director, Human Resources
sdobrenan@30fe.com

VANCOUVER  TORONTOOTTAWA

30 Forensic Engineering Expands Biomechanics & Personal Injury Group with the Appointment of Dr. Andrew Huntley

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andrew Huntley B.Sc., Ph.D. as IntermediateAssociate, within the Biomechanics & Personal Injury group

.

Dr. Huntley comes to us after completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, the top ranked rehabilitation research institute in the world, where his research focused on how individuals respond to losses in balance and interact with the built environment.  Andrew remains active in the research community and has published in some of the top biomechanics and human movement science journals.  He has also taught courses in biomechanics and the neurophysiological control of movement at the University of Guelph and University of Toronto.  At 30 Forensic Engineering, he will focus on the assessments of slip, trip and fall events.  Dr. Huntley holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and a Ph.D. in the Biomechanics and Neuroscience of human movement.

SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Posture and Gait Analysis
  • Biomechanical Modelling of Human Movement
  • Neural Control of Movement

Dr. Rob Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury states: “30 Forensic Engineering is fortunate to add Andrew to our team as a Slips, Trips and Falls specialist. His arrival further enhances our ability to offer our valued clients high-level expertise to technical investigations involving human movement and environmental factors involving slips, trips and falls, personal injury, and occupational injury. In addition to Andrew’s extensive involvement in academia and thorough knowledge of human movement and falls, he is also a proficient communicator and a pleasure to work with. Welcome to the team Andrew.”

Related Link:

Why Carrying Objects Can Pose a Risk When Responding to a Fall

About 30 Forensic Engineering

30 Forensic Engineering is one of Canada’s largest and most respected multi-disciplinary forensic firms. Our core team of 70 professional engineers, experts, investigators, engineering technicians and support staff is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America serving a wide variety of industries including: Insurance, Manufacturing, Legal, Construction, Health Care, Commercial and Residential Property, Financial, Government, Hospitality, Mining, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

We provide world-class engineering and consulting expertise in:

Civil/Structural Failure
Building and Fire Code
Geotechnical and Mining
Biomechanics & Personal Injury
Human Factors
Collision Reconstruction
Transportation Safety
Renewable Energy
Environmental Health & Safety
Multi-disciplinary Remediation
Materials & Product Failure / Piping & HVAC
Fire / Electrical & Explosion investigations
Trucking

The Canadian Lawyer Magazine readership acknowledged 30 Forensic Engineering as their top choice in both forensic engineering categories:

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Aquino, Director, Marketing
paquino@30fe.com

For confidential inquiries on becoming a member of the 30 Forensic Engineering team, please contact:

Stephanie d’Obrenan, Director, Human Resources
sdobrenan@30fe.com

VANCOUVER  TORONTOOTTAWA

30 Forensic Engineering Promotes Brittany Sinclair to Intermediate Associate within Biomechanics & Personal Injury Group

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Brittany Sinclair B.Sc., P.Eng. to Intermediate Associate within the Biomechanics & Personal Injury Group.

Brittany Sinclair B.Sc., P.Eng.
Intermediate Associate, Biomechanics & Personal Injury

Brittany’s professional experience includes conducting research for the Department of National Defense which focused on future small arms research projects and examining shooter response to weapon recoil and shooter performance. During her time with 30 Forensic Engineering, Brittany has conducted technical investigations involving the assessment of injury causation, including: pedestrian injuries, workplaces injuries, slips, trips and falls, head injuries, and injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions. Brittany graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, with a Biomechanics Option, in 2015.

SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

  • Biomechanical Assessment
  • Low Speed Collision Analysis
  • Dynamics and Vibration Analysis
  • Research and Development, Quality Assurance
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Occupant Kinematics
  • Injury Mechanisms
  • Head Injuries
Rob Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury

Dr. Rob Parkinson Ph.D.Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury states: “During Brittany’s time with the firm, she has demonstrated her commitment and excitement to the forensic industry. Brittany is technically strong in all aspects of her investigations and is developing a specific and deep knowledge of issues related to low speed collisions and injury causation. She does all of this while ensuring that the people who matter, clients and coworkers, are always her top priority.”



Related Links:

About 30 Forensic Engineering

30 Forensic Engineering is one of Canada’s largest and most respected multi-disciplinary forensic firms. Our core team of 70 Professional Investigators, Engineering Technicians and support staff is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America serving a wide variety of industries including: Insurance, Manufacturing, Legal, Construction, Health Care, Commercial and Residential Property, Financial, Government, Hospitality, Mining, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

We provide world-class engineering and consulting expertise in:

Civil/Structural Failure
Building and Fire Code
Geotechnical and Mining
Biomechanics & Personal Injury
Human Factors
Collision Reconstruction
Transportation Safety
Renewable Energy
Environmental Health & Safety
Multi-disciplinary Remediation
Materials & Product Failure / Piping & HVAC
Fire / Electrical & Explosion investigations
Trucking

The Canadian Lawyer Magazine readership acknowledged 30 Forensic Engineering as their top choice in both forensic engineering categories:

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Aquino, Director, Marketing
paquino@30fe.com

For confidential inquiries on becoming a member of the 30 Forensic Engineering team, please contact:

Stephanie d’Obrenan, Senior Manager, People and Culture
sdobrenan@30fe.com



30 Forensic Engineering Appoints Dr. Rob Parkinson as Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rob Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Vice President & Practice Lead, Biomechanics & Personal Injury. Rob will be responsible for the management, strategic planning, and governance of the Biomechanics & Personal Injury group while continuing to maintain his successful consulting practice.

Rob Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Vice President & Practice Lead
Biomechanics & Personal Injury

Rob is an Injury Biomechanics specialist with over 10 years of experience. During his time in the forensics industry, he has investigated claims involving motor vehicle collisions, slips, trips and falls, seatbelt and helmet use, product failure, and work related claims, and authored hundreds of expert reports for clients in the legal and insurance industries. Rob holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Waterloo and remains active in the teaching and research community, currently examining biomechanical issues such as helmet effectiveness and low back injury in motor vehicle collisions.

Dr. Rob Parkinson is qualified in both the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in matters relating to Biomechanics, Kinesiology and safe pedestrian walking surfaces, and the License Appeal Tribunal as an Expert in Biomechanics. Rob has also been consulted by the Ontario Provincial Police regarding injury causation analysis. A highly sought-after expert, please explore the following notable decisions:

Jamie Catania, B.E.Sc., M.Eng., P.Eng., President & Practice Lead, Collision Reconstruction states: “I speak for everyone at 30 Forensic Engineering when I say that Rob is the embodiment of a complete expert and consummate professional. His years of experience and dedication have resulted in Rob being Canada’s most recognized and trusted Injury Biomechanics specialist. He is a prominent expert with a string of impressive accolades and has extended his contributions well outside consulting into management, education, research and contributions to government agencies. He has laid a great foundation in his first decade with the firm, has built a solid team of experts with bright futures and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Rob as we chart a course for the next growth stage of 30 Forensic Engineering.”

About 30 Forensic Engineering

30 Forensic Engineering is one of Canada’s largest and most respected multi-disciplinary forensic firms. Our core team of 70 Professional Investigators, Engineering Technicians and support staff is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America serving a wide variety of industries including: Insurance, Manufacturing, Legal, Construction, Health Care, Commercial and Residential Property, Financial, Government, Hospitality, Mining, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

We provide world-class engineering and consulting expertise in:

Civil/Structural Failure
Building and Fire Code
Geotechnical and Mining
Biomechanics & Personal Injury
Human Factors
Collision Reconstruction
Transportation Safety
Renewable Energy
Environmental Health & Safety
Multi-disciplinary Remediation
Materials & Product Failure / Piping & HVAC
Fire / Electrical & Explosion investigations
Trucking

The Canadian Lawyer Magazine readership acknowledged 30 Forensic Engineering as their top choice in both forensic engineering categories:

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Aquino, Director, Marketing
paquino@30fe.com

For confidential inquiries on becoming a member of the 30 Forensic Engineering team, please contact:

Stephanie d’Obrenan, Senior Manager, People and Culture
sdobrenan@30fe.com

2018 Forensic Investigation Forum: Ottawa

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm was pleased to host the 2018 Forensic Investigation Forum in our nation’s capital. Held downtown Ottawa on June 19th, the afternoon seminar brought together senior industry leaders and was designed to provide a current forensic engineering perspective on property and casualty claims and risk mitigation.  30 Forensic Engineering would like to take this opportunity to thank our Ottawa area insurance and legal industry partners for making the event a success.


Behind the Wheel of Truck & Auto Investigations

What’s Driving The Future of Collision Reconstruction?  Understanding The Role of Biomechanics and Human Factors in Motor Vehicle Accidents.

Speakers:

 

Jamie Catania, B.E.Sc., M.Eng., P.Eng
President, Head of Casualty Group

 

 

 

Mark Fabbroni, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., P.Eng
Principal, Trucking Claims

 

 

 

Rob Parkinson, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D
Principal, Biomechanics and Personal Injury

 

 

 

Adam Campbell, B.Kin., Ph.D
Senior Associate, Human Factors

 

 

 

Mark Paquette, B.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Senior Associate, Collision Reconstruction

 

 


A Forensic Engineering View on Fire, Flood 
& Property Loss Investigations 

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Mitigate Risk & Expense on
Property Files.

Speakers:

 

Robert Sparling, B.Eng.Mgt., P.Eng
Vice President

 

 

 

Jeff Reitsma, MBA, PMP, P.Eng
Principal, Multidisciplinary Remediation

 

 

 

Tom Pepper, B.Eng., P.Eng
Practice Lead, Building and Fire Code

 

 

 

 

Mrinmoy Kanungo, M.E.Sc., P.Eng
Practice Lead, Geotechnical & Mining

 

 

 

 

30 Forensic Engineering Expands Human Factors Group with the Appointment of Fabian Erazo

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Fabian Erazo B.Eng., M.A.Sc. as Associate within the Human Factors Group.

Fabian obtained his Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University in 2015. After graduation, he returned to Carleton University to pursue a Master of Applied Science, focusing on human factors in the aerospace sector. Working in collaboration with the National Research Council’s Flight Research Laboratory, Fabian’s thesis explored how helicopter pilots operating in degraded visual environments respond to changes in their information display systems. While at -30-, Fabian will be applying his human factors experience to new domains including driver behaviour and personal injury events.

“We are excited to welcome Fabian to the 30 Forensics family and the Human Factors team. He is a proven problem solver with an eye for detail and client service which will be invaluable for supporting the growing market demand for investigations of the human contribution to MVA and personal injury events” stated Dr. Adam Campbell, Senior Associate, Human Factors group.

30 Forensic Engineering’s Dr. Adam Campbell Presented at the 2017 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society International Meeting

30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, is pleased to announce that Senior Associate, Dr. Adam Campbell Ph. D. (Human Factors) presented a research paper at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.

The HFES is the world’s largest scientific association for human factors/ergonomics professionals. With 4,500 members across 58 countries, it serves the needs of its membership and the public by promoting and advancing the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems, products, tools, and environments of all kinds.

Titled “Naturalistic Driver Behaviour in Response to the Multi-Sensory Experience of Rear-End Collisions” the paper was co-authored with Yasmine Belkadi and the research indicates that real-world drivers reserve the shortest perception and response intervals and the greatest braking intensities for the most immediate collision hazards. This research has applications to forensic investigations of multi-vehicle collisions and others in which driver behaviour is at the core of assessing cause and opportunities for collision avoidance.

Liability is often decided upon based on whether the individuals involved behaved as expected. Dr. Campbell brings to bear his extensive scholarly and professional experiences in educating clients and courts on the limits of human capacity and the behaviours expected of those involved in personal injury matters. Was the hazard detectable in time to avoid a collision? What would have been expected of a typical person in this situation? These questions – and more – can only be answered with a proper human factors assessment.

About the Authors

Dr. Campbell has over 15 years’ experience in the fields of human behaviour, neurophysiology and the neural control of movement, for which he has authored multiple high-impact, peer-reviewed publications. His research program aims to understand the capacities and limitations of the human nervous system in perceiving and responding to cues in the environment. He regularly performs peer reviews for scholarly societies, including the American Physiological Society and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Dr. Campbell has participated in over 350 technical investigations and has considerable experience examining human behaviour during collision and personal injury events, including slips, trips and falls. He has been qualified as an expert in Human Factors, Driver Behaviour and the Analysis of Driver Behaviour in the Superior Court of Justice and has testified in multiple litigation proceedings involving collisions and personal injury matters.

Yasmine Belkadi is an undergraduate student in the University of Toronto’s Kinesiology department on a joined research internship with 30 Forensic Engineering and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, an affiliate of the University Health Network.

 

30 Forensic Engineering’s Multidisciplinary Approach Provides a 360° View of Slip & Fall Assessments

(TORONTO) — 30 Forensic Engineering, Canada’s leading and fully-independent multi-disciplinary forensics firm, offers world-class and trial-tested expertise on biomechanical and human factors involved in slip and fall assessments for insurance and legal clients. Working in tandem with our Personal Injury and Civil/Structural groups, our team of experts can provide a full, unassailable picture of cause and effect.

In addition to measuring the slip resistance of the walking surface and comparing to available standards, we consider the whole picture – including individual pedestrian characteristics (e.g., age, disability, experience), activity (e.g., walking straight, turning, rushing, descending stairs), and environment (e.g., signage, lighting, and distraction). Our approach allows for an in-depth understanding of incidents allowing for confident decision making.

Slips and falls seem to be a simple issue, caused by too little slip resistance, or friction, between footwear and the walking surface. However, assessing the cause of a slip and fall incident is often not as simple as comparing the measured slip resistance of the flooring to standards. Flooring manufacturers are aware of the need to provide flooring solutions that meet slip resistance standards. However, there are often multiple factors contributing to the initiation of a slip and influencing the likelihood of it resulting in a fall that are beyond the scope of current standards or best practices.

While standards provide guidance for what constitutes an adequately slip resistant surface, often the slip resistance values are described in the context of a healthy person walking normally on a level surface. The blind application of these standards often fails to address critical issues, such as the risks faced by the aging population.

Additional factors that are significant in slip and fall incidents must also be considered, including:

  • Gait (how an individual walks) and injury biomechanics
  • Footwear properties
  • Walking surface design and installation
  • Cleaning and maintenance programs and products
  • Environmental conditions such as lighting and distractions
  • User behaviour and experience

For more information regarding our Biomechanics, Personal Injury and Human Factors Group, please contact:

Dr. Robert Parkinson B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Principal
rparkinson@30fe.com

Dr. Adam Campbell, B.Kin., Ph.D.
Senior Associate
acampbell@30fe.com

Kathleen Denbeigh, B.Sc.E, M.A.Sc.
Intermediate Associate
kdenbeigh@30fe.com

Brittany Sinclair, B.Sc., E.I.T.
Associate
bsinclair@30fe.com

Rob Parkinson of 30 Forensic Engineering is Featured in The Lawyers Weekly Special on Rowans Law and Head Injuries in Sports

Rob Parkinson, Principal of the Biomechanical & Personal Injury Group at 30, was quoted in the latest edition of The Lawyers Weekly. The article, entitled “No More Head Games” by Geoff Kirbyson, focuses on the increased social awareness of the rising number of sports-related head injuries, the and how the government is reacting to this phenomenon.

Dr. Parkinson spoke specifically on the advances in technology and scientific thought that surrounds concussions. Although it is the highest-claimed injury he sees at 30 Forensic Engineering, there is still the psycho-social element of players underreporting injuries to help their team. As technology continues to improve, that psycho-social element may be eliminated through empirical evidence and measuring head acceleration to help determine what kind of speeds are related to concussions.

“I think we’re in the early stages of what is going to be a very hotly contested issue. Not every head impact results in a concussion. There seems to be this belief that all head impacts are equal. From a mechanical standpoint, that’s just not true. Sliding head first into second base and hitting your head on another player’s knee isn’t the same as tapping your head against the wall,” Parkinson says.

If you have questions regarding head injuries or concussions, reach out to Rob here.

30 Forensic Engineering (30fe.com), based in Toronto, is one of Canada’s largest and most respected forensic firms. Our core team of professional investigators is enhanced through relationships with some of the top scientists, standard-makers and specialized consultants in North America.