Seminar Presentations

Packer Engineering routinely provides clients with seminars and training opportunities in support of our philosophy of life-long learning. Members of the manufacturing, industrial, technical, insurance, and litigation communities regularly benefit from the education opportunities we offer. Our experienced and expert engineers and staff instruct all our educational programs covering a variety of topics and can also customize a specific curriculum to meet your requirements.  Contact us to arrange a presentation for your conference, professional society, or company training program.

The following seminars are available:

Aerospace

This is a general presentation about the Packer Aerospace Group. It includes group capabilities, experience, personnel and an overview of the capabilities of all the Packer Group Companies.

Aerial Lift Accidents: Operator or Machine?

Aerial lifts come in an ever-expanding number of configurations and, as such, so do the types of accidents involving this type of equipment. In this presentation, we explain the most commonly encountered types of accidents, their primary causes, and preventative measures both from an accident preparation standpoint and proactive measures should litigation arise. Since more often than not litigation comes into play as a result of such accidents, regulations and standards, and the close relationship between OSHA, ANSI and SIA are also discussed. Finally the scenario of a lift accident is discussed and recommendations as to what should be done in the areas of site management, evidence gathering and preservation and selection of testifying experts and preservation of evidence are discussed. The presentation includes anecdotes from actual aerial lift litigation situations that will prove entertaining as well as informative.

Automobile accident site investigation & reconstruction

This presentation covers a general accident from the investigation through the presentation. Discussion includes the necessary tools for a proper accident scene documentation including, gathering accident data, photogrammetry, crash data retrieval, and analysis tools. Determination of crush energy and development of an accident simulation are the culmination of this program.

Biomechanical analysis of low-speed impact claims

In this presentation, the field of biomechanics will be discussed in terms of its relevance to the analysis of low-speed vehicle accidents, especially those in which minimal to moderate levels of property damage are associated with high post-accident medical costs.  This session will address the appropriate uses of accident reconstruction and injury causation analysis in low-velocity vehicle accident claims. Topics will include preservation of evidence, vehicle and scene photography, analysis methodologies, changes of velocity and accelerations, occupant kinematics, passive and active restraint systems, the likelihood of commonly-claimed injuries to the driver and passengers, and the availability and use of experimental and real-world injury data.

Boiler explosion caused by a natural gas detonation

A boiler explosion resulted in total loss of two boilers and significant property damage. The objective of the investigation was to determine cause of the boiler explosion. This presentation explains the relevant guidelines for an accident investigation, by going step by step through the case study.

Building and structure integrity

This program covers topics including the life cycle of a building, maintenance and its importance, case studies of various failures, how to prevent failures, and our experience and expertise.  

Capturing the facts: preservation of facts & evidence for investigations

This presentation shows proven techniques for capturing evidence and artifacts at accident sites.  Included are tips on photography, measurements, drawings and documentation related to vehicular, workplace, buildings and structures, machinery and equipment, and fire and explosion events. This presentation has a strong component including a sensation v perception human factors viewpoint. This presentation would be of interest to any line of business discipline.

Catastrophic incident investigation

This presentation provides an overview of how catastrophes should be investigated, including the roles of the stakeholders, proper evidence preservation, methods of site inspection, proper interviewing of witnesses, capturing the facts and final data analysis.

Chemical process safety management

This presentation discusses process safety including failure mode and effects analysis, strategic risk management, HAZOP studies, design standards compliance, materials failure analysis, and events and causal factors charting.

Construction accidents: OSHA, custom and practice, and beyond

The purpose of OSHA is to assure every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.." This presentation provides an overview of how 29 CFR parts 1926 and 1910, internal OSHA documents, third party standards, custom and practice, and site specific circumstances, should be analyzed to fully understand construction injuries.

Crane accidents

This presentation is an education about cranes. It explains all the different types and then goes into detail about the different types of failures cranes might experience, including tip-over, component failures, boom failure, and rope failure. These failures are illustrated through a series of case studies. 

Digital still photography (DSP)

A Primer on how DSP works including pointers to improve performance. This presentation includes a thorough overview on correct techniques to take proper care of the photographic equipment, use it to its full potential and proper techniques for the documentation of any type of evidence.

Electrical safety and investigations

Just because an electrical appliance is at the scene of a fire, it doesn't mean the fire was started by that appliance. This presentation discusses the main points to developing an explanation for the cause of an electrical fire. To identify the cause of an electrical fire, you need to understand current, voltage, and resistance. We explain how to use the "Scientific Method" of investigation during scene documentation, evidence gathering witness interviews, and laboratory analysis to aid in identifying the fire origin and cause. We discuss the steps of identifying the problem, defining the problem, collecting and analyzing the information as well as developing and testing your hypothesis. Case studies will be presented to emphasis the learning objectives.

Engineering the complex case: from medicine to mining and beyond

Engineering analysis and scientific visualization can be used to reconstruct events and depict relevant data in complex legal cases.  We present a variety of case studies involving topics such as medical malpractice, mining fatalities, vehicle accidents, and consumer product failures in which multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists used their technical expertise to analyze events and present the results in formats appropriate to the legal environment.  This presentation will stress how the proper use of scientific methodologies help to make sense of even the most complex events in ways that can be understood by judges, juries, and other non-technical audiences.

Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) (problems with barrier EIFS):

This presentation provides an overview of past performance problems with barrier EIFS and their causes.  It offers a brief description of how EIFS is designed, constructed and maintained.  It discusses water infiltration, drying capability, and long-term durability issues of barrier EIFS and the property damage issues occurring nationwide.

Failure analysis

The primary reasons for conducting an analysis of a metallurgical failure are to determine and describe the factors responsible for the failure of the component or structure.  This presentation describes the stages of an investigation including examination, testing, analysis, and the preservation of evidence.

Fire and explosion investigations, a primer: Basic cause
and origin

This presentation focuses on the basic principles and practices of fire investigation and cause and origin analysis. It includes an introduction to fire dynamics (the science of fire growth and spread) and an introduction to NFPA 921, a guide to fire and explosion investigations.  It focuses on the ways that fire and explosion events are investigated and analyzed using case histories from Packer's project portfolio. A series of case studies will allow the participants to walk through various fire investigations.  Proper investigation methods can help prevent recurrence and aid in the recovery of costs.

Fire modeling

When performing a facility or process hazard analysis or when conducting a post-incident investigation of a specific fire or explosion, it is necessary to determine factors including: ignition source interaction with adjacent combustibles; fuel loading and interaction of fuel packages in the fire area; liquid or gas fuel dispersion and concentration profiles in near and far fields; generation, transport and dispersion of toxic products of combustion; toxic chemical impact of burning materials and potential hazardous dispersion; time-varying rate of combustion product emissions and fire growth; and combustion gas temperature profiles and flow rates. We will demonstrate that the proper application of computer aided fire modeling calculations, coupled with sound engineering analysis, can be used to develop an understanding of all these factors, in addition to adding influential confirmation to opinions concerning credible cause and origin findings. Computer models will be used for demonstration purposes.

Hidden implications of ECM data: spoliation, admissibility
and proof issues

This presentation illustrates the usefulness of Engine Control Module (ECM) data in the reconstruction of accidents. The “Black Box” captures a “Snap Shot” when a hard brake/panic stop occurs, as well as other useful information. Case studies are used to show the range of captured information.

Home indoor air quality

This presentation discusses indoor air pollution including methods to improve indoor air quality. Aspects include, building a new home, Radon evaluation, tobacco smoke, biological contaminants, appliance combustion products, formaldehyde, pesticides, asbestos, lead, and others.

How to select and use an expert witness

"How to Select and Use an Expert Witness" provides an expert's perspective on what factors can be crucial to choosing the most effective consulting expert. A simple review of technical qualifications is simply not enough. Hear how issues such as timeliness of involvement and the nature of the claim should affect your decisions. Examples of how an expert can be strategic, creative, and persuasive will be presented. Learn how an expert can be invaluable in making sure you get everything you can from your discovery process, avoid spoliation claims and expert challenges, and gain favorable settlement conditions.

Lighting and grounding

Presentation will cover a basic understanding of the lightning process and the general reasons why lightning will strike a location. The presentation will then cover the function of a grounding system, basic coverage of codes and good engineering practice, additional methods of protecting equipment and buildings. Information will be presented on obvious and subtle mistakes in grounding schemes that can lead to damage. Topic will cover the nature of the damage, electrical paths, susceptibility of various items to lighting damage, induced vs. direct damage, and related issues. The presentation will conclude with methods of damage determination and analysis of existing grounding systems along with use of Strike-Fax®'s basic and advanced reports.

Managing the risk of water intrusion damages in buildings

Drawing from data compiledthrough hundreds of forensic building investigations, this program usesproject case studies todiscuss the threat of water intrusion damages to buildings. The presentationidentifies typical water entry paths -such as leakage through roofs, windows, walls, and foundations. Common causes related to designdeficiencies, installation errors, and maintenance problems areidentified and analyzed. Cost effective solutions for minimizing water damage risk through careful design, construction oversight, and pro-active maintenance are presented.

Mold, the real story

This presentation includes information about mold from the basics of what mold really is to the history of mold as a pollutant, controlling the conditions that promote mold growth, health effects and guidelines, and suggested solutions to the mold problem through a series of case studies.

Product warnings

This presentation discusses the sensory processing activity paid to a particular stimulus and the sensory overload potential of humans. People only pay attention to a small subset of the stimuli to which they are exposed. Some people simply disregard warnings, even after they read them. It is important to design warnings properly so that more people will pay attention and avoid possible injury.

Risk Assessment - What is it?  An approach to product or system safety.

An oft-quoted corollary to Murphy's law states: “Nothing can be fool-proof because fools are so ingenious.”

Although fool-proofing is impossible, RISK can still be reduced.  The concept of “Risk = (Severity of Hazard) x (Odds of it Happening)” can work for you.  We will cover the Risk Assessment process from an engineering consultant’s perspective.  We discuss standards and methods commonly used by industry and the military in order to assess risk.  Several examples and case studies are used to explain the steps in assessing, reducing and re-evaluating risk.

Roofing systems and assessing damage

This presentation provides an overview of various roof types and roofing systems.  Through the use of diagrams and photographs, along with specific case studies, we illustrate origin and cause investigation techniques and discuss good construction practices for commercial and residential roofs.

Slips, Trips, and Falls: The Science of Human Balance and Mobility

Is a slip the same thing as a trip?  What determines whether or not someone falls after slipping or tripping?  Does age or fatigue affect how people interact with walking surfaces and the injuries they might experience?  This presentation provides a review of the science of human balance and falling, with special attention paid to biomechanics and human factors as they relate to balance, gait cycles, forensic analysis of injury patterns, building and construction codes, floor surface materials, age, strength, and fatigue.

Solving water intrusion and mold problems

This presentation explains the causes of moisture intrusion, which may result in mold. This is generally a cause and origin study of the causes of moisture (both internal and external sources) in buildings that can result in Mold.

Sprinkler system water failures

Fire protection sprinkler systems save lives and protect property. Current building codes require virtually all commercial properties to have some level of sprinkler system protection and many jurisdictions now require residential properties over a certain size to provide sprinkler protection. In addition, some jurisdictions have taken the steps to require older buildings of a certain class (generally, residential high-rise structures) to backfit the building with a fire protection sprinkler system. But what if these sprinkler systems that were installed per the building codes and designed and installed per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes, failed? Our investigation of sprinkler systems has uncovered concerns that could lead to (a) water discharge during testing or inadvertent actuations, (b) sprinkler head obstruction during fires, (c) inadequate water flow during fires and (d) possible catastrophic failures.

So much has been written about Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) that MIC is often considered the cause of any pre-mature sprinkler system failures. The "do-it-yourself" microbiology tests kits are being used to further the MIC cause. It must be the water, after all these systems were designed and installed per NFPA. Unfortunately, MIC is not the only source of corrosion in sprinkler systems. Measures to address MIC may not prevent other types of corrosion and will not correct the damage that has already been done.

Stucco

This presentation explains in detail the differences between various types of stucco. Details are shown to illustrate good construction practices. Then there is a section on mold and how poor construction can lead to mold growth.

Supervisor safety leadership

This is a general overview of typical safety responsibilities and accountabilities most supervisors and managers have in safety, and the importance they represent in an effective safety process.

Wright airplane

This presentation illustrates the efforts of Packer Engineering and a number of other local companies in the creation of a replica Wright 1903 Flyer, to fly in Chicago on the anniversary of the initial powered flight of the Wright brothers.