Expert Witness - OHSA Occupational Health Services Australia

WHS Expert Witness Service

Medico Legal Assessments & Expert Witness Support

Our people bring an enviable record of academic achievement and professional experience. We regularly provide assistance in Common-Law Personal Injury, Anti-Discrimination and Industrial Relations related WH&S cases. Our people are some of the most qualified in their fields. We are sought to lecture at a number of universities and relevant conferences. Our people often publish their work in academic journals, have authored a number of publications and have written textbooks and curriculum for universities. We use scientific equipment and computer assisted modeling to quantify risk exposures and injury probability.

OHSA consultants are regularly sought to prepare expert Safety Reports for Personal Injury Claims including manual handling, slips, trips and falls, workplace accidents, public accidents, coronial investigations.

Here is a sample list of our projects and cases:

• Invited to convene Safety Conference for Forestry Industry due a recent spate of fatalities.
• Invited presenter for the Australian Government Funded Pilot Program ‘Resources Connect’ to assist Australian suppliers to improve business capabilities within the mining and energy sectors and enhance their global competitiveness.
• Requested by Chinese Embassy in Canberra to personally meet Chinese Delegation from various Provinces ranging from Vice Mayor, Directors, Deputy Directors, Division Chiefs, Vice Divisional Chiefs to discuss current and emerging Australian OH&S, Mining methodologies
• Invited to Hong Kong to speak to Chinese heads of industry, government & academia about OH&S and Mining / Construction;
• Engaged to review Brazilian Embraer Jets in Toronto Canada for Virgin Blue Airlines;
• Engaged to review of F1/11 Fighter Jet Fuel Tank Entry Project Amberley;
• Re-development of risk management system for emergency services department;
• Selected to provide advice with introduction of Belaz Mining Rear Dump Trucks into Bowen Basin;
• Conducted extensive plant access/egress study for mining client with engineering recommendations;
• Selected to investigate patient fatality by emergency services organisation;
• Selected as International Human Factors Expert to Investigate Queensland Rail’s near-miss train disaster at Umolo, Rockhampton – selected by both State and Federal Transport Departments as the Independent Australian Human Factor’s Expert;
• Selected as independent international expert adjudicator from a wide range of Australian & International risk management consultants to assist the Industrial Relations Commissioner to independently validate the safety systems of the largest public transportation group in Queensland;
• Selected by Queensland Fire & Rescue Authority to project manage the selection and design of the new medium urban pumper fire appliances; Invited by the Department of Mines & Energy and Queensland Mining Council to present independent human factors research about Moura disaster and Gas Protocol recommendations.
• Part-Time Lecturer and Visiting Lecturer to a number of Universities.
• Key-note and guest speaker at numerous safety conferences.
• Frequently commissioned by various leading legal firms as an expert witness for personal injury tort claims and safety management system compliance;
• Selected to Develop & Project Manage the Review, Development & Implementation of Queensland Rail’s Medical Fitness Standards which became benchmark for New National Standards;
• Requested to assist in the development of a new management system after the fatal explosion disaster at Porgera Mine – Papua New Guinea;
• Selected to investigate whole body vibration and other matters of Queensland Rail’s high-speed tilt-train.
• Selected to develop new shift-work schedules for maritime client;
• Conducted 100’s of whole body vibration monitoring assessments including post-incident and OEM vs. OEM;
• Selected to review and select life rescue equipment and patient handling equipment for emergency services client;
• Provided dust and noise monitoring with desalination plant project;
• Developed traffic flow management plan for Mt Whaleback, BHP Newman – WA;
• Introduced no-lift patient risk management system into RBH, RPA, Calvary Health Tasmania, NT Health, Aboriginal Hostels Ltd., and over 100 other hospital and aged care facilities throughout Australia;
• Reviewed work at heights requirements for power transmission client in response to DWPH&S notice;
• Assisted with the design and conducted pre-commission audit for 50,000m2 distribution warehouse.

Expert Witness Cases (Sample)

• Back injury in large recycling plant.
• Trip on hotel path at night.
• Back injury in spray painting booth.
• Forearm injury lifting clutch plate.
• Back injury tripping on floor of manufacturing facility.
• Shoulder injury spray painting.
• Hand injury using vibrating tools.
• Back injury turning chassis over with hoist.
• Shoulder injury pushing metal trolley.
• Collapsed vertebrae whilst driving truck.
• Shoulder injury to dogman slinging load.
• Post traumatic stress disorder when security guard assaulted on a train platform.
• Disc injury due to whole body vibration.
• Fall in a public place on polished floors.
• Fall in a hospital shower.
• Hand injury with unguarded plant.
• Back injury lifting manhole cover.
• Back injury lifting a piano.
• Trip and fall from a bus.
• Wrist injury to boner.
• Carpal tunnel injury handling chickens.
• Back injury lifting steel carton.
• Knee injury stepping off a pallet truck.
• Back injury pushing pallet jack.
• Neck injury to meat slicer in abattoirs.
• Back injury unloading 40ft container.
• Fractured pelvis falling from scaffolding.
• Trip on pool carpet in serviced apartments.
• Back injury to cleaner lifting garbage bags.
• Slip, trip and fall from a mobile home.
• Fall from domestic building.
• Slip in workplace toilet.
• Back injury whilst driving a forklift.
• Back injury falling from chair in corrective services facility.