Chemical Engineer Expert Witness

Expert Witness No. 1037

Consulting Chemical Engineer

Engineering consultancy with emphasis on Process Safety Management systems for chemical, petroleum, pipeline, oil & gas facilities. Forensic investigation of catastrophic chemical process accidents worldwide. Special emphasis on failure of process safety protective systems.

Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M, Chemical Process Safety Center.

SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

Over 30 years experience in the areas of chemical process safety analysis, environmental hazard assessment, and regulatory compliance for petroleum, natural gas, & chemical industries. Participated in over 100 forensic assignments and provided expert testimony in various cases, ranging from civil litigation and international arbitration to regulatory compliance hearings.

BACKGROUND

•        Chemical Engineering Bucknell University (BS); University of Oklahoma (PhD 1968).

•        Registered professional engineer (PE), Texas & Pennsylvania.

•        National board certified safety professional (CSP).

•        Elected member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

•        Author of over 80 technical papers on system safety analysis, hazards assessment, process safety management and process safety automation. Co-author of AIChE-sponsored text, “Guidelines for Safe Process Operations and Maintenance.”

EXPERIENCE

•        President and technical director of EDG Engineering, an international engineering consulting firm specializing in automation of process safety systems. Ranked 11^th largest in US in 1981.

•        Co‑founder of Energy Analysts (renamed Quest), premier process safety training and safety management consultant.

•        Chemical engineering faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Oklahoma. Associate member of the US Coast Guard Committee on Hazardous Materials. Continuing engineering education faculty at University of Texas.

•        Member of founding group of ChemShare, world leader in chemical process computer simulation software systems.

•        Senior staff member of University Engineers, a pioneer in chemical process quantitative hazards analysis.

•        Research Assistant in the Flame Dynamics Laboratory, specializing in chemical fire control technologies.

•        Consultant to OSHA, listed safety consultant in OCIS.

List of key words

•       Accident Investigations

•       Incident Investigations

•       Chemical Hazards

•       Explosion

•       Fire

•       Process Safety

•       Hazard Assessment

•       Risk Assessment

•       Risk Analysis

•       Process Safety Management (PSM)

•       OSHA

•       Safety Procedures

•       Chemical Process Safety

•       Assessment of Chemical Reaction Hazards

•       Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies

•       Design of Pressure Relief Systems

•       Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)

•       Management of Change (MOC)

•       Alarm Management

•       Gas Process Safety

•       Offshore Safety

•       Refinery Safety

•       Pipeline Safety

•       Process Automation

•       Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)