Construction Crane Safety Expert Witness

Summary

• Over 35 years Construction Experience
• CA General Contractor license
• Over 20 years Construction Safety Experience
• Nationally Board Certified (CHST) Construction Health and Safety Technician  by Board of Certified Safety Professionals
• Nationally Board Certified (CSHM) Certified Safety and Health Manager by ISHM
• NAVFAC Approved EM-385 1-1 Program Administrator/ Master Instructor
• Certified Crane Operator/Examiner (NCCCO) Tower/Mobile
• Fed OSHA Outreach Instructor (OSHA 30-hour trainer)
• Court approved construction safety expert (CA superior court)

Certifications:

• CHST – Construction Health and Safety Technician – (BCSP) Board of Certified Safety Professionals
• CSHM Certified Safety and Health Manager – (ISHM) Institute for Safety and Health Management
• Certified Crane Operator – tower, overhead, and all mobile classification endorsements
• Certified Practical Examiner for NCCCO, tower, overhead and all mobile classifications
• Instructor UCSD, OSHA Training Institute (OTI OSHA-500 series, Scaffold, Fall Protection, Crane and Rigging, Ladders and Arial Lifts tracks)
• Competent and Qualified Person in Fall Protection
• Competent Person in Trenching and Excavation
• Instructor for National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)
• Instructor for Scaffold Erector and Scaffold User Competent Person Courses
• Forklift Training Instructor
• Cutting Torch Safety Instructor
• Ramset Instructor
• 40 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (Hazwopper)
• Respiratory Protection Program Administrator

Industry Associations and Licenses:

• CA Licensed General Contractor (B)
• Former Licensed Masonry Contractor (C-29)
• Past Safety Director Associated General Contractors San Diego Chapter (6 years)
• Past Member Safety Committee Associated General Contractors San Diego Chapter
• Past Member Safety Committee Associated General Contractors California Chapter
• Member Associated General Contractors of America National Safety Committee
• Past Chair AGC San Diego Safety Committee (2000 to 2002)
• American Society of Safety Engineers
• Committee member for numerous Cal/OSHA Standards Board Advisory Committees

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2002 to Present Consulting Group, Inc. San Diego California PRINCIPAL

• Consulting Group provides construction safety management, site inspections, safety staffing, safety/risk program assessment and development, safety training, OSHA representation, expert witness and safety consulting services.

Select NAVFAC/USACE Projects successfully completed since 2009: 

• Demolition of Enlisted Club MCAS Miramar, CA.2009 EPC
• 16 Inch Water Line Replacement NAS North Island, CA. 2009 EPC
• Sewer Line Replacement MCAS Yuma, AZ. 2009 EPC
• Tank Maintenance Facility MCAS Yuma, AZ.. 2009 TB Penick
• Heavy Equipment Maintenance Facility MCS 29 Palms, CA. 2009 Marcon
• Combat Training Tank MCAS Miramar, CA. 2009    TB Penick
• Reclaim Water Pipe Installation Lancaster, CA. 2010 Toro Engineering
• Heavy Equipment Maintenance Facility MCS Barstow, CA. 2009 Hensel Phelps
• HW Delivery System MCAS Miramar, CA. 2011   EPC
• New Gate Guard Facility AFB Travis, CA 2011  Reyes Construction
• Battle Course MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. 2011  Reyes Construction
• Maintenance Facility MCB Camp Pendleton, CA 2011 Peter Van Der Werff Construction
• BEQ Facility NAS North Island, CA. 2011 Hensel Phelps

2004 to 2011  California Crane Works San Diego California PRINCIPAL  (8 years)

• California Crane Works facilitates Crane operator certification through nationally developed and accredited curriculum. CCW provides classroom and “in the seat” review to prepare operators for the national CCO testing regimen. Mr. Iler performs as an instructor and as a Certified Practical Examiner for Crane Operator, Rigger, and Signal Person qualifications.

1997 to 2002 Nielsen Dillingham Builders, Inc.,  San Diego California  SAFETY DIRECTOR  (6 years)

Nielsen Dillingham Builders Inc. was a large regional general contracting company serving the western United States. It was an operating division of the international Dillingham family of companies with revenues of approximately 300m per year with approximately 1m-effort hours of self-performed work.

• Administration and management oversight for all field safety operations within the division approximately 1 million self performed effort hours (700+ employees)
• Reviewing and developing risk and safety procedures and policies
• Reviewing and commenting on pending legislation and regulations
• Developing and implementing means and methods (best practices) for profitable construction work in a zero injury environment

Successfully Completed (select):

•  San Diego (Jack Murphy) Stadium Expansion and renovation $85 million
• Coors Amphitheater $46 million
• Indian Wells Tennis Garden (16,000 seat tennis stadium) $28 million
• Shipwreck Rapids, SeaWorld $14 million
• Dolphin Interaction Pool, SeaWorld $12 million
• Target Distribution Center Phoenix AZ (1.2 million square foot warehouse)
• Target Distribution Center Albany OR (860 thousand square foot warehouse)
• Embarcadero Towers (28 story twin condo towers)
• Petco Park (JV) San Diego
• NIF (National Ignition Facility) DOE/Laurence Livermore Labs (Fusion Reactor)
• CDC Campus Richmond CA $68 million

1992 to 1996 SCM Masonry Inc., San Diego, California OWNER (4.5 years)

SCM Masonry was a mid-sized local masonry contractor primarily in the San Diego area. Annual revenues were approximately 1m with approximately 35k effort hours per year.

• Estimating, bidding and negotiating contracts for primarily prevailing wage projects
• Hiring and personnel matters for up to 35 employees
• Scheduling and General/Sub Contractor coordination
• Reading and interpreting blueprints and specifications
• Safety training and enforcement
• Estimating quantities and ordering material
• Quality, inspection compliance, and cost control

Successfully completed:

• Helicopter Maintenance Hangar, Camp Pendleton, 5.5 Million
• BEQ, Port Huneme, 11 Million
• Classroom One building, UCSD, 7.5 Million

1982 to 1986
1991 to 1992 Southern Cal Masonry Inc., San Diego California PROJECT MANAGER (7 years)

Southern Cal Masonry was the predecessor of SCM Masonry and was founded and run since 1976 by Jess Iler, Sam’s father. SCM Masonry was a mid-sized local masonry contractor primarily in the San Diego area. Annual revenues were approximately 1m with approximately 35k effort hours per year.

• Scheduling and General/Sub Contractor coordination
• Estimating quantities and ordering material
• Safety training and inspections
• Reading and interpreting blueprints and specifications
• Submitting and interpreting RFI’ and field change orders and submittals
• Quality, inspection compliance, and cost control

Successfully completed:

BEQ Tustin	Helicopter Hanger NASNI
BEQ 29 Palms	BEQ ASW, Pt Loma
Child Development Center 29 Palms	South Bay Detention Center, Chula Vista
BOQ NASNI	Donovan Correction Center, San Diego
BEQ NASNI	Main Post Office Expansion, San Diego
Flight Simulator Building NASNI	Base Fire Station, 32nd street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1989 to 1990 Channel-Loc-Docks, Knoxville Tennessee PROJECT MANAGER (1 year)
Channel-Loc-Docks was a design builder of freshwater docks for lake and river marinas. They manufactured the products in a facility near Knoxville and constructed the docks for clients in a seven-state area around Tennessee.

• Field supervision and coordination for installation of freshwater marina systems
• Safety training, inspection, and compliance
• Design and Production coordination for negotiated projects
• Scheduling for factory production, and delivery coordination
• Owner relations
• Reading and interpreting blueprints and specifications
• Quality, code compliance, and cost control
• Successfully completed nine projects in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama and Georgia

1989    TC Construction, Santee California Foreman (.5 years)
TC Construction is an underground contractor specializing in wet utilities.
Supervising 2 to 4 person crew

• Safety Compliance
• Reading and interpreting blueprints, standard drawings, and specifications
• Reading and interpreting site engineering and performing layout for location, grade and orientation for concrete structures
• Construct cast in place concrete structures

1988    S and M builders, El Cajon California CARPENTER (1 year)
S and M Builders was a small general contractor specializing in residential construction and remodeling.

• One and two story room additions
• Window and door replacements
• Foundation carpentry and concrete finishing
• General concrete hardscape
• Ornamental carpentry work including decks and patio covers

1986 to1987 Bauer Concrete Construction, El Cajon California CARPENTER (2 YEARS)

Bauer Concrete Construction specialized in underground concrete structures.

• General form setting for structural concrete
• Pouring finishing of concrete and stripping and patching of completed structures

1984 to 1985 DeNardi and Wood, San Diego California COMMERCIAL PAINTER (2 years)

DeNardi and Wood constructed shipping transporters for the M1 tank.

• Preparation of surfaces to be painted by sand blasting and other mechanical methods
• Application of primers and top coats to military specifications
• Maintained high performance spray coatings equipment

Education:

• Eagle Scout – 1981
• Valhalla High School, El Cajon California – 1982
• University of Utah, Salt Lake City Utah (Deans list for academic achievement)
• Bachelors Degree from NU with emphasis in Finance and Banking – 1987

Teaching and Speaking Experience:

• Instructor UCSD, (OTI) OSHA Training Institute on fall protection, scaffolding, cranes, rigging, ladders and aerial lifts
• Fall Protection system design, installation and training for end users
• Trenching and Excavation awareness trainer
• Scaffold User Instructor
• Forklift Training Instructor
• Cutting Torch Safety Instructor
• Ramset Instructor
• Speaker at AGC San Diego Fall Protection Focus Day
• Speaker at San Diego Ballpark Builders Cal/OSHA Safety awareness program
• Host of AGC annual Safety Awards of Excellence
• Host AGC Fall Protection Focus Day
• Peer educator, safety outreach program, Public Health Institute, Department of Health services

Witness/Consultant Experience:

• Composed opinion papers for the AGC representing safety in the construction industry
• Provided testimony for regulatory hearings on Cal/OSHA issues
• Provided opinions and testimony in the areas of cranes and rigging, falls, equipment and tool use, OSHA, scaffolding, and general construction safety
• Represented employers in OSHA appeals on over 75 citations
• Petitioner to Cal/OSHA on regulatory matters affecting safety
• Member of numerous Cal/OSHA Advisory Committees