By: Dr. Irving Ojalvo
Tel: (800) 358-9909
Fax: (888) 358-9901
Email: Technology Associates
Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) is a branch of science, which is concerned with man's interaction with his universe. Thus, it is not simply the study of pure science (e.g. sound or light), but rather man's understanding and reactions (e.g. to hear and see). Similarly, man's perception and reaction to stimuli such as flashing lights, buzzers, alarms, and warnings and instructions are areas with which human factors is concerned. In addition, the ability to perform tasks under various environmental conditions is also of concern. The HFE society is represented in almost equal numbers by psychologists and individuals in the physical sciences who cooperate to solve.
We have extensive experience in many aspects of human factors including:
Through scientific analysis, we can help you answer pertinent questions such as:
Pool Diving Accident:
A young lad attended a Bible-Class function at which a 3½ foot high swimming pool was supplied for recreation. The boy dived into the pool off a trampoline supplied on the pool's deck. He struck his head rendering him a paraplegic. He received a substantial settlement after we analyzed the accident and determined that it was caused by grossly negligent adult behavior and inadequate supervision.
Tall Man Strikes Head on Public Ceiling:
An unusually tall (6' 5") man struck his head in a municipal garage when walking to his parked car. The case settled after we pointed out that the location of his injury was well lit and not in a pedestrian passageway. Furthermore, we argued that being in the upper 1% in height of the population, that he has had to spend his entire adult lifetime avoiding low doorways, overhead staircases, chandeliers, and plane cabins and entrances.
Dr. Irving Ojalvo was, at the time of this article's publication, the Chairman of Technology Associates (www.technology-assoc.com), a forensic engineering firm with offices in New York City and Connecticut. The firm's technical personnel, all of whom have advanced degrees, perform accident reconstruction involving issues of biomechanics, mechanical, traffic, and human factors engineering.
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7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Golf Carts
There are roughly 9,000 golf cart related accidents requiring emergency room treatment in the United States each year. The majority of these accidents are related to either braking, cart rollover or passenger ejection. These problems are common to golf carts due to their open design, lack of seatbelts, poor braking capabilities and the uneven terrains they are driven on.
2/14/2014· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Automated Retrieval System Failure Results in Catastrophic Fire at Storage Facility
By: Bill O'Donnell
The largest storage rack/ retrieval system, larger than two football fields and eighty feet wide was constructed to store 108 million pounds of paper products. On July, 2002, after two months of use, the facility collapsed and sparked a fire that destroyed the entire structure and 45 million pounds of paper. Nearly 50 fire departments responded to the inferno, which burned for three weeks. The owner of the facility sued a number of companies that included the contractor that designed and built the structure, a subcontractor, and the company that supplied the 110 foot steel columns.
7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Power Saws
Approximately 125,000 serious injuries occur in the US each year related to the use of portable and fixed power saws. Lacerations and similar injuries, such as abrasions and avulsions, account for over 90% of these, which generally occur to males and result in losses in the tens of millions of dollars annually.
