Accident Prevention and Safety Consultants: 38

School Bus Training, LLC has worked with many transportation shops and school transportation departments to evaluate their departments and offer recommendations to make them more efficient and function better as a unit. Training is offered in staff development and process improvement. Shop Evaluation Services Include:

Examining Current Department and/or Shop Operations Management / Work Team Evaluation Management and Employee Coaching Customer and Stakeholders Interviews

Processes Examined and Alternatives Discussed with Department Written Recommendations for Change and Alternate Options Follow Up Services as Requested Department and Individualized Training as Requested

Principal, Denny Coughlin is a nationally recognized School Bus Expert. Mr. Coughlin entered the school bus industry almost 40 years ago. He has toured every major school bus manufacturing plant in the country, and some in Canada. He stays current with the industry and understands the construction and design of the school bus from all the manufacturers. Mr. Coughlin has been the fleet manager for a fleet of over 400 vehicles for 25 years. Responsible for purchasing, maintenance, and disposal of the fleet, his annual state school bus inspection scores were among the best in the state. Mr. Coughlin has successfully instructed over 14,000 Firefighters, Law Enforcement, and EMTs on the characteristics and Safety of School Buses. He has overseen the destruction of almost 200 school buses in drills and demonstrations and currently offers multiple Fire Department and Law Enforcement Training Courses. Mr. Coughlin has worked with the Minnesota legislation concerning school buses for many years, and served on two governors' task forces, 1994 and 2006. Mr. Coughlin has successfully presented annually at the School Transportation News (STN) EXPO conference and at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) every year since 1999. He presents at state and regional conferences on a regular basis. He has had many articles published in School Transportation News Magazine and conducted many webinars for the school bus industry. View Denny Coughlin's Expert Witness Profile.

Shatec Engineering Consultants provides engineering consulting services in a variety of areas including highway engineering, traffic engineering, pavement engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, forensic engineering, construction support services, and other civil engineering matters. Example services include the following:

Traffic Engineering Highway Design Standards/ Geometric Design/ Plans and Specifications Highway Specifications / Guidelines Highway and Traffic Safety Highway Safety Traffic Control Devices / Traffic Control Plans/ MUTCD Sight Distance Requirements Road and Roadside Hazards ADA Requirements Surface Conditions - Friction, Skid Resistance Road Defects Code Violations

Pavement Design/ Materials Pavement Management Geotechnical Engineering Construction Quality Construction Defects Construction Claims Drainage Requirements Hot Mix Asphalt/Modified Asphalt Structural and Pavement Concrete Standards Mass Concrete/ Thermal Control Plans/ Instrumentation Highway Repairs / Maintenance Public Agency Policies / Practices

President, Shakir Shatnawi, PhD, PE, is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the Transportation Engineering industry. He has over 30 years of practical and extensive engineering and transportation expertise covering industry and public agencies including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). He taught highway and transportation engineering at California State University.

Dr. Shatnawi served as a principal investigator on multi-million dollar transportation projects. He held various positions in Caltrans including a Senior Transportation Engineer, a Supervising Transportation Engineer and a Division Chief.  Dr. Shatnawi's education and experience demonstrates a wealth of engineering knowledge stretch in highway design, traffic engineering, pavement design, geotechnical engineering, materials and construction . As a recipient of many acknowledgements from the government, Dr. Shatnawi has an impeccable reputation within the industry for his significant professional contributions. As an expert orator, he frequently shares his knowledge at major conferences around the world. 

View Dr. Shatnawi's Expert Witness Profile.

Swenson Consulting offers Snow Removal Services and developed its own proprietary snow operations software and can help business owners who desire to build or maintain a software package to assist their snow operations. They offer general business advice for many different types of situations including:

• Growth Development and Strategy for Snow Removal Businesses
• Diversification of Snow Removal Business Services
• Effective Collection of Invoicing for Snow Removal Businesses

Principal, Jeremy Swenson, CSP, has satisfied requirements by SIMA (largest nationally recognized snow and ice trade organization-Snow and Ice Management Association) to become a Certified Snow Professional. There are less than 250 CSP’s in the USA.

Mr. Swenson owned and operated Snowmen, one of the largest snow and ice management companies in North America for over 20 years. He has obtained Security Clearance and is trained for onsite snow operations at the IRS Regional Headquarters, FBI Headquarters, Department Of Treasury Buildings, and many types of Airport, Railroad, Organ Transplant Centers, and Medical facilities. He stays current with the modern methods and systems used today in snow and ice removal operations, procedures, equipment, contracts, and is very familiar with the types of de-icers used in the snow removal industry today. He has successfully navigated hundreds of slip and fall accidents and snow removal-related incidents. After overseeing thousands of commercial accounts over the years, he has worked through almost every issue that is relevant to a snow removal operation in the industry.

View Jeremy Swenson's Expert Witness Profile.

Dale Wheeler is licensed in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering, and is certified in Basic Code Enforcement / Building Inspection by the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA). He is published on fire safety in Atrium Buildings and in Exhibition Halls. Mr. Wheeler's Areas of Expertise include:

• Fire Protection System Design, installation and operation:
  - Fire detection
  - Smoke detection
  - Fire alarm
  - Central Station
  - Sprinkler systems
  - Fire suppression systems
  - Smoke control
• Fire and Smoke Barriers
• Building Code, Life Safety Code, and Fire Code Compliance
• Fire Hazard, Building Materials, Fire Resistance Ratings
• Fire Cause and Origin
• Arson
• Means of egress, egress signage, emergency lighting
• Forensic Fire and Fire Systems Investigation

Scott L. Turner is a highly qualified Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Transportation Expert, FMCSR Regulatory and PHMSA-HMR Expert with approximately 30-years experience in the highly specialized field of CMV crashes and incidents, and 16 years as the CEO of a nationwide CMV crash & HazMat disaster response corporation. 

Mr. Turner's career includes personal response and/or investigation of over 1,000 CMV crashes, 200 cargo-tank truck crashes/incidents and a multitude of industrial setting incidents including fixed facilities, loading docks and loading rack disasters. His FMCSR and PHMSA knowledge (Federal Enforcement Training), detailed reporting and testimony can be a focal point of any civil litigation, where commercial motor vehicle crashes and/or transit incidents are at issue, with or without hazmat involvement. Mr. Turner is qualified in both the Federal Court system as well as multiple States throughout the United States and testifies on an approximate 50/50 average of Defense to Plaintiff ratio.

Areas of Expertise:

• Level 1 FMCSA Inspections
• Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Post-Crash Inspection
• CMV Post-Crash Investigation
• Driver Qualifications
• HOS / Fatigue Driving
• Motor Carrier Fitness Standards
• Safety Programs
• Trucking Industry Standards
• Cargo-Tank Truck Incidents / Crashes
• CMV loading/Off-loading Cases (van, cargo-tank, flatbed)
• Flatbed, Cargo Securement Failure
• Loading Dock Incidents w/ CMV
• Forklift Incidents w/ CMV
• CMV Crash Involving Hazmats
• Loading Rack Explosions / Disasters
• Pedestrian v. CMV Incidents

Services Include:

• Litigation Support
• Trial Preparation Consulting
• Courtroom Testimony
• Commerical Vehicle Accident Investigations
• CMV, Highway Construction Zone Crashes
• CMV Loading and Offloading Investigation
• Level 1 FMCSA Audits
• Load Securement Incidents

Dan W. Wall, BSME is a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in the fields of Accident Reconstruction, Biomechanics and Motor Vehicle Injury Causation, Human Factors, and Injury Prevention in Motor Vehicle Design. Mr. Wall offers his consulting services to attorneys, vehicle manufacturers, insurance companies, cities, states, counties, and individuals, both nationally and internationally.

Background Experience:

Wall Accident Reconstruction, Inc., 1996-Present, Investigation and reconstruction of traffic collisions, highway traffic safety, biomechanics of impact trauma, injury causation, engineering analysis of design and design failure, statistical analysis, human factors, slip and falls and expert witness testimony.

For more information, visit www.wallaccidentreconstruction.com

Also view Dan Wall's article in Attorney At Law Magazine at http://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/phoenix/2014/01/17/accident-reconstruction-expert-dan-wall/

Cromack Engineering Associates, Inc., Tempe, AZ, 1987-1998, Investigation and reconstruction of traffic collisions, product liability, biomechanics, and expert witness testimony.

Martin Marietta Aerospace, Denver, CO, 1980-1987, Senior Engineer, Design and analysis of aerospace systems. Projects included Man Maneuvering Unit with special recognition by NASA, Titan 34D Missile Systems, and Strategic Defense Initiative.

Summary of Experience:

Building & Roadway Construction & Design Automotive Technology Aircraft Technology and Maintenance Motorcycle Technology and Experience Off-road Experience and Design ATV Technology and Experience Slip and Fall Heavy Vehicle Trailer Design Commercial Trailer Under-ride Guard Design

FMVSS Standards Vehicle Design and Performance Tire Design and Failure Analysis Crash Worthiness Roadside Design Signage, Lighting, and Conspicuity Environmental Conditions and Effects Animation and Computer Simulations Crash and Acceleration Testing Low Speed Vehicle Collision Testing

View Dan Wall's Expert Witness Profile.

George Zeitler, MSc, has over 30 years of experience in the Marine Industry in various regulatory, management, and consulting roles. He is an Accredited Marine Surveyor (Y&SC) by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and a Member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying.

Background Experience - Mr. Zeitler served 18 years as a USCG Marine Inspector / Casualty Investigator, and 7 years as a Class Society principal surveyor (DNV).  He then spent 1 year as VP of Operations for a niche cruise line. Mr. Zeitler went on to serve 5 years as a technical consultant for various segments of the marine industry, including 2 years as third party environmental auditor for criminal pollution cases. He has been an Accredited Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor for over 15 years. 

In 2002, Mr. Zeitler formed Zeitler Marine Services (ZMS), using his experience and knowledge to offer condition and valuation (pre-purchase and insurance) and damage survey services to the yachting and recreational boating communities in south Florida. He is currently the Director of the Chapman School of Seamanship Yacht and Small Craft survey course.

Litigation Support - Mr. Zeitler uses his vast experience verifying Compliance with Applicable Maritime Laws / Regulations through on site surveys and audits of client's vessels. His years of operational and regulatory enforcement help provide clients with a unique perspective that is key in identifying vulnerabilities onboard vessels as well as gaps in policies and procedures. He functions as a Court Appointed Monitor in situations where vessel operators are negotiating a plea agreement for a DOJ-approved Environmental Compliance Programs.

Areas of Expertise:

• Vessel Design and Construction
• Vessel Compliance with International and US Laws and Regulations
• Compliance with Federal and Voluntary (ABYC) Standards for Yachts and Small Craft
• Casualty Investigation
• Vessel Operations
• Cruise Ship Management, Operation, and Safety
• Environmental Compliance and Auditing

Jeff Nelken, MA, retired RD, is a Food Safety / HACCP Expert who coaches personnel to improve food safety awareness, through Self-Inspection and Customized Quality HACCP Training Programs. With 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mr. Nelken offers creative and affordable solutions that effectively impacts safety culture. 

Consulting / Training Services Include:

• Staff Training and Skill Development
• Accident Prevention / Food Safety Training
• Food Safety and HACCP Inspections and Audits
• Pre HACCP-AIB and Health Department Inspections, and more

View Jeff Nelken's Expert Witness Profile.