Occupation Health and Safety / OSHA Compliance Consultants: 23

R. Kevin Smith PE, BSME, MMAE, has been a specialist in Engineering Forensic Safety and Design for 35 years. He has consulted on over a 1,000 matters nationwide. Mr. Smith is a registered professional engineer and holds a BSME and MMAE from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He specializes in Material Handling Equipment Safety, including lift trucks, dock safety, truck loading, conveyors, and aerial work platform safety.

Mr. has been actively involved as a member of the committee that writes the Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks (ASME/ANSI B56.1) for over 30 years. He also serves on the B56.6 committee (rough terrain lift trucks) and the ANSI A92.5 and A92.6 subcommittees (self-propelled elevating work platforms). 

Litigation Support - Mr. Smith formerly worked for Triodyne, Inc. for over 15 years as a forensic engineer/principal engineer. As President of R. K. Smith Engineering Inc., he currently has a laboratory for examination and testing, and owns or has access to varied testing equipment and tools. He has testified at depositions and trials on several hundred matters. Mr. Smith has performed hundreds of investigations into product failures involving injury and property damage, and has reconstructed numerous accidents. His expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. Mr. Smith also is on the Adjunct Math faculty at Prairie State College. 

Areas of Expertise:

View R. Kevin Smith's Expert Witness Profile.

Independent system-level evaluation, failure analysis, and lifecycle assessment of fall protection and access systems (design, manufacturing, installation, and operation)

Summary

Rauch Safety & Engineering operates as an independent engineering authority focused on fall protection systems, façade access systems (including Building Maintenance Units – BMUs), and permanent access infrastructure.

Engagements occur in complex, high-consequence environments where system performance, lifecycle conditions, and alignment between design, manufacturing, installation, and operational use directly impact safety, liability, and asset integrity.

RSE is engaged to evaluate system conditions, discrepancies, and performance across the full lifecycle, particularly where misalignment exists between design intent and real-world execution.

Scope includes:

• Design intent and engineering integration 
• Manufacturing constraints and system configuration 
• Installation and commissioning conditions 
• Operational performance and lifecycle exposure

RSE does not perform construction, installation, maintenance, or operational services, and does not act as a contractor or project manager. All work is conducted as an independent, non-operational authority focused on system-level evaluation.

Engagement is typically driven by complexity, ambiguity, or conditions where standard project delivery does not resolve system-level risk.

Principal Areas of Specialization:

• Fall Protection Systems — system performance, configuration, and failure conditions
• Façade Access Systems (BMU) — design alignment, installation conditions, operational performance
•  Suspended Access Systems — system behavior and lifecycle conditions
• Permanent Access Infrastructure — anchors, lifelines, integrated access systems
• Design vs. Installation Discrepancy Analysis
• System Failure & Performance Analysis
• Commissioning Condition Review (non-operational)
• Lifecycle Condition Evaluation
• OSHA / ANSI / IWCA Standards Interpretation
• Independent System Review across full lifecycle

System-Specific Focus :

Building Maintenance Units (BMU) & Facade Access Systems

• Design intent vs. building integration
• Installation alignment with system specifications
• Commissioning conditions and readiness
• Discrepancies between manufactured and installed systems
• Operational and lifecycle performance conditions

Custom & Specialized Access Systems

• Non-standard or project-specific system configurations
• Design integration and manufacturing constraints
• Installation alignment and system behavior in operation

Lifeline & Anchor Systems

• System configuration and structural integration
• Installation conditions relative to design and standards
• Performance, loading conditions, and lifecycle exposure

Infrastructure Environments 

RSE engages across infrastructure environments where fall protection and access systems are critical to ongoing operation and asset integrity:

• High-rise and commercial buildings
•  Airports and transportation infrastructure
• Industrial facilities and processing plants
• Power generation and transmission infrastructure
• Bridges and specialized structural systems
• Mining and heavy industrial environments
• Marine and shipping infrastructure
• Towers and vertical access structures

Professional Associations

• Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC)
• Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)
• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
• National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP ASE)
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)

View Rauch Safety and Engineering's Expert Witness Profile.

Restaurant Consulting Innovations (RCI) provides services to the Restaurant / Food Services Industry, whether for new development, existing concept re-development and enhancement, or salvaging a company in crisis. RCI provides a highly focused and effective approach from evaluation to implementation of solutions to benefit their clients in the most efficient manner.

Clients List - Joe's Crab Shack, Cask ‘n Cleaver, Lord Charlie’s, El Gato Gordo, Pizza Pronto, Safari Bar Restaurant, Shark Club, Bull Dog Grill, Stronghouse, Pangea, The Ballroom, Juarez Grill, Dickerson’s Club 29, Yucatan Liquor Stand, Zepp’s Atomic Tex Mex, Cabo Grill, Angel Stadium, In Cahoots, The Ball Room, Slick Willie’s, Rodeo, Jake’s, Bobs on the Bay, Crabby Bob’s Seafood, PizzaRev, Honolulu Harry’s, Lahaina Mai Tai Lounge, Canyon Grill, Campagnia, Huey’s Grill & Brewery, Gladstone’s Long Beach, Pro’s Ranch Markets, Lily's Doughnuts & Pops

Consultant Services:

• Design Build Management - Design from Culinary Vision to Construction Documentation, Full Project Management / Installation, Consolidation and Delivery, Site Surveys to Determine Operational Efficiencies, Custom Stainless Fabrication, GPO Procurement Power
• Business Coaching - Leadership Development & Accountability, Performance Optimization, Franchise Model Development, Value Enhancement to Sell or Leverage Bank Financing, Business Performance Reviews, Strategic Planning, Business Turnarounds, New Concept Development
• Industries Served - Independent Restaurants, Multi Unit Operators, New Concepts & Emerging Brands, Franchise Companies, Food-service Suppliers, Hotel Food & Beverage, Investors / Private Equity / Landlords, Wineries, and Virtual Kitchens

Gary R. Coburn, Principal at RCI, is an award-winning Restaurant Executive with 45 years of experience creating, opening, running, and advising hundreds of full service restaurants, limited service, quick-service, bars and nightclubs. Additional expertise in restaurant franchising and commercial kitchen design/build from remodels to ground up including conceptual development, viability and business interruption.

With over four decades in the industry, Mr. Coburn has held positions as VP of National Accounts and Design Build for the largest commercial kitchen and distribution company in the country to, Director of Operations, President, COO, Executive Director of Food Services and owner operator. His management experience has included supervising more than 2,000 employees, including 170 managers, along with overseeing consulting assignments for numerous companies.

View Gary R. Coburn's Expert Witness Profile.

Joel Beal's experience includes leadership in System Design, Regulatory, and Advisory Roles, and extensive involvement with Commercial Fleet Operations. His education includes US, Canadian, State, and Provincial Commercial Motor Vehicles, legislation, regulations, and requirements. 

Mr. Beal has unique expertise in cutting-edge trucking technologies, logistics, and regulatory knowledge ensuring effective and compliant strategies and achieving significant efficiency gains. He delivers consultancy services that Optimize Trucking Operations, Ensure Compliance, and Drive Innovation. He offers answers for both corporate clients and legal professionals and has over 30 years of results for all sizes of transportation companies and law practices.  

Consultancy Services Offered:

• Technology Integration: Analyze and integrate technologies to streamline operations.
• Performance Optimization: Implement process improvements to boost efficiency.
• Regulatory Compliance: Conduct audits to meet industry and regulatory standards.
• Safety Protocols: Enhance safety procedures to mitigate risks.
• Strategic Solutions: Align technology initiatives with business objectives.

Background Experience: 

• From 2008-present, Mr. Beal owns Rockwell Technologiy, Inc and JBA Telematics.  This includes short term and extended consultancy engagements with technology providers.  Focus is TMS and telematics to North American trucking companies.
• From 1994-2007, Mr. Beal served as Senior VP for Tripmaster Corporation, which invented Onboard Computers for trucks in 1978. Tripmaster provided systems for most of the US Fortune 500 companies who had private fleets.

View Joel Beal's Expert Witness Profile.

Rocky Mountain Safety Consulting, Inc. (RMSC), formulates effective and workable Safety Solutions tailored to unique business operations. A well-functioning, self-sustaining safety program avoiding incidents eliminates project slowdown, costly damage to equipment, tough questions from clients, and, most importantly, injury to employees. RMSC provides services to the construction, manufacturing, mining, and oil and gas industries. 

RMSC Consulting Services:

• Safety Programs - Draft and implement safety programs followed by training of crews and management. JSA's and JHA's, weekly safety talks focused on work tasks
• EHS Programs - Develop and implement safety audit programs complying with OSHA and MSHA standards
• Field Auditing - Create and implement field safety audit systems, tracking deficiencies, and correction timelines and accountability. Jobs Safety Analysis implementation

Principal, Greg Gerganoff, ASP, CSP, Esq., is an OSHA / MSHA Safety field and compliance expert in the fields of heavy construction, oil and gas, mining, pipeline, power plant outages, light rail construction, public schools, manufacturing, and trenching and excavation. 

As OSHA and MSHA are not mere “guidelines to safety” but federal laws enforceable in administrate hearings and federal courts, Mr. Gerganoff's 12 years of experience as a Licensed Attorney, and additional 17 years as a safety professional, make him uniquely qualified to research and interpret OSHA regulatory laws (29 CFR 1910 & 1926) and MSHA (30 CFR Part 46). He maintains his license to practice law in the state of Colorado. 

Safety Training includes but not limited to:

View Greg Gerganoff's Expert Witness Profile.

Michael C. Wright, PE, CSP, CPE is a Professional Engineer with over 35 years of academic, practical, and specialized knowledge of Engineering, Construction, Safety, Maintenance, Demolition and Training in general industry and construction activities.

 Mr. Wright's expertise is a definite plus in providing clients with leading edge information and insight. A licensed and practicing engineer, he rounds out his knowledge as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Plant Engineer to provide an insightful and accurate understanding of the issues involved in a case.

Mr. Wright has completed over 600 hours of specialized safety training, serves on ANSI and ASTM Standards committees and provides a thorough knowledge of OSHA Regulations, Directives and Letters of Interpretation. A recognized author, presenter, and trainer, Mr. Wright communicates the issues clearly for all to understand. His expert witness experience is a balanced blend of defense, plaintiff and OSHA Solicitor cases. He is licensed in 46 states. 

Areas of Expertise:

View Mr. Wright's Curriculum Vitae

Bransford Pickett, PE, BSc, MScBA, has over 25 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer. A California Registered Professional Engineer, Mr. Pickett holds a BSE from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a MScBA in Finance from San Diego State University. His Materials Handling and Engineering Consulting Services are offered to insurance and end user companies nationally and internationally. The combination of field expertise, engineering, and regulatory compliance experience provide Mr. Pickett's clients with a complete package of services. The depth and breadth of his expertise covers many successful design projects including commercial and military ships, many complex material handling activities, testing requirements of shipboard system, and development and implementation of compliance programs. Many of the major projects include first of a kind challenges such as the Exxon Valdez post - accident docking and structural repairs, commission testing of navy auxiliary ships’ equipment including fueling systems, the US Navy Shughart Class Container Ship Conversion program, as well as shaft and appurtenance handling on the US Navy Watson Class ships. Included in these projects were planned engineered multi - crane lifts that reached in excess of 400 tons. These projects focused on safe, economic, simple designs compliant with applicable state and federal regulations, and national standards.

Engineered Material Handling Design and Review:

• Services include single and multi-crane lift plans, material transport, and equipment testing. Design, review and analysis of supporting calculation of stresses imposed on lifting, supporting structure, and material handling equipment, and rigging gear. Equipment specification scope and review

Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering:

• Perform intact, damage and probabilistic damage stability, and structural analysis on marine structures including barges, ships, and complimentary structures in accordance with regulatory bodies; ABS, Federal or State government

Training and Compliance:

• Operator training compliance to National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, NCCCO, requirements for tower crane, mobile crane, overhead crane, articulating crane operator training and certification, signal person, and rigger certification
• Compliance covers applicable national and international standards that include the ABS, ASTM, ASM, ASME, ANSI, WSTDA, ALI, etc. and DIN, EN, FEM to list a few. National regulations include state and federal OSHA requirements as well as DOE, military specifications and standards

View Bransford Pickett's Expert Witness Profile.

Ronald Tyson is a Building and Premises Expert in the construction business for over 45 years.  He has years of hands on experience in the individual trades as a tradesman, subcontractor and general contractor.  

Mr. Tyson has been a Michigan licensed builder since 1967 and has functioned as a general contractor and provided supervisory tasks for Tyson Enterprises, Incorporated and other contractors on all types of industrial, public, commercial and residential construction projects since 1963. He is a member of numerous building code and standard authorities, including but not limited to IBC [BOCA, UBC] NFPA, IAEI, NAHB, etc.

Mr. Tyson's experience and expertise can help clients with contracts, safety, and other obligations as they may affect project control of contractors and/or project managers.  He can advise on the duties in new and remodeling construction and maintenance required by the premises owner.

Litigation Support - Mr. Tyson has served the legal community as a Construction Expert Witness for 35 years. He has worked for both plaintiff and defendant attorneys. He is available to perform onsite inspections, research, review litigation matters, makes drawings, interview litigants, and provides evidence for court, including correct building code and life safety statutes and standards as they may affect personal injury claims, construction, contracts, etc. and causation.  Mr. Tyson has never been disqualified in over 200 times in court.

Areas of Expertise: