Intellex Acquires Expert by Big Village

We're thrilled to announce that Intellex has acquired Expert by Big Village, effective March 22, 2024. This strategic move enhances our capabilities and strengthens our commitment to delivering exceptional solutions to our customers.

Stay tuned for more updates on how this acquisition will benefit our clients and experts.

For inquiries or more information, please contact us at info@intellex.com.

×

Expert Details

Safety: Occupational, Hazard Recognition/Abatement, Citation Resolution, OSHA

ID: 724664 Connecticut, USA

Request Expert

Expert specializes in hazard recognition and abatement, site inspection, accident investigation, and citation resolution. As a self-employed safety consultant since 1992, Expert has performed a wealth of OSHA-type, “hands-on” comprehensive inspections and training sessions, with the emphasis on manufacturing and other “factory” facilities. He also consults for construction firms (especially roofers), retail stores, and other types of businesses. Expert is often hired by attorneys to work as an “expert witness.” As such, he has testified more than 60 times (in court, by deposition, and at arbitration), and consulted on many other cases that did not require his testimony. Although Expert usually deals with occupational safety, he has worked on several non-occupational “fall down” cases. His consulting work is primarily in the northeast, but he has also conducted his business in California, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, Illinois, Washington, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Arizona, as well as in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.

His areas of high knowledge include various types of safety hazards encountered in the workplace, with major concentrations including machine safeguarding and emergency egress. He is often called upon to explain OSHA policies and procedures, and how to prepare for and respond to OSHA inspections, complaints, and citations. Expert is eager to discuss the mitigation, control, and elimination of hazards, as well as other means to enhance employee protection, even where OSHA compliance may have been achieved. This “added value” includes means and methods (at times creative) of training and motivating employees.

Prior to founding his firm in 1992, he worked for USDOL/OSHA for 20 years, serving as compliance safety and health officer (safety specialist category), supervisory safety specialist, and assistant area director, in Connecticut. He frequently served as acting area director, as well. While with OSHA, Expert conducted hundreds of “walkaround” compliance inspections (and reviewed thousands), and successfully negotiated hundreds of settlement agreements with employers. He crafted dozens of inspection warrant applications, and secured the warrants from U. S. magistrates. Further, he investigated dozens of OSHA-related anti-discrimination cases. At the regional level, he evaluated VPP (Voluntary Protection Programs) applications.

Immediately prior to his employment with USDOL/OSHA, Expert was the Safety Director and Assistant Personnel Manager for Ross & Roberts Inc., a Stratford, Connecticut vinyl manufacturing plant. At the time, Ross & Roberts employed approximately 375 persons, with most of the employees being represented by the United Rubber Workers.

Expert served as an advisory panel member for Aspen Publishers, as well as for Business & Legal Reports. He is a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (past chapter vice president), the Connecticut Safety Society (past program committee chairman), the National Safety Council, and the Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

In 2005, Expert attended a New York City Department of Buildings hearing, at which he presented oral and written comments. The subject of the hearing was the proposed promulgation of Reference Standard RS 6-1 and RS 6-1A, in relation to Photoluminescent Exit Path Markings. The purpose of RS 6-1 and RS 6-1A was to establish technical standards for the installation of photoluminescent building signs, in compliance with Local Law 26 of 2004. As a result of Expert’s detailed comments, specific changes were made to the final version of this landmark standard.

He is the sole lecturer and “inspector” in two videos. He is also sole lecturer in a series of four online training modules, approximately 2 hrs combined.

More than 400 of his articles, columns, and Q&As have been published in magazines and newsletters. Examples of the publications include Safety Compliance Letter (Bureau of Business Practice, Aspen Publishers), Occupational Hazards magazine, Occupational Health & Safety magazine, Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, OSHA Up To Date (newsletter of the National Safety Council), and special supplements of Business & Legal Reports.

Expert has taught occupational safety and health at the undergraduate level (U. of New Haven, Mitchell College, Housatonic Community College) and the graduate level (U. of New Haven). He has also been a faculty member of the National Business Institute, the Institute of Business Law, and the Council on Education in Management.

He has given approximately 300 presentations (as OSHA employee and as self-employed safety consultant) to schools, labor, corporations, management, associations, insurance groups, and miscellaneous organizations. One of these presentations was a very well attended National Safety Council Webinar. Another was an on-line learning tool (podcast) for HeatTreat Radio. He has been interviewed on television, and quoted (aside from publication of his articles) in Safety + Health magazine (several times), Occupational Hazards magazine (several times), a publication of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (extensively), Logistics Management, Catalog Age magazine, Forging magazine, and ADA Compliance Guide.

Expert is the author of an OSHA preparation and response book, ~475 pages. The book is the definitive, step-by-step guide to the entire OSHA process. Expert’s special insider's insight guarantees an accurate, complete treatment of the subject, as well as a unique perspective on dealing with the Agency.

Expert's book has received exceptional praise from the American Society of Safety Engineers (Professional Safety magazine, The Advisor newsletter), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA Journal), corporations and safety directors (Unilever, LEGO Systems, Bic, Bayer, Lockheed Martin, Home Depot, Bristol-Myers, Gilbane, Turner, Skanska USA, Bodycote), consultants, academia (also, the book has been used as a course text in several colleges), the insurance industry (Travelers, Alea North America), attorneys, former USDOL solicitors, the Chairman and former Chief Counsel of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and former USDOL/OSHA officials.

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 1970 Degree: BA Subject: Sociology Institution: Clark University
Year: 1971 Degree: MS Subject: Social Sciences Institution: Southern CT State College

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1992 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: Owner, Safety Consultant Department:
Responsibilities:
He conducts on-site inspections of work sites (for hazard recognition/abatement, OSHA compliance, employee protection), prepares reports, works with attorneys including as expert witness, helps enhance safety programs, and helps resolve citations.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1972 to 1992 Employer: USDOL/OSHA Title: Asst. Area Director & Compliance Officer Department:
Responsibilities:
Compliance officer (safety specialist) and Assistant Area Director- worked in Hartford and Bridgeport, CT offices. He conducted hundreds of enforcement inspections, assigned and reviewed thousands of enforcement inspections, and consummated hundreds of settlement agreements with employers.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1971 to 1972 Employer: Ross and Roberts Inc. Title: Safety Director Department:
Responsibilities:
Helped to assure OSHA compliance and employee protection.

Government Experience

Years Agency Role Description
Years: 1972 to 1992 Agency: USDOL/OSHA Role: Direct Employee Description: He worked here for 20 years, serving as a compliance safety and health officer (safety specialist category), supervisory safety specialist, and assistant area director in Connecticut.

International Experience

Years Country / Region Summary
Years: 2001 to 2001 Country / Region: Belgium Summary: He inspected a very large consumer product factory, with the aim of employee protection, through hazard recognition/abatement.
Years: 2010 to 2010 Country / Region: Switzerland Summary: He inspected a huge fixture (larger than a normal room), being built for a USA company, with the aim of employee protection and OSHA compliance, through hazard recognition/abatement.

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
AFFILIATIONS
-American Society of Safety Professionals (member; Nutmeg Chapter Vice President when ASSEngineers)
-National Safety Council (member, author, regular contributor)
-Connecticut Safety Society (member; Program Committee Chairman)
-Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health (member)
-ARCCA, Incorporated (consultant)
-Intellex (consultant)
-Metal Treating Institute (consultant)
-Odyssey of the Mind (international creative problem-solving competition, encouraging divergent thinking):
judge- State Finals & World Finals, problem captain- state, coach- 3 consecutive state champion teams
--& formerly: Bureau of Business Practice (editorial advisory panel member; BBP acquired by Aspen Publishers),
Aspen Publishers (editorial advisory panel member), Business & Legal Reports (advisory panel member),
Association of Federal Safety Employees (member)
Connecticut Business & Industry Association (consultant), American Association of Industrial Mgmt (consultant)
Professional Appointments
He was Vice President of ASSE chapter and Program Director for Connecticut Safety Society. He has also served on an advisory panel for Business and Legal Reports.
Publications and Patents Summary
Expert has published over 350 articles, columns, and Q & A's in various journals, newsletters and magazines.
Books: 1

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
He has worked with several dozen attorneys. He has testified more than 60 times (in court, by deposition, and at arbitration.) While with OSHA, he wrote many warrants.

TESTIMONY
-48 depositions, 2 arbitrations, approximately 18 court
Training / Seminars
He has presented more than 300 training sessions, including to employers, unions, attorneys, colleges (including as undergraduate and graduate college instructor), associations, and so on. Topics have included (but were not limited to): common hazards (general industry, construction, retail, warehouses, hospitals, and other fields), safety programs/culture, and preparation for and response to OSHA inspections.
Expert has certificates for 38 courses and seminars.

Through USDOL/OSHA While Employed by USDOL/OSHA:
(all presented by USDOL directly, unless otherwise designated) (most recent noted- has done many prior to 1983)
Asterisk (*) indicates that have a certificate for the listed course/seminar.
As of April 2017, show certificates for 35 courses/seminars

-02/83 Mechanical Power Presses- Hartford, CT
-03/83 Joint DOL-NCFLL Memorandum of Understanding- Boston, MA
*-05/83 Recognition and Control of Accident Prevention in the Workplace Due to Human, Psychological and Ergonomic Factors- St. Paul, MN (Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, U. of Minnesota)
-09/83 Understanding and Managing Human Behavior- Boston, MA (US Office of Personnel Management)
*-11/83 Full Service Area Office Training Services Orientation- Des Plaines, IL
-05/84 Freedom of Information Act- Boston, MA
-09/84 Training Managers Workshop- Hartford, CT
*-08/85 Management Skills for the IMIS- DC
*-08/86 Mobile Cranes and Rigging (OSHA 1910.180, 184; 1926.550)- Houston, TX (Crane Tech)
*-01/89 EEO Workshop for Supervisors- Hyannis, MA
-02/89 Using OSHA’s Management Information- McLean, VA
-05/89 11(c) Basic Investigation Training (OSHA-Related Discrimination)- Windsor Locks, CT
*-08/89 Labor and Employee Relations Course for Supervisors/Managers- Portland, ME
-09/90 Substance Abuse in the Workplace- Boston, MA
-09/90 Critical Incidence Stress Training- Hartford, CT
-12/90 Total Quality Management- Boston, MA
-03/91 Workers’ Compensation- Boston, MA (US Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs)
-03/91 Stress Management- East Windsor, CT (US Office of Personnel Management)
*-04/91 Laboratory Safety Seminar- East Windsor, CT
*-06/91 Conducting a Hospital Inspection- East Windsor, CT
-09/91 On Camera- Boston, MA
-10/91 Secretary of Labor’s Sexual Harassment Awareness Seminar- Boston, MA
-05/92 Comprehensive Safety and Health for Supervisors/Managers- Boston, MA


After Employed by USDOL/OSHA:
-03/09 OSHA 10-hour Training Course in Construction Safety & Health (by USDOL/OSHA)- ???, CT
-11/09 CPR/AED- Woodbridge, CT
*-09/11 Construction Site Safety Awareness Workshop
(by State of Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health)- Wethersfield, CT
-10/13 The Right to Understand- Providing Employees with Effective Training on OSHA’s Revised Hazard Communication Standard (by State of Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health)- Wethersfield, CT
*-11/13 Globally Harmonized System (GHS)/Chemical Hazard Communication Safety Training Class (by State of Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health)- Milford, CT
-06/15 Personal Fall Arrest Systems (by MSA North America)- Newington, CT
-10/15 Permit-Required Confined Spaces (by Hettrick, Cyr & Associates)- Danbury, CT
-10/15 Personal Fall Arrest Systems (by MSA North America)- Danbury, CT

also, presentations on: forklifts, mechanical power presses, machine guarding, ladders, egress, scaffolds, nursing homes, workplace violence, injury/illness recordkeeping, highway work zones, electrical, trenching
Vendor Selection
He has recommended experts in electrical, ergonomic and industrial hygiene; transportation; OSHA-specific legal; and other fields.
Marketing Experience
- Sole lecturer/inspector in two videos
-Sole lecturer in a series of four online training modules
Other Relevant Experience
He often recommends specific, creative, out-of-the-box approaches to problem-solving regarding hazard abatement and other issues impacting on employee protection.

To provide one specific example:
In 2005, Expert attended a New York City Department of Buildings hearing, at which he presented oral and written comments. The subject of the hearing was the proposed promulgation of Reference Standard RS 6-1 and RS 6-1A, in relation to Photoluminescent Exit Path Markings. The purpose of RS 6-1 and RS 6-1A was to establish technical standards for the installation of photoluminescent building signs, in compliance with Local Law 26 of 2004. As a result of Expert's detailed comments, specific changes were made to the final version of this landmark standard.

Fields of Expertise

A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Program, accident investigation, accident reduction, construction safety equipment, construction safety management, contractor safety management, eye safety, federal safety regulation, fire safety, Hazard Communication Standard, hazardous material handling, industrial safety, injury prevention, inspector training, machine safety, machinery-related accident, occupational safety, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard, OSHA electrical regulation, plant safety, pre-startup safety review, safety auditing, safety code, safety equipment, safety management, safety procedure, safety standard, citation resolution, OSHA citations, OSHA compliance, OSHA voluntary protection program, accident, accident causation, employee motivation, employee protection, employee safety, expert witness, fall protection, industrial accident, industrial accident investigation, machine guard, machine guarding, machine press, machine shop, maintenance safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, personal injury investigation, safety, safety compliance, safety device, safety plan, safety inspection, workplace injury, testimony, employee training, lock out tag procedure, confined space safety, off-the-job safety, accident analysis, personal protection equipment, materials safety data sheet, calender, flammable material handling, contractor safety, construction safety

Request Expert

Dev Tool:

Request: expert/occupational-safety-hazard-recognition-abatement-citation-resolution-osha
Matched Rewrite Rule: expert/([^/]+)(?:/([0-9]+))?/?$
Matched Rewrite Query: experts=occupational-safety-hazard-recognition-abatement-citation-resolution-osha&page=
Loaded Template: single-experts.php