ehs wire

 

 

blog horizontal banner

Environmental Health and Safety Blog | EHSWire

NIOSH’s Total Worker Health ™ - a Challenge to the EHS Profession

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Mar 12, 2013 11:01:00 AM

by Barbara Alves

As part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) is founded on a mission “to provide national and world leadership to prevent workplace Illness and Injury”. 

Read More

Topics: Emilcott, NIOSH, EHS, Environmental, Health and Safety Professionals, NIOSH Total Worker Health Program

Emilcott Introduces New Look for 2013!

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jan 23, 2013 12:44:00 PM

Emilcott is excited and proud to launch our new website! We understand the importance of utilizing the latest in website design to better highlight our commitment to serve as a leader in the environmental, health and safety field. Our goal in redesigning of our website is to make the important information you need easier to find and access. Our new site is intended to serve as a resource for regulatory news and updates, EHS course schedules, articles and event notifications. 

Some new features include:

 


CONNECTION

Enjoy a modern layout and design that is optimized to be viewed in multiple devices and over any level of internet connects. Whether you are on an iPad, Android phone in the field, or at your computer in your office, you will never have a problem accessing our website.

 

Read More

Topics: EHS, environmental health and safety consultants nj, nj ehs professionals, occupation health and safety experts, ehs professional resources

EHS Expert Witness Guide - Just the Facts!

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Nov 7, 2010 10:56:16 PM


Barbara Glynn Alves

I cut my teeth in the environmental, health and safety (EHS) business helping prepare a group of experts for deposition in civil actions.   It was fascinating work, but I can tell you without hesitation, that not all experts are created equal. If you are in litigation regarding an environmental, health or safety issue, there is a good chance that both plaintiff and defendant counsel will enlist the services of an expert or two. Caveat emptor - shop around!

What is the role of an Expert Witness?


The legal profession relies heavily on the use of industry experts to clarify and support evidence or facts that are at issue. These experts are most often used to clarify the scientific or technical facts of the case.  Specifically, the job of the expert witness is to assist the “trier of fact” (either the judge or a jury) by helping them understand “things” they might not otherwise understand.

Counsel seek experts based on their knowledge, training, education, skills, reputation or experience in their field of expertise in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence 702 (FRE 702). As with all expert witnesses, EHS experts are generally asked to perform a variety of different tasks, depending on counsel’s strategy for the case:

  • Review documents

  • Conduct independent investigations

  • Perform research – particularly on regulations

  • Prepare an opinion about the facts

  • Present an expert report – written or orally

  • Give a sworn deposition

  • Testify at trial


How do you shop for an EHS expert? 


Cautiously! Litigation is expensive in both professional fees and time so it pays to use the most qualified and suitable expert available.  In addition to following FRE 702, your counsel should also consider the expert’s ability to write technical documents, the level of support the expert can provide to research the facts of the case, and their comfort level providing these services in the legal forum and within a litigious and, perhaps, emotionally charged environment.

Also, to better illuminate a witness’s expertise, there are several independent certifying boards that can help you and your attorney through the vetting process. The organizations listed below use a fairly elaborate and strict certification procedure and have required continued maintenance actions of their designees.  Each one of these organizations gives additional information about their specific certification requirements and process on their websites. Their areas of expertise are also clearly explained, particularly if you are in need of a specialist.

For both counsel and client, I recommend spending time to do research and find qualified EHS professionals who can help you win your case.  Ask for detailed CVs, referrals, samples of published writings and the achievement of board certification. As an EHS consulting group with professionals who have achieved CHMM, CIH, CSP, PE, CHMP and CHST designations, Emilcott is often asked to provide expert witness services in a wide variety of environmental, health and safety legal matters.  We take certification from independent sources seriously, as do our clients.  In fact, attainment of a professional certification has always been a requirement for our senior technical staff.  Working with the legal profession has only reinforced that philosophy.

Have you ever worked with an EHS expert witness? What did you think of the experience?
Read More

Topics: OSHA, indoor air quality, EHS, General Industry H&S, General EHS, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, Homeland Security, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, Compliance, TSCA & R.E.A.C.H., Lab Safety & Electrical, Fire Safety, legal, law, experts, expert witness

Subscribe to EHSWire.com!

Search EHSWire.com!

Latest Posts

Posts by category