Who We Serve
We provide forensic engineering services to a wide array of industries within the United States and abroad. Our clientele consists primarily of attorneys, insurance professionals, private industries, electric utilities and government agencies. However, our association of professional engineers are capable of providing forensic engineering and expert witness services to nearly any organization.
To view a selection of clients we’ve had the pleasure of working with, please refer to the list below.
Fire of Suspected Electrical Origin
Retained by Electric Utility
Fire in apartment after meter bank replaced on apartment building
A resident in an apartment complex reported problems with her electrical service. The management company retained an electrical contractor who replaced the meter bank on the resident’s building. Upon re-energizing the apartments, one of the workers observed smoke coming from the subject apartment and called 911.
JBSCO provided the following services:
- Attend the site inspection,
- Interview the fire cause and origin investigators,
- Interview the electrical contractor’s employees who were witnesses,
- Review documents and reports provided,
- Determine which, if any, codes, rules, and standards of care were applicable.
JBSCO was able to determine that the utility company de-energized and re-energized the electrical service to the meter bank at the request of the licensed electrical contractor. Further, the licensed electrical contractor was on site and in control of the work at the time the meter bank was re-energized. The electric utility complied with applicable standards of care and its own policies in relying on the electrical contractor.
Electrical Contact Injury/Death
Retained by workers comp carrier
Worker in grove contacts overhead medium voltage electric utility power line.
A grove worker contacted an overhead power line with a metal ladder while picking fruit. The contact occurred as the worker moved the ladder from tree to tree. The worker was badly injured but survived. JBSCO was asked to investigate and reconstruct the event.
- JBSCO provided the following services:
- Make an onsite inspection,
- Analyze the electrical and mechanical properties of the power line including clearance above ground,
- Examine the workers clothes, PPE, equipment, ladder and power line for contact points,
- Review first responder reports and ER reports regarding worker’s wounds to determine electric current path,
- Interview worker and witnesses,
- Determine which, if any, codes, rules, and standards of care were applicable.
JBSCO was able to determine that the electric utility power line contacted by the worker met the clearance above ground set out in the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) for the circumstances. Further, the ladder being used by the worker was conductive metal and of sufficient length to violate the minimum approach distance (MAD) set out in OSHA regulations. Contact or witness marks on the power line, the ladder, and the ground, and the workers wounds were consistent with electrical contact via the ladder.
Electrical Contact Injury
Retained by attorney for the worker
An electric utility worker was injured while working pole top to replace a rotten pole on a medium voltage distribution circuit.
A certified 2nd class lineman was working at the pole top after being advised by his supervisor that the 3 phase medium voltage distribution circuit was de-energized. Shortly after beginning work, the worker was severely burned when he contacted a single phase that was still energized.
JBSCO provided the following services:
- Review and analyze the witness statements and various reports provided,
- Review and analyze the photographs provided,
- Review the applicable rules, codes, and standards applicable to the work.
JBSCO was able to determine that the employer and supervisor knew, or should have know, that the load-break switch controlling the circuit was defective, that one phase had been bypassed, and that the switch would not fully open. Further, the circuit was not de-energized, grounded, or tested as set out by OSHA, NFPA 70E, and the employer’s own policies.
Electrical Contact Injury
Retained by attorney for the worker
Worker injured when contacting overhead electric utility power line.
A worker was applying a roof coating on the roof of a commercial building. While applying the coating to a vertical wall using a roller, the metallic handle of the roller contacted an overhead medium voltage electric utility power line and the worker was electrified. JBSCO was asked to investigate and reconstruct the event.
JBSCO provided the following services:
- Make an onsite inspection,
- Analyze the electrical and mechanical properties of the power line,
- Perform a detailed analysis of the construction and maintenance history of the power line,
- Examine the roller handle and power line for contact points,
- Review first responder reports and ER reports for worker’s wounds to determine electric current path,
- Interview worker and witnesses,
- Determine which, if any, codes, rules, and standards of care were applicable.
JBSCO was able to determine that the electric utility power line contacted by the worker did not meet the clearance requirements set out in the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) for the circumstances. Further, the power line was open and obvious, and the worker violated the minimum approach distance (MAD) set out in OSHA. A graphical recreation of the event by JBSCO determined that the roller handle would not have contacted the power line had the power line met the clearance requirements set out in the NESC.
Electrical Contact Injury
Retained by criminal defense attorney for the lineman’s supervisor
A junior utility company lineman was killed while servicing pole top equipment.
A junior utility lineman was repairing a corroded connection at the pole top of a medium voltage distribution circuit. His supervisor left to fetch an additional tool and found the lineman non-responsive upon his return. The supervisor had opened and locked out the load-break switch supplying the circuit, however, the circuit was not grounded.
A pole top rescue was accomplished but the injured lineman was deceased. The supervisor was charged with the death of the lineman.
- JBSCO provided the following services:
- Review and analyze the documents provided,
- Analyze the actions that lead to the death of the lineman,
- Review the applicable rules, codes, and standards of care.
JBSCO was able to determine that the most likely source of the offending electric current was back feed from a local construction site using a portable generator. Further, the subject electrical circuit was not properly de-energized in accordance with industry standards of care as well as the utility’s own procedures.
Electric Shock Drowning
Retained by attorney for one of the defendants.
A youth was killed while swimming in the family swimming pool
The youth was swimming in the pool with a companion. The youth was observed struggling by the companion who was on the pool deck. The companion was unable to assist due to electric shocks received when attempting to enter the pool water. First responders were unable to revive the youth. JBSCO was asked to investigate and reconstruct the event.
JBSCO provided the following services:
- Attend site inspections,
- Inspect and test the residential electrical system for faults and defects,
- Review and analyze the physical evidence and witness accounts,
- Review the first responder and ER reports,
- Attend laboratory examinations of the pool electrical equipment,
- Determine the source of the offending electric current,
- Determine which, if any, rules, codes, and standards of care were applicable.
JBSCO was able to determine that the electrical equipment installed by the defendant did not meet the National Electrical Code (NEC) at the time of its installation. However, JBSCO was also able to determine that the deficiency did not contribute to the electric current in the pool.
JBSCo was able to determine that the offending electrical current resulted from two separate failures. The first was the removal of an equipment grounding conductor in the electrical feeder to the swimming pool and dock lights. The second was the intrusion of salt water into an improperly installed electrical junction box which allowed electric current leakage from the ‘hot’ conductor to the no longer grounded equipment grounding conductor. The equipment grounding conductor was properly connected to the submerged pool light, energized the metallic light housing, and conducted electric current into the pool.
Retained by workers compensation carrier
Worker killed while wiring 480 volt switchgear
A qualified electrical worker and helper were pulling wire for a 480 volt, 3 phase feeder circuit into energized switchgear. While pulling and landing the wire, the equipment grounding conductor contacted an energized busbar resulting in an arc flash explosion. The worker was killed and the helper was badly injured. JBSCO was asked to investigate and reconstruct the event.
JBSCO provided the following services:
- Make a site inspection,
- Interview and analyze witness statements,
- Make a detailed analysis of the electrical equipment involved,
- Review arc flash calculations and warning labels,
- Determine which, if any, rules, codes, and standards of care were applicable.
JBSCO was able to determine that the employee was working without de-energizing the switchgear and without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment as set out in OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E.