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Accident investigations often are intended to identify
the immediate and contributing causes of an accident and to establish the timing of critical
events. The engineers examine the accident scene and other physical evidence and perform
measurements and calculations to establish a self-consistent interpretation of the event that
can be compared with other evidence such as witness statements.
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Some examples of accidents that have been investigated by the engineers include:
- Structural and vehicle fires and explosions
- Water and gas line ruptures
- Construction accidents involving equipment such as:
- cranes
- loaders
- trucks
- excavators
- forklifts
- personnel hoists
- Construction and home accidents involving power tools such as saws and mowers
- Slips and falls
- Carbon monoxide poisonings in structures and vehicles
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Accident investigations are often supplemented by reviews of applicable databases, codes, and standards, including those of:
- Underwriters Laboratories
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- National Electrical Code
- Texas Railroad Commission
- American Gas Association
- NFPA
- AASHTO
- and others
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