CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

Expert Witness No. 1062

California

CERTIFIED ASBESTOS CONSULTANT

MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Areas of Expertise: Cal/OSHA, asbestos, mold, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, HAZWOPER, hazardous waste site, emergency response, confined space, air monitoring, soil testing, water testing, respirator, respiratory protection, chemical contaminants, underground storage tank, chemical exposure, Material Safety Data Sheets, pesticides, pollution, indoor air quality, paint, fumes, dust, petroleum, hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, MTBE, organic vapors, LEL, explosion hazard

Construction Delay Claims:

The expert has experience with Construction Delay Claims, specific to hazardous materials.

Hazardous Materials in Soil Construction Delay Claims:

The horizontal boring company (plaintiff) files Notice of Claim for Differing Site Conditions when encountering hazardous materials in the soil and explosive and toxic vapors inside the tunnel. The contractor depends on the CIH to conduct soil testing and atmospheric testing to prove a differing site condition because of petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals and corrosive pH of soil.  Soils were previously thought (at time of contract) to be "clean" soils. The project is delayed due to time for soil analysis, report preparation, and Health and Safety Plan preparation by the CIH. The new required safety equipment also delays the project because of the new requirements for personnel to don respiratory protection, prepare Hot Work permits and install ventilation at the site. The project cost increases due to chemical contaminant analysis, CIH oversight and daily on-site Health and Safety monitoring by trained personnel.

Mold Abatement Construction Delay Claim:

This ongoing case (1997-2003) involves the mold abatement contractor and general contractor (defendants) being sued for construction delay because of alleged failure to effectively remove all mold from the Malibu resident's (plaintiffs) 5 million dollar home. The defendant is being asked to pay for damages due to the delay of the remodel project and loss of use of residence. The CIH is working with counsel to determine the original scope of work, the abatement schedule and the final fungal spore counts following abatement activities.

Asbestos Abatement Construction Delay Claims:

Other cases involve construction delay claims related to asbestos abatement projects. The asbestos abatement contractors (defendants) were fined by the school district (plaintiff) or commercial building architect/planner (plaintiff) for delay of project and not effectively removing all asbestos fibers from the air prior to allowing the next phase of general contractors into the building. The CIH is required to provide daily air monitoring data sheets and daily logs to determine when "clearance" level asbestos was provided to the abatement contractor.

Academic Achievements

Bachelor’s of Art (B.A.) in Biological Science, University of California at San Diego (UCSD), 1985

Master’s of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Occupational and Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene major, San Diego State University (SDSU), 1990

University of California at Berkeley: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) accredited Lead Hazards for CIH course, 1997

Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Project Designer, Inspector, Management Planner, Contractor Supervisor accreditation, initial (1994) and current: 2003

40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) and Confined Space Entry training courses, initial (1993) and current: 2003

Professional Certifications

American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), awarded 1993

California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) Asbestos Certification Unit Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC), awarded 1994

Professional Services