Portfolio
30 years experience of identifying and assessing physical hazards and human factors issues in very wide spectrum of domestic products and consumer facilities. Over a hundred expert witness reports written for injury claims or trading standards cases on issues including causes of accidents, foreseeable child behaviour, warnings or instructions, diligence in supply chain, risk assessments and product recalls. Reasoned interpretations given of general and specific safety expectations, published standards, safety regulations, European Directives and statutory duties of care. Opinions also given where criminal prosecutions or child care proceedings involve disputed assertions of product involvement in injuries.
GH Associates
Request CV, rates or a discussion
Products on which I have written expert witness reports inlcude:
DIY and vehicle maintenance equipment. Toys. Play and educational equipment. Pushchairs, nursery and childcare products. Choking hazards. Child-resistant features. Domestic glazing, doors and other construction products. Window blinds. Ladders and step stools . Garden tools. Furniture. Food preparation, cooking and kitchen equipment. Surface temperatures. Electrical, gas, and solid fuel appliances. Stoves. Cigarette lighters. Cycles. Clothing. Protective equipment. Stairlifts and living aids. Exercise, sports and leisure equipment. Personal care devices (hairdryers, hair staighteners, heat pads). Packaging of food and other products. Labels, warnings and instructions. Consumer appliances in rented accommodation, hotels and holiday lettings. Domestic products used in nurseries, schools or workplaces.
Alongside my product safety expert witness work, I am Director of a consultancy established in 1998 specialising in consumer hazards and accident prevention which provides advice to suppliers of consumer products and conducts research for regulatory and standards bodies - in the UK and overseas. The European Commission has appointed me to its pool of scientific advisors on risk assessment. Prior to this, I worked for many years in the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Safety Unit, becoming UK Government representative in relation to many European standards issues, including child care products. I remain active in a wide range of consumer product safety standards issues for BSI.
I am a chartered Mechanical Engineer, a Registered Member of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, and a Founding Individual Member of the Expert Witness Institute. I have a first degree in engineering from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in metallurgy from the University of Birmingham.
• Over ten year’s practising as an expert witness in 100+ product safety, work injury and occupiers liability cases by solicitors for claimants and defence and by trading standards
• Described as “highly qualified and experienced” by Lord Justice Pill in an appeal court judgement.
• Published journal articles and international conference papers including “Risk per hour of exposure to consumer products”, and “Standards and defects in product liability claims after Tesco v Pollard”
• Guest editor of leading international journal “Accident Analysis and Prevention”
• Appointed a Scientific Advisor on Risk Assessment by the European Commission
