MEC&F Expert Engineers : 09/11/16

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Worker Injured After Stump Grinder Tips Over in Arlington, VA, crushing the man’s leg




Here is some information provided by the good Samaritans who stopped to help the injured worker:


My wife and I stopped to help this man around 12:45pm. There were already two men there. One called 911. It took myself and four other men to lift the machine high enough for my wife to pull the man's arm out from under the machinery. His right leg had a compound fracture with the bone sticking out of his ripped pants. When we left the scene just before two, no representative from the company had shown up. He was working alone. My wife helped him call his uncle who he said was his boss. The property managers over seeing the work came out after EMS arrived. The man's legs were not under the machinery when we stopped. He was lucky he didn't lose his right forearm. The man's left leg was shaking uncontrollably from the pain. It did not appear to be crushed. 

by ARLnow.com — 


September 9, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Arlington, VA
 
A man was injured Friday afternoon after a piece of equipment he was using toppled over on top of him.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. on the 2300 block of Army Navy Drive, behind a row of homes in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood.

The worker was using a stump grinder on an embankment when due to gravity the equipment tipped over, crushing the man’s legs and reported burning his face or upper body.

The man was transported via ambulance to the trauma center at George Washington University with leg injuries, including a broken leg, and burns. Police remained on scene to investigate and talk with a supervisor from the company for which the man was working.

City of Dubuque will pay $54,500 for worker's compensation claim who injured his left shoulder after falling off a tractor





Posted: Sunday, September 11, 2016 12:30 am

Telegraph Herald



The City of Dubuque will pay more than $54,500 to settle a worker’s compensation claim from a Leisure Services Department employee.

James Hoerner, 78, was injured on the job April 4, 2012. Hoerner was a seasonal employee in the Leisure Services Department for 12 years, according to city documents.


Hoerner injured his left shoulder after falling off a tractor or riding lawn mower, requiring shoulder replacement surgery that left him with a lifting restriction and a whole body impairment, according to attorney Les Reddick, who is representing the city in the matter. Hoerner was unable to return to work for the city because of the injury, according to Reddick.

Under the settlement, the city will pay Hoerner a $54,552.60 lump sum and assumes responsibility for future medical expenses related to the injury.

Because Hoerner is on Medicare, the city is not able to close out medical bills related to the incident, according to Reddick.

In return, Hoerner agrees to release the city from all liability under the state’s worker’s compensation law and is barred from receiving future benefits related to the injury, with the exception of medical expenses.

Reddick, in a letter to City Attorney Barry Lindahl, wrote that the settlement is “fair and reasonable.” Should it go to trial, Reddick wrote he would “expect significant monetary recovery by Hoerner in excess of the settlement amount.

Firefighters battle transformer explosion and fire at Talen Energy Power Plant in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, PA






Firefighters are battling a power plant fire in the Lehigh Valley. (Beverly Csezmadia Brown)

Updated 39 mins ago
LOWER MOUNT BETHEL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Firefighters are battling a power plant fire in the Lehigh Valley.

The fire started around 7:45 p.m. Sunday at Talen Energy Power Plant in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County.

The plant is located on the 6000 block of Depues Ferry Road.

Officials say a transformer malfunction led to the fire.

No injuries have been reported.

At this time, there are no power outages in the area.



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Fire Burns After Transformer Explosion at Lehigh Valley Natural Gas Power Plant
The fire is contained to the transformer on the plant's grounds
By Vince Lattanzio






Beverly Csezmadia Brown
Flames and smoke shoot into the sky after an apparent transformer explosion at a natural gas power plant in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.


Firefighters are staged outside a Lehigh Valley natural gas power plant after an explosion sparked a blaze at the facility Sunday evening, officials said.

A transformer exploded just after 8 p.m. at Talen Energy's Lower Mount Bethel power plant along Depues Ferry Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County emergency dispatchers tell NBC10.


Photos posted by people living near the plant, which sits next to the Delaware River, showed intense flames and thick black smoke billowing into the air.

Firefighters were forced to stay back from the fire because of electrocution concerns when they first arrived on scene. They were spraying fire-retardant foam on the blaze from afar, officials said.



A fire burns in the distance on the grounds of the Talen Energy Lower Mount Bethel natural gas power plant.
Photo credit: Beverly Csezmadia Brown

The fire is contained to the transformer on the plant's grounds. The plant burns natural gas to produce electricity, according to Talen's website. Officials said the generation facility is not burning.

There are no reports of injuries and residents have not been evacuated.


Todd Martin, a spokesman for Talen Energy, said the plant has been completely shut down and will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Martin said there's no danger to the public or employees.

"[It] will will take time to investigate and evaluate to ensure whatever has happened will not happen again," he told NBC10. "An investigation is ongoing into what caused the units involved to stop operation tonight.


Martin said the company will work with state regulators on an investigation into the incident.

The plant's shut down has not resulted in power outages, officials said.


1 dead, 3 injured in rollover crash of a pick-up truck on I-80/94 in Lake Station, Indiana



One Indiana man was killed and three others were injured in a rollover crash Friday night on I-80/94 in northwest Indiana. ( Indiana State Police )


Sun-Times Media Wire
Sunday, September 11, 2016 12:35PM


One Michigan man was killed and three others were injured in a rollover crash Friday night in northwest Indiana.

The 2009 Toyota pickup truck was in the middle lane of westbound I-80/94 near the Ripley Street exit in Lake Station during a heavy downpour just before 7 p.m. Friday when the pickup went off the road to the north and struck a guardrail, causing it to roll over an unknown amount of times, according to Indiana State Police.

One of the backseat passengers, 21-year-old Alfonzo Balboa, Jr., was ejected from the pickup, which rolled on top of him, state police said. He was asleep and not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Balboa, of Galesburg, Michigan, was taken to Methodist Northlake Hospital in Gary, then transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, according to state police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The driver, a 21-year-old man from Kalamazoo, Michigan, was also not wearing a seat belt and taken to Methodist Northlake with non-life-threatening injuries, state police said.

The front seat passenger, a 20-year-old Kalamazoo man, and the second backseat passenger, a 21-year-old Kalamazoo man, were both wearing their seat belts and taken to Methodist Northlake with non-life-threatening injuries, state police said.

Four Chicago police officers injured after a Chicago police SUV T-boned a squad car in Englewood.





A Chicago police SUV collided with a squad car in Englewood.

Sunday, September 11, 2016 06:31AM
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Four Chicago police officers were injured in a crash on the South Side Saturday night, police said.

A police SUV collided with a squad car just after 11:30 p.m. at 59th Street and Ashland Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood.

The four injured officers were hospitalized. Police said that their injuries are non-life threatening.

DRUNKS AND UNLICENSED DRIVERS CAUSE MAYHEM IN NY: 1 dead, at least 6 injured after violent, high speed Queens T-bone collision





A 23-year-old woman sitting on a back-seat passenger’s lap was killed and six others were injured when the packed car they were riding in collided with another vehicle at a Queens intersection Sunday morning, police said.

The 2004 Audi A6 sedan, which was crammed-full with a driver and six passengers, collided with a green Honda, driven by a 52-year-old woman, after running a stop sign on 120th St. at Linden Blvd. in South Ozone Park around 4:25 a.m., police said.

The black Audi, which is designed to seat five in total, had been traveling north on 120th St. when it rammed the Honda and then slammed into a wall and flipped, police said.

The driver of the Honda had been heading west on Linden Blvd. at the intersection, according to witnesses.


Emergency responders pulled 23-year-old Desray Leroy, of Queens, from the wreckage and rushed her to Jamaica Hospital, but she died from head trauma, police said.

The Audi involved in the collision flipped onto its roof. (Marc A. Hermann/for New York Daily News)

The 25-year-old driver of the Audi, who suffered a broken femur, and the five other passengers in the car were also rushed to Jamaica Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The 53-year-old woman driving the Honda, identified by police as Ray Mouton, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, police said.

It was not immediately clear if either driver would be charged with a crime.



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1 dead, at least 6 injured after violent Queens crash






CeFaan Kim
Updated 1 hr 56 mins ago
SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) -- An Audi flipped upside down as a result of a devastating crash early Sunday morning, killing a 23-year-old woman who was riding inside.

Police say the driver of the Audi ran the stop sign. Everyone in that car and the other vehicle, a green Honda, were injured - a total of seven people in all, including the 25-year-old driver of the Audi, who suffered a broken femur.


Police say the vehicle was crammed with people - six passengers, including Desray Leroy, who was in a passenger's lap in the back seat. She did not survive.

Neighbors say it was obvious that the crash was fatal.

"Glass shattered all over. Detectives all over - looking over seeing what's going on, seeing how it happened, nobody has applied brakes," said Dyarel Somwaru.


"I was like, maybe they drink, had a few drinks? Stuff like that. Because nobody drives so speeding (sic) on this road," says resident Satro Somer.

On Sunday, police confirmed neighbor's suspicions. The driver of the green Honda, 53-year-old Ray Mouton was arrested and charged with drunk driving. She had no license.

Desray Leroy's family is gathering at her home, just five minutes from the crash scene. They are understandably distraught, and are asking for privacy.

Third Person Dies in Louisiana Bus, Fire Truck Crash; bus driven by illegal immigrant from Honduras, w/o license










Crash near LaPlace killed a fire chief and two other people
Fri, Sep 2, 2016



Tow truck operator Lee Maguire helps clean up the scene of a fatal wreck on Interstate 10 near Laplace on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. A bus full of construction workers, seen, hit a firetruck on an elevated highway Sunday, killing 3 people and injuring dozens, several of them seriously, Louisiana State Police said. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
 



NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Mississippi man died Thursday from injuries suffered when a bus carrying people seeking flood recovery work in south Louisiana hit a fire truck and other vehicles on an elevated highway west of New Orleans.

State police said Vontarous Kelly, 33, of Moss Point, was the third person to die as a result of Sunday's accident on Interstate 10.

Kelly was a passenger in a car driven by Jermaine Starr of Moss Point, who died after the crash. Also killed was a St. John the Baptist Parish fire chief, Spencer Chauvin.

More than 30 others were injured.

Gov. John Bel Edwards on Thursday ordered that U.S. and state flags over the state Capitol be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday to honor Chauvin, whose funeral was Thursday.

"By all accounts, District Chief Chauvin was a courageous hero who never missed an opportunity to save a life or have the back of one of his fellow first responders," said Edwards.

State police are investigating the crash. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking the lead in investigating the owners of the bus, AM Party Bus and Kristina's Transportation LLC.

Bond is set at $1.1 million for the man accused of driving the bus, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, a Honduran immigrant. State police say he entered the country illegally and did not have a driver's license.

The fire truck that was hit by the bus was stopped on the highway to block traffic while state police investigated an earlier wreck.




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Two killed in Louisiana bus crash, driver in US illegally, cops say

Published August 29, 2016
FoxNews.com


At least 2 people killed in Louisiana bus crash  


An out-of-control bus driven by an illegal immigrant carrying flood recovery volunteers hit a fire truck and firefighters who had responded to an earlier crash Sunday morning on a Louisiana interstate, killing two people and injuring 36, according to state police.

The ladder truck from St. John the Baptist Parish, located west of New Orleans, had parked across the right lane of Interstate 10 to block traffic while police investigated an earlier crash involving a pickup truck that had skidded on the wet road, crashing into both guardrails about 6:40 a.m., Trooper Melissa Matey told local media.

The bus hit the fire truck, then hit a car, and then veered behind the fire truck and into the pickup truck, knocking three firefighters who were standing near the guard rail into the water below, Matey said.

Matey said the driver, identified as Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, of Honduras, was an employee of that company.

"He is in this country illegally from Honduras. He has no driver's license. He had minor injuries," she said.

Rodriguez will be booked in the St. John the Baptist jail and will be charged with two counts of negligent homicide, reckless operation, and no driver's license, Fox 8 reported. Police told the television station that additional charges are forthcoming.

Matey said the wreck killed Jermaine Starr, 21, of Moss Point, Mississippi, a back-seat passenger in the Camry, and St. John the Baptist Parish district Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. The injured included the other two firefighters, the bus driver, 24 bus passengers and a total of nine people in the car and pickups.

Firefighter Nicholas Saale, 32, of Ponchatoula, and Camry passenger Vontravous Kelly of Moss Point, Mississippi, are in critical condition, she said. The Camry's other two occupants, driver Marcus Tate, 35, and David Jones, both of Moss Point, are in serious condition.

Other injuries — including the Titan's two occupants, who suffered minor injuries in the original crash — ranged from minor to moderate, Matey said.

Matey said the bus was taking flood recovery workers from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and belonged to a company with two names: AM Party Bus and Kristina's Transportation LLC, both at the same address in Jefferson, about 30 miles from New Orleans in Jefferson Parish, Matey said.

No listing in Jefferson was available. A call by the Associated Press to Kristina's Transportation in Destrehan, 12 miles from Jefferson in St. Charles Parish, was not answered Sunday. A woman who answered the phone at AM Party Bus of New Orleans told the AP was only authorized to take booking calls.

“This is a very sad day for all first responders in Louisiana,” Colonel Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police Superintendent said in a statement obtained by Fox 8. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the St. John the Baptist Fire Department. Louisiana has the “Move Over” law in place to protect our first responders on our roadways. Please adhere to this law and slow down when approaching emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles on the road.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is siding with Exxon Mobil in the company's appeal of a fine and safety measures ordered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration



Chamber sides with Exxon in appeal over Arkansas oil spill


The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is siding with Exxon Mobil in the company's appeal of a fine and safety measures ordered by a federal regulatory agency after the company's Pegasus pipeline burst in March 2013 and spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a central Arkansas neighborhood.

The Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark.


The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is siding with Exxon Mobil in the company's appeal of a fine and safety measures ordered by a federal regulatory agency after the company's Pegasus pipe line burst in March 2013 and spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a central Arkansas neighborhood.

The chamber filed a friend-of-the-court brief this week with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans saying the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration revised its pipeline regulations only after the oil spill, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/2c05pBi ). The brief said that allowing the order to stand would threaten existing pipeline infrastructure and adversely affect the economy.

The pipeline safety agency "has engaged in a significant, post hoc revision of important regulations governing pipelines," according to the filing.

"Pipeline companies will think twice about further investments in pipeline infrastructure if they believe the courts will afford deference to pipeline regulators' dramatic, post hoc changes in pipeline policy under the guise of interpretation of purportedly ambiguous regulations."

Exxon Mobile subsidiary Exxon Mobile Pipeline Co. is challenging PHMSA's authority to order the safety measures and wants the court to overturn a $2.6 million fine that the company paid earlier this year as a result of the spill.

The safety administration has until Sept. 16 to respond.

Justice Department attorneys have said that the company didn't follow its own procedures when it assessed the safety of the Pegasus pipeline, which was constructed in 1947-48.

When the pipeline cracked, heavy crude oil spilled into a subdivision of Mayflower, drainage ditches and a Lake Conway cove. Government attorneys have said the accident caused more than $57 million in property damage.

The safety agency's compliance order requirement directs the company to revise its seam-failure susceptibility process for all pre-1970 electric resistance-welded pipe in all of the pipelines it operates.

Exxon Mobil has said it operates more than 1,000 miles of pipeline that is similar to the Pegasus and that is subject to the federal agency's safety regulations. The company has said it's being singled out with "extensive and costly" directives that don't apply to its competitors, putting it at a competitive disadvantage.

Oral arguments in the company's appeal are scheduled during the week of Oct. 31.

Ammonia leaked from freezer at Amy Foods, Inc. in Pasadena, Texas














Firefighters battle chemical leak in Pasadena, Texas
Officials say ammonia leaked from a freezer
By Click2Houston.com Staff



Updated: 8:50 AM, September 10, 2016

Firefighters are trying to figure out what led to an ammonia leak at a food processing plant in Pasadena.

Fire officials say the plant is on South Richey Street.

Ammonia was leaking from a freezer inside the plant.

The leak was not a threat to nearby communities.

There was, reportedly, just a terrible smell left behind.




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About Us

We are Victor and Phyllis Hsu. In 1971, we arrived from Taiwan to pursue our post-graduate studies in the US. We had a first success with our egg roll recipe at the annual Austin International Fair. With that memory, we added that signature egg roll to the menus of the two neighborhood original-reciped fried chicken take-out stores we owned in the late 70’s. When the popularity of our egg rolls grew, we decided to expand our egg roll business and started Amy Food Inc. in 1981. Our company is still family owned today. Amy Food Inc. is named after our first American-born child – In Taiwanese, “Amy” means “love of America.”

The Three Dragon name also has a special significance to Amy Food Inc. In the Taiwanese tradition, a family with three members born in the year of the dragon will experience good fortune. Our family has three dragons, and we definitely have been very lucky.

The Jamy’s Three Dragon™ brand is our retail brand, and is named after Amy’s younger and equally food savvy sister, Jamy.

We had a strong start with many local public schools around the Houston areas. Our commitment to the students’ school lunch program continues today. We are a staple supplier to the public school systems throughout the country. Now we have expanded our reach into the wholesale business and have created more products for the retail market, including all natural and organic food.


In addition to our full line of egg rolls, we also make potstickers, empanadas and party platters. Housed in a 40,000-square foot facility, our manufacturing plant has the state-of-the-art processing and packaging technologies . We constantly strive to create new and innovative products for our growing markets. Amy Food Inc. has been a loyal supporter of local agriculture and a member of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan program. We are a certified minority-owned business and maintain high standard of food safety for our products.

With our knowledge and passion for good food, Amy Food Inc. continues to find new flavors and tastes for great food. We hope you enjoy our labor of love.

We are located at 3324 South Richey Street, Houston, Texas 77017. It’s also where the organic garden, a grant-funded project of the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services is located. Telephone: 713-910-5860



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Ammonia Refrigeration in Cold Storage Facilities
A Brief History: Ether to Ammonia

In 1834, the first vapor compression refrigeration machine, that actually worked, was built. Jacob Perkins, an American living in England, was the builder and he charged the machine with ether. Perkins’ machine used the four basic parts found in every mechanical refrigeration system in use today:

  • Compressor
  • Condenser
  • Expansion valve
  • Evaporator

From these simple beginnings, today’s modern refrigeration systems were developed. They utilize design principles, materials of construction and controls that allow us to successfully store and distribute foodstuffs throughout the world marketplace. For large cold storage facilities, ammonia has become the refrigerant of choice because it produces the greatest net refrigerating effect (btu/lb), and often the lowest brake horsepower per ton of refrigeration (BHP/TR) of any industrial refrigerant.

Although ammonia is considered to be toxic, its irritating odor will give early warning to personnel to evacuate an area where concentrations are high. Depending on temperature and humidity, humans can detect ammonia vapors in air at concentrations as low as 20 parts per million (ppm). Moderate irritation to the nose begins at about 100 ppm, with major irritation at 400 ppm. Unless incapacitated in some other way, humans will generally quickly evacuate any area where an ammonia leak or spill has occurred before immediate danger to life and health (IDLH) levels are reached. 



Cold Storage Facilities

The demand for convenience foods in the United States has resulted in the construction of millions of square feet of both public and private cold storage facilities. These cold storage “warehouses” will have freezers and coolers dependent on ammonia refrigeration systems to control temperatures within the spaces to maintain product quality and freshness until shipped. With modern rack storage, it is not unusual to find product values in excess of $10 million stored at one facility.

The newest storage facilities utilize multi-level, fully automated storage and retrieval systems, and allow for a smaller footprint (square feet) to store high volumes (cubic feet) of product. The primary concern of any facility owner using ammonia refrigeration must be the safety of employees, although preservation of product, especially when high values are stored, should also be carefully considered.

Ammonia has a high affinity for moisture, and is readily absorbed by many materials. Even though modern ammonia refrigeration systems are designed to avoid any accidental release of ammonia, leaks and spills continue to occur each year, causing injuries, deaths and loss of millions of dollars in product. Emergency response plans, regardless of how well written or comprehensive they may be, will be ineffective if they are not practiced. Each employee must understand what his or her role will be in an emergency, and be ready to properly implement the plan when needed. Any leak or spill can injure employees and easily damage many thousands, or even millions of dollars worth of product in storage. Even with insurance in place, the financial impact to a facility owner can be devastating. What can be done to minimize the probability of a leak or spill? How can the effects of a leak or spill be minimized?
Codes and Standards

Today’s refrigeration systems include hundreds or thousands of feet of piping and large vessels containing ammonia vapor and liquid. There are established Codes and Standards to help define the materials and methods of construction. For ammonia piping, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code B31.5 – Refrigerant Piping should be consulted. Vessels used in refrigeration systems should be built in accordance with ASME Section VIII – Unfired Pressure Vessel Code.

In order to maintain the “mechanical integrity” of a system built to accepted Codes and Standards, qualified personnel must be used for any repairs, especially welded repairs, or other modifications to the system. ANSI/IIAR Standard 2 published by the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) is designed to serve as a guide to the design, manufacture, installation and use of ammonia mechanical refrigeration systems. The IIAR (www.iiar.org) publishes many standards, guidelines and technical papers dedicated to the safe and efficient use of ammonia refrigeration.



Photo: The Industrial Refrigeration Consortium - University of Wisconsin at Madison

A facility owner will most often depend on an experienced refrigeration engineer or contractor to be familiar with the applicable Codes and Standards for ammonia refrigeration systems. For this reason, careful selection of qualified, experienced engineers and contractors is needed when a new system is to be built, or repairs or modifications to an older system are being considered. A fully documented commissioning process should be completed before start up of new systems. IIAR Bulletin 109 – Guidelines for: Minimum Safety Criteria for a Safe Ammonia Refrigeration System can be used for inspection and documenting mechanical integrity of both new and existing ammonia refrigeration systems.
Qualified Operators

While having a system properly built to accepted Codes and Standards could go a long way towards insuring a system will have a high degree of mechanical integrity, any system that is improperly operated can fail. The benefits of having qualified, trained refrigeration system operators are many. Well-trained operators can help assure efficient operation of the system and will often recognize system problems before a failure occurs. Facilities unwilling to invest in training and keeping their refrigeration system in good condition are the most likely to experience an accidental release.

Facilities with ammonia refrigeration systems with a charge above 10,000 lbs will fall under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Risk Management Planning (RMP) regulations, which require formal documentation of training for operators. Owners of smaller systems will also have responsibility for maintaining a system in good operating condition under OSHA’s “General Duty Clause” which states:

"(a) Each employer –

(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

There are many good training resources available. Organizations such as the IIAR, Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA – www.reta.com), and the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC – www.irc.wisc.edu) are good sources for training courses designed to promote efficient design and operation of ammonia refrigeration systems.
Planning for Emergencies

Having a system with good mechanical integrity operated by well-trained personnel will certainly minimize the probability of an accidental leak or spill, but there are no guarantees that your facility will not have an accident. Failures related to product movement in the facility (impact damage) can occur if piping or system evaporators are unprotected. In rack storage, pallet space in the vicinity of system components should utilize mechanical stops or other means to avoid the possibility of impact from forklift operations.

Over years of operation, a system can be subject to corrosion, erosion, upsets, vibration and other conditions that may result in a leak or spill. As noted earlier, safety of employees will be of primary concern. Evacuation routes need to be planned, and designated employees will have responsibility for assuring proper evacuation and contacting emergency response personnel. One of the hardest questions to answer for any facility owner will be “who will respond to an ammonia leak or spill?” If employees will respond, they will require proper training and equipment to help locate and isolate any leak or spill. Various OSHA regulations define the level of training required and Hazard Communications requirements. Having employees properly trained and equipped as “first responders” will aid in quickly isolating a leak or spill, and the safe shutdown of the system.

Due to the toxic nature of ammonia, many facility owners will depend on local fire departments or HAZMAT teams to respond to an ammonia leak or spill. This may be effective for protecting employees, but it increases the probability of a large release and significant loss of product in storage. Facility owners need to consider the overall impact a large release can have on their operations. Interruption of business, loss of business, damage to brand name, inadequate insurance limits, and OSHA and EPA citations can add up to be financially devastating to a facility owner. 



Controlling Leaks and Spills

In addition to notification of key facility and emergency response personnel, a good emergency plan should include ammonia leak/spill control procedures such as isolation of the area, ammonia liquid supply lines as needed, and shut down of the refrigeration system. Cleanup and neutralizing procedures should also be defined. Emergency response personnel should be familiar with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for anhydrous ammonia. Ventilation and cold-water spray neutralization are two common methods to minimize contamination. Water should not, however, be sprayed directly on liquid ammonia.



Photo: The Industrial Refrigeration Consortium - University of Wisconsin at Madison

Actual procedures will vary according to facility layout, the type of product in storage and how it is packaged. For product that is sealed in plastic, there may be good opportunities for salvage. In other cases, repackaging costs may be too high or not possible if a regulating agency such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) condemns product. Properly isolating product that may be contaminated, defining and documenting test procedures will be very important aids to any salvage efforts. Location of possible alternate storage facilities and a plan for moving product out of a contaminated area should also be included in your plan.
Ammonia Detection and Isolation

Many factors can affect how well an emergency response plan will be executed. Emergency plans need to be routinely practiced, and employees need to be fully aware of their responsibilities in order for the plan to be effective. Emergency response personnel need to be familiar with your facility layout and the location of refrigeration equipment.

Another strategy facility owners should consider when formulating an effective emergency response plan for a leak or spill is installation of an ammonia detection system. Although early system designs were prone to nuisance trips, a well-planned and designed system today can be very effective in controlling the amount of vapor or liquid lost in an accidental release. You should start by defining exactly what you expect the ammonia detection system to do. This will depend on the facility layout and type of product in storage.

If, for example, the facility consists of only one or two large freezers, isolation at the main liquid supply or “king” valve located at the outlet of the main receiver and automatic system shutdown should be considered. If, however, your facility has several smaller rooms with only one or two evaporators per room, branch line liquid supply isolation while keeping the system in operation to avoid spoilage of product may be appropriate. In general, any isolation strategies that will help minimize the volume of a leak or spill and avoid loss of the entire system charge should be considered.
Ammonia Sensors

The type of product and its susceptibility to contamination (high, low, moderate) should be considered when trying to determine the type of sensor, setting and location of individual ammonia sensors. Environmental conditions also need to be considered. In grape storage, for example, fumigation with sulfur dioxide can be very detrimental to some types of ammonia sensors. Manufacturers’ literature should be consulted for any limitations of their particular sensor or system. For product such as fresh fruit in “controlled atmosphere” (CA) storage where oxygen is reduced to very low levels, sensors that can reliably detect low levels (15 ppm or less) may be required.

Ammonia sensing cards (color change) capable of detecting ammonia levels in the 1-5 ppm range are also available as an early warning for product that is highly susceptible to ammonia contamination. The cards are inexpensive and will revert to original color in the absence of ammonia. They should not, however, be considered as a replacement for a well-designed ammonia detection and isolation system. If a sampling type ammonia detection system is used, measures should be taken to keep the sampling intervals as low as possible (under 15 minutes). Sampling systems will require a higher level of maintenance and more frequent checks to assure they will properly respond to a leak or spill.

Other than sound audible and/or visual alarms, you will need to decide what additional functions should be activated by the ammonia detection system, and at what level. Because oil used in refrigeration systems is designed to easily mix with the refrigerant, and oil traps are not 100 percent effective, some oil carryover will occur. This lowers the normal flammability limit of anhydrous ammonia (16 percent to 25 percent by volume in air) because it is now a mixture of oil and ammonia. For a machine room, a setting of 100 ppm to 200 ppm may be appropriate, with automatic activation of ventilation fans to aid in keeping the concentration below flammable limits. For freezers used to store packaged frozen foods, 50 ppm is a common setting.

While electrochemical sensors are the most common type of sensor in use, other sensor technologies such as infrared, solid state, polymer film and semi-conductor sensors can help increase sensor life while decreasing maintenance costs and requirements. The facility owner, system operators and maintenance personnel should become knowledgeable in the operation and design of their ammonia detection and isolation system. Because this can be a very complex subject to address, various industry sources should be consulted.

The Instrument Society of America has published ISA-RP 92.03.02-1999 (Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Ammonia Detection Instruments (25-500 ppm Full Scale) as an aid in selection, operation and maintenance of ammonia detection systems. When you consider the fact that the investment required to purchase and install a well-designed ammonia detection system is often less than 1 percent of the value of product in storage, the reasons for not making such an investment can quickly disappear.
Summary

Mechanical refrigeration systems using ammonia have been with us for many years. For the most part, they log many hours of reliable operation without incident. Cold storage facility owners need to fully assess the overall impact an ammonia release can have on their operations, and who will respond to isolate and clean up a leak or spill. Having well-trained operators can help promote efficient operation of your ammonia refrigeration system and identification of system operating problems before failures occur.

Systems with a high degree of mechanical integrity will reduce the probability of a leak or spill, but are no guarantee against an accidental release. Having a well planned, written emergency response plan that is routinely practiced and improved can minimize the effect of any leak or spill that may occur. An automatic ammonia detection and isolation system can enhance your response plan by controlling the size of accidental releases, often for an investment that is less than 1 percent of product value stored at your facility.
About the Author






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Three Common Ammonia Refrigerant Mistakes and How to Avoid Them


  Refrigeration contractors know that there are several upsides to ammonia refrigerants. The most common is its compatibility with the environment. Ammonia does not contribute to global warming because it does not deplete the ozone layer. It has thermodynamic qualities that require less electricity in its usage. And ammonia has a distinct odor, which is a safety valve when trying to detect leaks in a system.

Ammonia refrigerant also has many applications, such as use in industrial facilities like meat, poultry, and fish processing plants, dairy and ice cream plants, wineries and breweries, soft drink processing facilities, and cold storage warehouses.

When handled properly, ammonia refrigerants are very friendly, efficient, and versatile. But, like many other chemicals, ammonia must be handled with care. If it is not, it can have health consequences for the technician and others. Ammonia is labeled as a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health. Ammonia is also flammable at concentrations of approximately 15 to 28 percent by volume in air. When mixed with lubricating oils, its flammable concentration range is increased. It can explode if released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present, or if a vessel containing anhydrous ammonia is exposed to fire.”

OSHA also states that “accidental releases of ammonia from refrigeration facilities have resulted in both injuries and deaths to employees of these facilities. These injuries and deaths are caused from contact with both liquid and vapor forms of ammonia. Because refrigeration systems operate at elevated pressures, additional care must be taken to maintain and operate these systems so as to prevent releases with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

Three Common Mistakes

One refrigeration contractor, Charles Ruebensaal of Tempest Inc., Cleveland, recently polled his six start-up and service technicians about the most common mistakes when working with ammonia. Each person has experience in servicing both ammonia and Freon industrial systems.

“I put the question out to each of them to get a response,” Ruebensaal said. “The following are the three most common responses.

“First mistake, a failure to use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically eye protection. When performing maintenance or repair work that doesn’t require a full face respirator or escape mask, wearing proper eye and face protection is a must. This is a common mistake made when draining oil.

“Secondly, a lack of pre-planning. Take your time, plan out your task, and control the hazards. Lock out/tag out electrical, tag all isolation valves that are required to be closed to isolate the repair, and provide a safe location to purge the component. Be sure ammonia is not trapped in the piping and everything is purged out before opening up the component for repair.

“Thirdly, not knowing how to keep vapors from endangering others. This is especially true when making a repair to the ammonia system on the roof of the building — either at the evaporative condensers, or at a control valve station group. It is important to locate any make-up air intakes for the plant before beginning your work. Make sure these are turned off or blocked off. Although the ammonia vapor should rise and not cause problems, prevailing winds and down drafts can cause ammonia vapor to be drawn into the building to levels strong enough to cause alarm or evacuation.”

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has a website that discusses ammonia and its impact on public health. Visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp.

Chief Engineer died, two injured, after Korean tanker EIWA MARU 3 explosion during welding work in the cargo tank






Explosion in cargo tank of chemical tanker Eiwa Maru 3 off Japan

Shipping Accidents


September 10, 2016
 

Explosion in cargo tank of chemical tanker Eiwa Maru 3 killed one and injured two seamen off Japan. The vessel was making en route from Shimotsu to Yokkaichi in Japan under ballast, passing through Kiisuido Strait and making tank cleaning. At the same time the engineers party was performing welding works on a cargo deck, which inflamed the chemical gasses and caused explosion into the cargo tank. The blast was strong, causing serious injuries and burns of three crew members. The incident was reported to the local authorities and coast guard dispatched a helicopter to medevac the injured people. One of the injured, the Chief Engineer of Korean nationality, died in the hospital. The another two Indonesian crew are in stable condition, but with heavy burns.


The chemical tanker Eiwa Maru 3 returned to Wakayama port, where was docked for further inspection and investigation. The other crew did not suffered injuries. The local authorities ordered full inspection of the tanker and started investigation for the root cause of the explosion.

The chemical tanker Eiwa Maru 3 (IMO: 9073323) has overall length of 64.00 m, moulded beam of 10.00 m and maximum draft of 4.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 1,116 DWT and the gross tonnage is 740 GRT. The ship was built in 1993 by Honda Heavy Industries in their shipyard in Saiki, Japan. The owner and operator of the chemical tanker Eiwa Maru 3 is South Korean company Keoyoung Shipping.

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Korean tanker EIWA MARU 3 explosion, Chief Engineer died, two injured, Japan

Sept. 10, 2016 at 03:59 by Mikhail Voytenko

Chemical tanker EIWA MARU 3 suffered an explosion at 1915 Tokyo time Sep 9 in Kiisuido Strait, off Wakayama Prefecture coast, Japan. Tanker was ballasting from Shimotsu port, Wakayama, to Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, after offloading cargo in Shimotsu. Crew were cleansing the tanks, at the same time wielding works on a cargo deck were carried out. Sparks ignited oil fumes, in an explosion Chief Engineer of a Korean nationality, and two Indonesian crew, suffered burns and injures, Chief Engineer died in a hospital, other two seamen said to be in stable condition. 10 crew EIWA MARU 3 was directed to Wakayama port, has been docked there in the morning Sep 10.

PARTY CRUSHED: At least 31 students injured after rotted decks collapsed during an off-campus house party near Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut







30 Injured After Deck Collapses at College Party in CT


DAVID CAPLAN
Updated 34 mins ago


At least 31 students were injured after a deck collapsed Saturday night during an off-campus house party near Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, police said.  The photos show that the wooden members were rotted, resulting in the collapse under heavy student load.

"3rd floor collapsed on 2nd floor, which collapsed on 1st floor," tweeted Hartford Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Foley.

Foley later said at a press conference that the 3rd floor deck was very old and not structurally sound. It detached from the house and collapsed, he said.

Foley said as many as 40 people may be hurt. None of the injuries are serious, but he did tell ABC News there were "broken bones."

Trinity College said in an alert sent to students, "30 students have been transported to local hospitals with injuries. At this time the most serious injury reported is a broken arm."

The injured were transferred to 6 Connecticut hospitals, including Hartford Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, and Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester.

Hartford mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement, "There are dozens of injuries, but we are very lucky that there were no fatalities and no known critical injuries from what could have been a truly tragic incident."

Five people live in the house, which is owned by Trinity College, but managed by a private company, according to Foley.

Trinity College is a private liberal arts college and the second-oldest college in Connecticut after Yale University.


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30-40 hurt after rotted decks collapse at off-campus party near Trinity College



About 30-40 people were injured when a deck collapsed at an off-campus party at Trinity College in Connecticut. Police say a 3-story beer bong (left) was found in the wreckage. (Deputy Chief Brian Foley / Hartford PD)

Saturday, September 10, 2016 10:35PM
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Between 30 and 40 people were hurt after a deck collapsed at an off-campus party at a house near Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, police said.

No major injuries have been reported.


Deputy Chief Brian Foley of the Hartford police posted on his Twitter feed that a third-floor deck of a house about two-tenths of a mile from the Trinity campus collapsed onto a second-floor deck, which subsequently fell onto a first-floor deck.

He noted that in the wreckage, officials found a tube with a funnel that appeared to be a three-story beer bong.


Foley says the injured have been sent to area hospitals.

Trinity College is a liberal arts school in Hartford with about 2,200 students. It's the second-oldest college in Connecticut after Yale.

The house is not owned by Trinity College, a private liberal arts college and the second-oldest college in Connecticut after Yale University.

ABC News contributed to this report.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services. Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert Engineers


 Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services.
Construction Defects, Construction Claims, Engineering, Property & Casualty Investigations, Assessment, Site Investigation, Remediation, Litigation and Indoor-Air Expert Engineers

Bill Stephan, PhD, PE, CIH, CHMM, JD, MBA
Principal Engineer

P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520
Phone: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440



__________________________________________________



Firm Overview


The engineering and forensic firm of Metropolitan Forensics and Consulting Engineering and Environmental Services was established for the purpose of providing a high value service to the insurance industry and to the insured companies or individuals. Our founding principal (Bill Stephan) is a licensed professional engineer in several states, including, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.



We specialize in the in-situ remediation of petroleum and chlorinated spills, the defense of liability claims, the investigation and defense of first or third party insurance claims and the handling of subrogation claims.  We are also experts on oil and gas energy sector issues (design, investigations, construction oversight), renewable energy sector (wind turbines, solar panels, biofuels, etc), vapor intrusion evaluation, vapor phase and transport and in design on vapor mitigation systems.  Additionally, we offer forensic engineering services, including age-dating of contaminant releases, construction defects, oversight, evaluation of remedial alternatives, sub-slab ventilation system design and installation.  The list of our core services is:



  • Cause and Origin Investigations
  • Construction Failure Analysis (Residential, Industrial and Commercial)
  • Structural Integrity Evaluation
  • Site Investigation
  • Tank removals and tank installations; licensed and insured to perform entire UST work
  • In-Situ Remediation of Soil and Groundwater
  • Vapor intrusion, indoor air evaluation and mitigation
  • Causation
  • Forensic Investigations (age-dating)
  • Oversight
  • Review of Remedial Action Work Plans
  • Reserve Estimation
  • Cost Allocation
  • RAWP Preparation
  • Site Remediation
  • Cleanup Level Development and Negotiation
  • Subrogation
  • Expert Witness/Litigation Support
  • Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) Services
  • Construction Claims (Delay, Differing Site Conditions, Loss of Productivity, Acceleration, and others)

 





















Additional Specialty Service Areas

Age Dating
Boilers & Burners
Bridges
Building Codes
Building Inspections


Construction Accident
   Reconstruction
Construction Defects
Construction Delay Claims

Construction Surety Claims
Construction Disputes
Construction Differing Condition Claims
Construction Oversight
Construction Management
Construction Acceleration Claims

Construction Failures
Construction Injuries
Contractor Performance Issues
Corrosion


Defective Designs
Defective Roadway Design
   Evaluations


Earthquake
Electrical Accidents/Injuries
Electrical Equipment Failures
Electrical Fires
Elevators, Escalators
   & Conveyors
Embedded Software Hazards
   & Analysis
Equipment Failures
Errors and Omissions
Explosions

Failure Analysis
Fire
Fire Codes
Fire Protection Systems
Fire Suppression Systems

Flood Damage Assessment

Foundation Systems

Gas Systems

Hailstorm damage

Heating & Ventilation Systems
Heavy Construction
Highway/Roadway Design
Human Factors


Indoor Air Quality
Laboratory Services
Ladders, Scaffolding Falls
   & Failures
Lightning

Mechanical Defect Evaluations
Metallurgical Age Dating
Mold Causation
Natural Disasters/Weather
   Related Issues
Nuclear Energy
Occupational Hazards
   & Illness

Piping
Playground Equipment Injuries
Plumbing
Product Failures
Roofing Problems & Failures
Safety Codes
Safety & Human Factors
   Engineering
Scalding
Scene Mapping and Photographs
Sick Building Syndrome
Sports Equipment Injuries
Standardized Codes
Steam Systems
Subrogation Issues


Transportation Issues
Trips, Slips & Falls
Underground Storage Tanks
Utilities Expertise
Vibration
Water Damage
Windstorm



Mission Statement


Our mission is to work as an extension of our clients to expeditiously achieve the most economically favorable resolution of claims on their behalf and on behalf of their insured. We have developed and will continue to create new solutions to the technical problems and issues which are facing the insurance industry and the insureds today.  

Metropolitan provides forensic engineering work (age-dating or fingerprinting), site remediation, auditing, cost control and litigation support services to insurance carriers, their insureds and to private or public companies.  In its risk management role, examines, manages and audits environmental claims to ensure that assessment and remediation services provided to both carriers and policy holders are reasonable and necessary, properly rendered and appropriately charged. 



In its litigation support role, Metropolitan assists carriers and their counsel to ensure that litigious disputes are resolved fairly and reimbursement benefits are provided when appropriate.  The corporations service area includes the entire United States, with our corporate office located in Northern New Jersey.  The Firm's professional staff also travels regularly throughout the United States on assignment.


Forensics at Metropolitan


There are many issues associated with disputes over responsibility for cleanup. Who, what, when, where, and how chemicals were released can be investigated. The tools of forensic investigation include mathematical models, statistical models, fate and transport calculations, chromatography, lead isotope analyses, time of travel assessments, library search site characterization, tracer additives, and recently developed software applications.



Effective forensic project management should include an evaluation of multiple forensic tools based on site specific circumstances. The process of evaluation and the ultimate selection of the forensic tool are critical to a successful outcome. When project budgets allow, combining forensic methods for corroborative evidence can substantially strengthen your client’s position in an effort to prevent or support litigation. The effective forensic consultant must be well acquainted with an ever expanding list of analytical methods, environmental regulations, assessment procedures and remedial technologies.



The forensic field is one that utilizes a wide range of scientific tools to identify and characterize complex adverse environmental events. Some of the scientific disciplines involved in forensics include engineering principles (biological, physical and chemical), hydrology, lithology, geology, site history, site practices, mathematics, and statistics. These areas may be combined with technologies such as respiratory analyses, chromatography/mass spectrometry and chemical fingerprinting methods to answer complex questions with the ultimate goal of establishing responsibility for a particular event. Accurate, defensible forensic analyses are an essential component of any strategy that attempts to resolve the extent of the insurer or insured client responsibilities in the cleanup of contaminants.


Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic services.



Property Damage Services at Metropolitan

Metropolitan assists property owners, claims professionals, businesses, and attorneys in   the assessment of the cause & origin (C&O), extent of damage and required restoration after pipe bursts, settlements, manufacturing and construction failures, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm damage.  Our teams of engineers have extensive experience in the many systems that make up a building including structural, mechanical and electrical systems.   We also have the necessary background to evaluate property damage to items such as communications towers or solar panels. We can help determine alternative, appropriate, and cost effective solutions for repair or restoration of any damaged property, both commercial and residential. 

Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services.

Our experts are multi-skilled, competent, and objective professionals who apply their analytical and common sense skills to reconstruct, determine the root cause, and document the events that give rise to property, casualty, and liability claims.  Thorough investigations and detailed measurements/research help us distinguish between pre-existing conditions and sudden and accidental losses.



 






























Our investigations are:

·         Comprehensive & Accurate

·         Legible & Easy to Understand

·         Timely Performed

·         Delivered Quickly

·         Cost Effective

·         Clear & Concise

·         Developed by Professionals

·         Dependable

·         Our own uniform reporting system saves time and money.


Our Fast Track Investigation and Uniform Format Reporting systems allow us to conduct and deliver a comprehensive response to the assigned claim.  In most cases, we will obtain findings based on a site visit, visual observations, photographs, interviews, and field measurements.  Further investigations and testing will be provided upon request and approval by the client.



Forensic Investigation of Property Damage Claims

Metropolitan Consulting, Engineering & Forensics understands your need to complete a claim investigation accurately and efficiently as possible.  Whether it is accident reconstruction, damage due to environmental forces such as wind, water, hail, snow, tornado, etc.; fire origin & cause investigation or any other claim, the engineers at Metropolitan understand both you and your client want to resolve the claim.  The analysis you receive from Metropolitan will be accurate and complete, giving you the information needed in the claim adjustment and analysis.

Our services have extended beyond the forensic analysis phase into the remediation and repair phase of many large loss claims.  Upon the completion of the cause and origin (C&O) investigation, Metropolitan can provide our clients with complete working drawings and specifications needed to repair or rebuilt damaged buildings or other structures.  Metropolitan Consulting & Engineering’ staff possesses many-many years of experience in rehabilitation design, construction management, and project oversight to ensure the loss is restored in a timely and cost-effective manner without sacrificing quality.  Building code knowledge allows us to identify possible code upgrades as needed.  Metropolitan understands constructability and realizes making an insured whole goes beyond forensic investigation and design. We pride ourselves in providing practical solutions contractors can understand and follow.

At the forefront of available technology, we provide professionals and staff capable of handling a variety of engineering evaluations.  Our reports are clear, concise, complete and efficiently produced.  Our engineering objectives are achieved in an ethical manner consistent with the traditions and character of engineering professionals.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our property damage services.


Extensive Experience helping Sureties

Metropolitan also has extensive experience helping sureties fulfill their bond obligations resolve disputes after a contractor has defaulted.  This work includes the evaluation of contractor bid pricing, evaluation of the contractor’s ability to perform work, risk assessment, evaluation of termination, construction completion services, claim and litigation support services, loss recovery services, evaluation of payment bond claims, negotiation and settlement of payment bond claims, and construction defects investigation services.  Metropolitan has provided these services for commercial, development, educational, and assisted living projects.


Construction is a business fraught with risk.  Disputes over even the smallest of issues can quickly escalate, with crippling consequences to the project and the parties.  Over the years, the construction industry has developed various methods of contractually allocating the risk of project delay and disruption.  Some of these methods include liquidated damages provisions, "no damages for delay" clauses, mutual waivers of consequential damages, provisions that limit liability, claims notice provisions, and provisions addressing responsibility for the adequacy of the construction plans and specifications.  Parties frequently litigate the sufficiency of these risk-shifting efforts in conjunction with the underlying merits of delay and disruption disputes.
Construction Claims & Disputes
The most frequently encountered claims include:
1.            Construction Delay Claims
2.            Disruption and Loss of Labor Productivity Claims
3.            Design and Construction Defect Claims
4.            Force Majeure Claims
5.            Acceleration or Compression of the Schedule Claims
6.            Suspension, Termination and Default Claims
7.            Differing Site Conditions Claims
8.            Change Order and Extra Work Claims
9.            Cost Overrun Claims
10.         Unacceptable Workmanship or Substituted Material Claims
11.         Non-payment Claims (stop notice (or Notice to Withhold) claims, mechanics’ lien (only for private construction projects) and payment bond claims)



Forensic Engineering Experience Case Studies


Metropolitan staff has developed and utilized scientific methods to assist clients in a variety of ways related to their claim issues. The following is a partial list of such projects:

  • Provided expert witness services for plaintiff seeking remediation of contaminated groundwater that caused indoor air inhalation problems;
  • Testified that engineering and scientific evidence was improperly collected and analyzed and was inadequate to show the age of the release;
  • Origin and cause of retaining wall failures.  
  • Lightning damage to structures or electrical systems and equipment
  • Roof failure or collapse as a result of accumulated load, additional weight and snow drift at hundreds of commercial and residential properties.
  • Demonstrated that solvents in groundwater at client's property originated from off-site dry-cleaner and that client's site actually provided remediation for the off-site release of dry cleaning solvent;
  • Expert witness for property owner impacted by industrial waste disposal from industrial manufacturer;
  • Demonstrated that environmental analysis by a previous consultant for a manufacturing site was inadequate; as a result, the lender's concerns were alleviated and financing proceeded;
  • Chemical "age-dating" and contaminant transport analyses of petroleum in groundwater at a gas station showed that contaminants originated from other parties;
  • Age-dated petroleum release at a former gas station to show that the previous owner of the gas station caused groundwater contamination;
  • Age-dated petroleum releases at an industrial facility to show that the on-site plume was the result of an off-site source;
  • Prepared age-dating reports for over one-hundred residential fuel oil spills;
  • Assisted insurance companies attorneys in defending subrogation claims; was able to demonstrate that the forensic data collected by the first party consultant were collected and analyzed using invalid methods;
  • Demonstrated that structural damage to a residence was from a source other than the alleged high lake level
  • Collected evidence (for the primary responsible party) that identified other responsible parties to share in the cost of a Superfund cleanup;
  • Review of the site data at a bulk petroleum facility indicated that the site releases were not the result of regular oil transfer operations and that they were caused by the negligent actions of the insured’s agents; the case was settled in favor of the insurance company;
  • Was able to demonstrate that the majority of the removal actions at petroleum release sites were neither reasonable nor necessary; as a result of our opinion, the insurance client settled the claim in favorable terms;
  • At several drycleaner sites we were able to demonstrate that the age of the release was much earlier than the parties originally believed; as a result, the insurance client settled the claim at a fraction of the alleged liability;
  • We performed numerous flood and wind damage assessments at commercial and residential properties.
Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic engineering services.




Site Remediation Services


 Characterizing and remediating contaminated sites involve some of the most complex and difficult issues for environmental lawyers and their clients. Problem areas include responding to regulators; negotiating enforcement settlements; negotiating or litigating cost allocation and recovery claims; working with the insured or insurer client, lawyers and regulators to develop efficient, cost-effective remediation approaches; and selling, buying, or developing contaminated properties.



Metropolitan staff has developed and applied an innovative approach to the use of sodium persulfate for the sequential in-situ treatment of subsurface contaminants through chemical oxidation followed by enhanced biological degradation through sulfate reduction. This approach has broad applicability to a wide range of contaminants, and shows strong cost-saving benefits through reducing the initial volume of chemical oxidant necessary and enhancing the in-situ biological degradation of contaminants.



Through proper subsurface geochemical characterization and chemical dosing design, the approach focuses on utilizing the oxidant for immediate mass reduction at the source area, followed by degradation or polishing of the residual contamination using sulfate reducing bacteria.  Depending upon the oxidant activation method, this approach is applicable to petroleum hydrocarbons including both volatiles and PAHs, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) including chlorinated ethene, ethane and methane groups, as well as PCBs.


Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Site Remediation Services.





Vapor Intrusion and Indoor-Air Studies


Vapor intrusion has received increased attention over the last few years near contaminated sites because some contaminants have the potential to migrate into nearby buildings and negatively affect indoor air quality. The accumulation of these volatile vapors in buildings can result in significant safety and health concerns.
To properly evaluate vapor intrusion a thorough evaluation of the building's ventilation system and subsurface conditions needs to be conducted by a knowledgeable professional in accordance with state and federal established procedures. 
The evaluation process typically includes a thorough building chemical inventory, the advancement of soil gas probes and the collection of soil gas samples. When indoor air quality problems are identified they can normally be resolved through the modification/installation of a properly designed ventilation system.
Metropolitan is well experienced with U.S. EPA and State vapor intrusion investigation techniques. We have completed numerous vapor intrusion and indoor air quality studies at commercial and residential properties. We have the experience to identify and resolve indoor vapor intrusion problems and the practical know-how to resolve indoor quality issues in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Air Studies.




Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services.


Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert  Engineers

P.O. Box 520

Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520

Ph.: (973) 897-8162

Fax: (973) 810-0440



Contact: Dr. Bill N. Stephan, PhD, PE, JD, CIH, MBA, CHMM






Insurance claim examiners, insureds, insurers, insurance adjusters and risk managers use Metropolitan for determining cause, evaluating the extent of damage, determining the age of the release, separating unrelated damage, analyzing loss scopes and managing restoration data, determining costs to repair, restore or replace, and preparing for insurance appraisals.



Attorneys call on Metropolitan for help when preparing for Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution such as arbitration and mediation