Expert Witness Services
As a guide to Martin's industry experience:
Martin has been a self-employed HSQE consultant specialising in arb / forestry
work for the last 13 years.
He has been working in arb / forestry industry for 47 years including:
As an employed apprentice - operational team leader – manager – small scale employer.
He was the training manager for the largest UK based arb / forestry and utility employer for 7 years.
He was the national training manager and safety manager for North England and Wales, for the largest forest management business in Northern Europe for 7 years.
He has been an approved instructor assessor and training provider for 35 years.
He was also an approved instructor / assessor with the forestry safety council and the forestry and arboricultural safety training council.
Until a few years ago he was an approved assessor with the National Proficiency Test Council / City and Guilds. He also managed an approved assessment
centre.
In the past he has been a verifier and an external industry consultant and helped produce assessment criteria.
He is currently a Lantra Awards approved instructor assessor and training provider and verifier.
He is also currently an approved instructor and provider with the British Association of Landscape Industries and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health IOSH.
He is a member of the HSE's industry liaison committee the Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group.
He currently sits on the Forest Industry Safety Accord's electrical working group and the safety documents working group.
He is currently lead assessor for the Arboricultural Association's approved contractor schemes for amenity arb and utility arb.
His current regular clients include larger scale forestry companies, utility companies and network operators – the reginal owners of electrical infrastructure.
Martin has been supplying expert witness services directly to the Health and Safety Executive since 2016. He also provides this service to independent law firms and solicitors.
This work involves a site accident investigation, review of evidence and other expert witness reports, coordination and set up of accident re-enactment / demonstrations, production of expert witness reports offering opinions on the specific case and providing testimony in both crown and coroners court proceedings.
Cases.
One case related to a fatal electrical utility arboriculture accident; the crown court case was a total of five weeks. Other services have related to:
- 3 seperate fatal tree felling accidents in timber harvesting / forestry operation environments
- 2 fatal tree felling accidents in a woodland estate managment contract
- A fatal fall accident during an electrical utility operation
- An accident related to highway and forestry harvesting work operations
- A fatality in a domestic garden as a result of amenity arboricultural operations
- A severe injury accident during woodchipper operations
- 2 seperate accidents resulting in life changing injuries during commercial arboricultural operation
- An injury to a member of the public as a result of arboricultural works
Martin also undertakes related accident and incident work for larger employer organisations. Please give Martin a call on 07901514259 or send him an email via the
contacts page.
Can I help with your specific case?
Phone discussions around the specific industry sector or operational activity being undertaken at the time of the accident / incident ensures I am an appropriate person with the relevant knowledge to assist you. If I cannot assist, I may know of an expert who can.
This is often a good time to discuss the timescales involved. I am keen to assist you where I can and can usually give you an estimate of my current workload report production dates and any potential for delays. Whilst highlighting the potential for delays may not seem a good sales tactic, what I'm offering is an honest and open service. If I am unable to help you in a timely manner, I would prefer to explain this at an early stage rather than string you along.
Report production process - an overview
Once I have enough information to determine the full extent of the work required including any site inspection visits, meetings etc, I can outline the fees that would
be incurred.
My fees will cover the production of my report and also include any site inspections visit fees.
A purchase order will be required before I can start my report production however site visits can be completed ahead of the PO being issued.
Any additional requested services, such as more than 1 meeting and 1 site visit, or should my presence at court proceedings be requested / required, I would request a second PO to cover these additional fees.
Coroners court
It is not uncommon for Martin to support as expert witness in coroners’ court inquests.
What does the average report contain?
The common requests from my clients are, to review the evidence and findings of my site visit, with a focus on:
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the operational planning and organisation of the work
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the activities being undertaken and the equipment being used
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the selected work methods
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the roles and responsibilities of those involved
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the competence of the individuals involved
and compare this with:
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the relevant UK legislation requirements and related approved codes of practice
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the relevant industry good practice standards and guidance
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my personal experience and knowledge
This leads to my opinions, comments and reasoning on the issues involved in the case.
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