A top loader operator was moving shipping containers filled with ballast in the Port of New Orleans. As a container was being moved while in the fully elevated position, a flagman directed the operator to move the container to a different location. In response, the operator abruptly stopped the top loader to change direction. The top loader tipped forward about its front wheels, coming to rest with the shipping container on the ground and the rear wheels elevated in the air. After the incident, the top loader operator complained of back and elbow pain. He was diagnosed with disc herniations in his lumbar spine and cubital tunnel syndrome. Ports America asked one of our biomechanical experts to perform an analysis of the top loader tip-over incident and determine whether this scenario could have resulted in the claimed injuries.

January 20, 2022. We are pleased to announce the opening of a new ESi office in the greater Denver, Colorado area. Conveniently located near Centennial Airport, this new facility will provide a full range of inspection and testing services, and includes a well-equipped materials and metallurgical testing laboratory, warehouse bay for teardowns and testing, and secure artifact storage. It was also designed with collaboration in mind, with facilities for hosting individual and multi-party inspections -- both in-person and remote, when face-to-face engagement isn’t practical, possible, or safe.

While some seatbelts offer load limiting capabilities to minimize belt-related injuries, an adaptive occupant restraint system has the potential to offer significant improvements for a wider range of occupants and crash conditions.

Petroleum refineries and chemical plants periodically need to clean storage tanks to check for corrosion, to allow the tank to be repurposed, or for other maintenance work. Part of the process for cleaning a tank includes gas freeing – removing flammable or toxic vapors from the tank – to provide a nonhazardous atmosphere in the tank for the cleaning crew.  

Local and manufacturing requirements mandate that odorants – like ethyl mercaptans -- be added to fuel gases to alert operators and other users when there is a potential leak. Because these gases are colorless, odorless, and highly combustible, the sulfur-like smell of the ethyl mercaptans is an important safety measure that enables detection at concentrations below the explosive range.

Latent review of remote engine monitoring data revealed an increase in turbine engine vibration on a commercial aircraft in Central America.  A borescope examination revealed that high-pressure turbine (HPT) blade damage had occurred 32 operational hours earlier.  

A train conductor was working in a rail yard as part of a switching crew. During their switching activities the conductor needed to cross over a storage track of rail cars to reach an adjacent track. The conductor attempted to cross over a tank car using the end platform of the car. The conductor alleged that they fell while climbing down the tank car when placing their foot in the sill step of the car. No one witnessed the incident, and the conductor radioed for help at which point he was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

When a warning signal alerted the train operator that the train was dragging equipment, the operator stopped the train to investigate. During the stop, it was observed that a wheelset had failed, but did not derail as one would expect. While the hub was still riding on the rail, portions of the wheel plate had been damaged due to impact with the track structure. The client asked ESi to determine the root cause of the failed wheelset.

We look forward to connecting with colleagues, clients, and peers in Indianapolis at the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association's (AREMA) 2025 Annual Conference and Expo.

A fire in a small commercial building partially collapsed the roof onto the portion of the building which was of interest in the subsequent fire origin and cause analysis. The building was a mixed-use facility with a "high-bay'' shop area, offices, and a wood frame (internal) clean room.