The record of the work should be as clear as the work itself.

Context

Eleven years of field research with the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program, involving approximately 90 occupational fatality investigations. Primary focus on transportation-related incidents, with additional investigations in road construction, residential construction, and tree service operations.

Assignment

Investigate workplace fatalities, identify contributing circumstances, and develop recommendations intended to prevent similar incidents.

Method

Conducted interviews with witnesses, employers, responding law enforcement agencies, OSHA representatives, coroners, attorneys, family members, and other knowledgeable individuals. Researched equipment and reviewed operating procedures, safety training, company records, and working conditions.

Deliverable

Comprehensive investigative reports containing factual findings and practical prevention recommendations, without identifying individuals or companies.

Use or outcome

Reports were distributed to relevant industries to communicate findings and prevention recommendations.

Context

Understanding small-business employers' concerns about hiring individuals participating in substance abuse rehabilitation required firsthand perspectives. The research sought to identify practical barriers, employer attitudes, and resources that could support successful employment opportunities.

Assignment

Investigate employer concerns, barriers to hiring, the potential for overcoming those barriers, and resources businesses would need.

Method

Located and interviewed more than 30 small businesses across service, industrial, and construction sectors. When telephone and email outreach produced no responses, I traveled to business locations and approached owners and managers directly. Personal contact proved far more effective in securing participation. I then analyzed interview responses to identify common themes, significant differences, and barriers to hiring.

Deliverable

A research-based white paper presenting the findings.

Use or outcome

The research findings informed the development of a small-business employer toolkit that remains in use today. The toolkit was developed by others, drawing on the research and employer perspectives gathered during this engagement.

Context

A grey iron foundry beginning implementation of a formal management system needed to document operational knowledge held by experienced maintenance personnel.

Assignment

Begin translating practical maintenance knowledge into understandable written procedures.

Method

Established short, recurring interview sessions with maintenance personnel. Asked questions about how they determined when work was necessary and the sequence of decisions and actions involved. Recorded and organized their explanations.

Deliverable

Initial written process documentation developed collaboratively with maintenance personnel.

Use or outcome

The project was discontinued before completion because the foundry was sold.

Context

Environmental and operational responsibilities at a grey iron foundry, including annual air reporting, monthly water-discharge monitoring and reporting and testing, hazardous-materials recordkeeping, brownfield oversight, regulatory inspections, and coordination with maintenance personnel.

Assignment

Maintain environmental documentation, coordinate regulatory requirements, respond to agency inquiries, and support environmental compliance activities.

Method

Prepared regulatory reports, personally conducted monthly water tests, maintained records, coordinated with environmental agency representatives, participated in brownfield sampling and site assessment activities, and worked with maintenance personnel on environmental equipment and operational concerns.

Deliverable

Regulatory reports, testing records, compliance documentation, and supporting correspondence.

Use or outcome

Maintained environmental compliance records and supporting documentation, coordinated with regulatory agencies, and addressed reporting and documentation issues through careful recordkeeping and direct communication.