|
When accidents occur it is important to consult a expert in rail operations and investigation. Joel Robertson has over 40 years of experience working in the industry with 20 of those years with the United States Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as a railroad safety inspector and regional specialist. He has also consulted for attorney firms on freight claims, accidental death, injury and occupational illness cases related to rail transportation, involving equipment maintenance, engineering, operating, and hazardous materials issues. Robertson has also consulted for the chemical manufacturing, an off shore oil company, a paper manufacturing company, a city, and the automotive industry.
Robertson worked in the engineering, transportation and operating departments of the railroad industry before joining government service. At FRA he worked with the hazardous materials regulations 49 CFR 100 - 185, and focused on tank car mechanical design and compliance, but also worked frequently in operating safety practices, investigating accidents and incidents in the freight rail, passenger and chemical industries.
He conducted audits of both passenger and freight operations from the high speed Northeast Corridor of Amtrak and heavy haul freight of CSX West Virginia Division to the Oregon Division of the BNSF. He conducted years of inspections in the Motive Power and Equipment discipline, where he inspected for compliance with freight car safety standards, safety appliance and power brake regulations in 49 CFR 215, 231, and 232. In the Operating Practices discipline, Robertson conducted inspections for operating and safety rules compliance, drug and alcohol testing, hours of service, record keeping, radio procedures, and end of train devices.
He conducted training of school bus drivers, drivers education classes, and school age children about the hazards of trains at railroad crossings and on railroad property, as an Operation Life Saver Presenter. He has also investigated crossing accidents for cause.
He monitored rail carrier supervisors in all disciplines, as they conducted operational testing of their employees, as required by the federal regulations.
Robertson was graduated from Marshall University's College of Education with a Master of Science Degree in Safety Management with a concentration in rail safety. He also attended the University of Maine and was graduated from West Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Robertson conducted inspections in chemical facilities from New York to California, including rail, highway and air carriers, container manufacturing plants, repair/testing facilities, intermodal terminal and port operations.
Robertson worked closely with many other government agencies, served for a year as an Associate and Loaned Executive on the Oregon Federal Executive Board, and organized an national interagency hazardous materials strike force operation for the northwest west coast ports Pre-911.
He is especially experienced in the mechanics and federal requirements for tank cars and their accident failure dynamics. He organized and conducted tank car assessments in West Virginia, which were cooperative efforts with the railroads and the chemical industry to improve mutual understanding of maintenance and operating practices and the over all condition of the equipment.
While in West Virginia, he organized and conducted the first joint Chemical Industry/Railway Safety Symposium, held on the campus of West Virginia State College in 1985, which called for the sharing of safety practices amongst industry, labor, academics, political and community leaders. For Mr. Robertson's service to the community, he received a commendation from the Governor for bringing the conference to the state.
|
 |
 |
