ROBERTSON, JOEL T.
Robertson & Associates, LLC
Marie Paulette Robertson (Managing Partner)
16505A S.E. 1st Street, #285
Vancouver, Washington 98684
(360) 837-2329 Voice Mail
(360) 241-6262 or (360) 281-2831 Cell
E-Mail: maarii107@aol.com or info@robertsonassociatesllc.com
Websites:http://ecospeakers.com/speakers/robertsonj.html. www.robertsonassociatesllc.com
Joel T.
Robertson is a Railroad Safety Specialist, Expert Witness, and Accident
Investigator. Robertson spent over 20 years as Railroad Safety Inspector and
Regional Specialist with the Federal Railroad Administration – US DOT.
Robertson is also a highway/rail crossing accident investigator and Operation
Life Saver presenter. Robertson conducted compliance inspections and
participated in system safety audits with 49 CRF Parts 215, 217, 218, 220, 225,
228, 231, 232, and the hazardous materials transportation act codified in Parts
100 through 180. Robertson was Union Carbide Corporation’s Rail Safety
Consultant and wrote a system plan for auditing class I railroads and audited
for the corporation. Robertson conducted inspections of loading and unloading
operations at chemical plants, distribution facilities and tank car
manufacturing and repair plants. He has worked as a FELA consultant for
attorney firms, has given testimony in court and at depositions. Robertson
authored technical reports for the FRA on safety issues and has prepared
training programs that were adopted by the agency. He provides hazardous
materials consulting services that include training, program and policy
development, and auditing. While with the FRA, Robertson presented numerous
training courses for railroads, government agencies, unions, service
organizations, and chemical companies. He has received Special, Superior, and
Team Achievement Awards for identifying serious mechanical defects and hazardous
material conditions, reduction of highway/rail crossings accidents, planning and
leading an inter-agency strike force operation for safety and security at ports,
participating in the development of intermodal mechanical standards, and a
hazardous material training program for FRA inspectors. Robertson was an
Associate and Loaned Executive to United Way with the Oregon Federal Executive
Board and worked on leadership, service, and employment issues with other
federal agencies. Prior to entering federal service Robertson worked in the
operating and engineering departments of several railroads for nearly 15 years.
Robertson is a public speaker and organized public meetings, conferences and
symposia. He is represented by Ecospeakers.com, a speakers’ bureau, as a
lecturer on hazardous materials transportation issues. He attended and taught
at the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) and lectured at the College of
Education in the graduate and undergraduate safety management program at
Marshall University and was a Citizen Ambassador to the China Association of
Science and Technology with People to People International. Robertson has been
active in many professional associations such as the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers, the Association of Mechanical Engineers, the American
Society of Safety Engineers, the American Society of Metals, and the Association
of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Robertson is a Past President of the
Engineers Club of Huntington and the West Huntington Kiwanis, and he is
currently on the Board of Governors of the LA/Long Beach Propeller Club, a
member of the Navy League of the United States, the Council on the Safe
Transportation of Hazardous Articles, the Forensic Expert Witness Association,
and the National Defense Transportation Association. Robertson attended the
University of Maine, and graduated with a BS from West Virginia State and an MS
in Safety Management from Marshall University with a special emphasis in
railroad transportation.
ROCKEY, WALTER C.
Federal Railroad Safety Regulations Expert
180 Puma Drive
Hanover, Pennsylvania 17331
(717) 633-6406
E-mail: RockeyRail@aol.com
Since retiring from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in 1997, I have been working as a railroad safety consultant. I have worked on over 100 FELA cases, primarily for union-represented railroad employees. I am an expert on FRA operating practices, equipment and track regulations, specifically including the Safety Appliance and Locomotive Inspection regulations. I analyze data, prepare concise reports, provide deposition and trial testimony.
Between 1983 and 1997, I was a member of the FRA Office of Safety Senior Management Team. I participated in the development of national railroad safety regulations covering operating practices, equipment, track, signal systems and the transportation of hazardous materials. Earlier at FRA, I served as a safety inspector enforcing federal railroad safety laws/regulations covering operating practices/equipment and investigated railroad accidents; and a rail accident analyst where I wrote published accident reports and taught railroad accident investigation procedures at the Transportation Safety Institute. I worked with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on major railroad accident investigations and had the lead in responding to the Board’s safety recommendations for nearly 15 years. I was with the FRA between 1971 and 1997. From 1956 to 1971, I worked for pre-Conrail railroads, primarily as an operating officer, trainmaster and terminal superintendent. I am familiar with railroad operating and safety rules.
RODRIGUEZ, LETICIA
TBX Associates, Inc.
915 Burlington Avenue - Suite 915E
P. O. Box 519
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
(630) 969-9115 Fax (630) 969-9116
E-Mail: TBXAssoc@sbcglobal.net
TBX Associates offers services and consultations in accident investigation and reconstruction; locomotive system and component design and operation; safety analysis and planning; and general investigations. In private practice since 1991. Analyst in the Office of Product Litigation and Safety, Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Locomotive Group, BA (Behavioral Sciences); National College of Education. Accident Investigation; Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida. Licensed Private Detective (Illinois and Wisconsin). Certified Protection Professional (CPP;ASIS). Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE, ACFE). Member of numerous professional associations. Papers published in the Journals of the National Safety Council, the Systems Safety Society, and in the Proceedings of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
RUGH, HAROLD A.
605 Halyday Run Road
Oil City, Pennsylvania 16301
(814) 676-6363
E-Mail: hrugh@mail.usachoice.net
Mr. Rugh was raised and educated in Oil City, PA and is a U.S. Air Force veteran serving within the continental United States, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. He completed studies in advanced locomotive construction, design, maintenance, repair and railroad air brake systems for locomotive and car equipment through the International Correspondence Schools in Scranton, PA. He also completed various U.S. Department of Transportation Safety Institute Training courses in railroad safety and accident investigation. His railroad experience consists of 26 years with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in various capacities as locomotive fireman/engineer, including 13 years in railroad management positions within both the mechanical and operating departments. He was appointed to the position of Motive Power and Equipment Inspector with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) serving for 27 years and attained the position of Chief Inspector for the Philadelphia region. His Federal experience consisted of duties related to railroad safety, enforcement, and accident investigation. In this capacity he was the FRA Investigator in Charge at major rail accident investigations and assisted National Transportation Board team members in their investigation of rail accidents.
Mr. Rugh served as team leader for FRA focused inspections and observations of railroad safety rules, mechanical operations, train handling, equipment inspections and repairs. He was responsible for safety compliance at major rail car builders, and a major locomotive builder within his region. He also served on committees responsible for revising the Steam Locomotive Standards, Railroad Power Brake Standards and reviewing certain parts of the Locomotive Safety Standards regarding micro-processor brake control systems.