Biomechanics

 

Low Speed Collision

Packer Engineering performed an analysis of a motor vehicle accident in which neither vehicle sustained extensive damage. An accident reconstruction indicated that the collision was a low-speed event, and a biomechanical analysis led to the conclusion that the claimed lumbar spine, cervical spine, rotator cuff, and closed-head injuries were all unlikely to have occurred in such a minor impact.

Workplace Accident

Packer Engineering performed an analysis of a workplace accident in which an employee's leg was trapped by a moving conveyor system. A scene inspection in which detailed measurements were taken and safety switches were examined indicated that the employee must have deliberately positioned himself in such a way that the machine guards were rendered ineffective.

Slip and Fall

Packer Engineering was asked to inspect a retail establishment in which a patron had slipped on a tile floor. Slip resistance testing and on-site measurements indicated that the entryway surface and floor design met all applicable building codes.

Head Injury

Packer Engineering was asked to analyze an incident in which a cardboard and plastic store display sign allegedly fell and struck a customer in the head. The display sign weighed less than five pounds and would have fallen only a few inches. It was concluded that the head acceleration resulting from this impact would have been comparable to a sneeze or cough, and that a traumatic brain injury was unlikely to have occurred even if the sign had really fallen in the manner described by the claimant.

Other Types of Projects

• Low-speed and high-speed motor vehicle collisions
  • Injury threshold analysis
  • Occupant kinematics and kinetics
  • Restraint systems
  • Automotive seat and interior design for safety
• Workplace injuries
  • Slips and falls
  • Machine guarding
  • Falls from heights
  • Stairs, ramps, and walkways
  • Manlifts, ladders, and stilts
  • OSHA and Building code compliance
• Recreational and fitness equipment injuries
  • Weight training machines
  • Playground equipment
  • Roller coasters
  • Trampolines
  • Helmets
• Motion analysis
• Impact tests with anthropometric test dummies
• Evaluation of safety training programs
• Medical device failures
• Intellectual property