Personal Injury Archives - Hawkins Forensic Investigation

Paul Lemon

Lorraine — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:59:56 +0000

Paul is a full-time specialist in the niche area of slips, trips and stair fall incident investigation, and leads Hawkins’ work in this area. He is a sought-after Expert Witness in this field, regularly preparing reports and giving evidence in Court.

He was part of the small HSE team that developed HSE’s early understanding of the causes of pedestrian slips, trips and stair falls. Paul’s work at HSE’s Laboratories (HSL) involved leading and coordinating research in these subject areas, and led to him serving as HSE’s principal Expert Witness for cases involving pedestrian accidents, presenting evidence to Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts and at Coroner’s Inquests.

On becoming HSL’s Research Technical Leader for slips, trips and stair falls, Paul continued to lead HSL’s research into these subjects, including their input into a large pan-European research project and managing the two largest research projects into slips and falls ever undertaken by HSE. He maintained responsibility for the authorisation of HSL’s slip, trip and stair fall forensic reports and represented HSE on several British Standards Committees, taking part in the production of numerous HSE Guidance documents and National Standards (such as BS7976-2 and BS5395-1) concerning slips, trips and stair falls.

He has developed a substantial list of publications in this subject area, is a long-standing, active Member of the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG) and was the Editor of Issue 5 of the UKSRG Guidelines. He is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Physicist and a Fellow of the Institute of Science & Technology.

Paul joined Hawkins in 2009, and is a Principal Associate and Regional Manager of our Leeds Office.

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Steven Scott

Chloe Duggan — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:48:55 +0000

Following his graduation with a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Steve began his career working with composite materials. He initially worked in the motorsports sector as a Project Engineer, building chassis, bodywork, and other composite components for both motorsport and luxury sports cars. He subsequently moved into the aerospace sector, where he developed new primary structural composite materials and assisted manufacturers with automated processes for producing composite aircraft components.

Steve moved into forensic investigation in 2009 and has since investigated numerous incidents, ranging from assisting private clients with small domestic losses to providing expert advice to solicitors and barristers dealing with multi-million-pound complex claims involving multiple parties.

Steve investigates incidents involving mechanical and materials failures of both metallic and non-metallic components, including structural collapses of racking, suspended ceilings, and buildings, failures resulting in personal injury, and failures caused by corrosion, wear, fatigue, and overloading.

He has a particular interest in investigating the causes and circumstances of escapes of water and other fluids from plumbing systems. These may arise from improper installation, inappropriate decommissioning, over-pressurisation, defective fittings, pinhole corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, chemical attack, accidental or deliberate tampering, and damage caused by freezing.

He joined Hawkins as a Principal Associate in February 2026 and is currently based in the Cambridge office, although he frequently supports colleagues in London.

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Hawkins Hosts Annual Spring Drinks Reception at The Whitworth Gallery

Chloe Duggan — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:18:02 +0000

Hawkins welcomed clients, colleagues, and industry professionals to our annual Spring Drinks Reception at The Whitworth Gallery in Manchester, bringing together guests for an evening of forensic insight, professional development, and networking.

Attendees were greeted with refreshments on arrival before settling in for a CILA accredited CPD presentation delivered by Hawkins’ sexperts and a guest speakers. Marketing Director and Chartered Civil Engineer Andrew Reeves opened the evening with an update on recent developments across the business, including:

Hawkins’ continued global expansion into Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Italy
The successful acquisition of A. Lamb Associates and Morham + Brotchie Partnership, strengthening our quantum and delay expertise
The expansion of Hawkins’ multidisciplinary team, now over 150 forensic experts supporting clients across more than 70 specialist disciplines

Forensic CPD: From Collapse to Cleanup

Our CPD presentation, From Collapse to Cleanup, guided attendees through a real-world, multidisciplinary forensic investigation. The session explored the structural failure and collapse of a racking system, followed by the clean‑up of potentially hazardous materials. It also examined a related personal injury incident involving a slip on a wet surface during remediation.

Presenters included Hawkins experts George Jackson, Claire Mann, and Ian Tatner, and quantum expert, Nigel Jackson of ALA , supported by guest contributor Mike Clementson of Claims Care Consultants

Interactive Exhibits & Networking

Following the presentation, guests enjoyed a networking reception with flowing drinks and canapés. Attendees explored a series of real-life casework exhibits, immersed themselves in a VR fire investigation experience, and took part in interactive demonstrations – including the popular “guess the accelerant” scent challenge and hands-on use of the pendulum slip-resistance tester featured in the presentation.

Hawkins extends its thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the evening. Information about future events can be found here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Details of our upcoming events can be found here.

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Hawkins International Webinar Series

Chloe Duggan — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:53:49 +0000

From April to June 2026, join experts from across Hawkins as they host our International Webinar Series, featuring specialists from our global office locations.

This series covers a wide range of topics, including material and mechanical failures, lithium‑ion batteries, bridge forensics, bolted connection failures, and risk in indoor climbing.

For webinar details and to register, please see below.

If you would like further information on each webinar before registering, simply click on the titles. Our events page provides details of other Hawkins events that you may find of interest.

Forensic Investigation of Materials and Mechanical Failures in MENA

Presented by Dr Tom Peat

Thursday 16th April 2026 at 9.30am BST

Mechanical Engineer Dr Tom Peat will explore Hawkins’ forensic investigation capabilities across the Middle East and North Africa, with a particular focus on materials and mechanical failures relevant to legal disputes and insurance claims. He will outline how metallurgical analysis, failure reconstruction, and engineering forensics are applied to determine causation and support liability assessments within the energy, infrastructure, and industrial sectors.

An Introduction to Bridge Forensics

Presented by Eng Phin

Thursday 30th April 2026 at 9.30am BST

In this webinar, Structural Engineer Eng Phin introduces the fundamentals of bridge forensics, with a focus on pre‑stressed concrete (PSC) bridges – one of the most common bridge types in Hong Kong and worldwide. The session covers key topics including structural systems, failure modes, and common investigation techniques.

A Bolt From the Blue: Why Bolted Connections Can Unexpectedly Fail

Presented by Patrick Walsh

Thursday 14th May 2026 at 9.30am BST

Civil Engineer Patrick Walsh will examine the most frequent design and installation errors in bolted connections that can lead to unexpected failures. The session will highlight how issues such as incorrect surface preparation, improper bolt pre‑tensioning, and misunderstandings of bolt behaviour can significantly increase the risk of structural failure.

Lithium Ion Batteries: Chemistries, Failures and Fire

Presented by David Reid Rowland

Thursday 28th May 2026 at 9.30am BST

In this webinar, mechanical engineer and forensic expert David Reid Rowland draws on two decades of investigative experience to demystify how lithium ion batteries work, why they fail, and what makes their fires so destructive and difficult to extinguish. He also explores real-world examples involving consumer products, marine cargo, and electric vehicles, highlighting the importance of regulation, protective systems, and safe handling practices.

Forensic Insights: Uncovering Failures in Mechanical Systems

Presented by Albert Law

Thursday 11th June 2026 at 9.30am BST

In this webinar, Mechanical Engineer Albert Law explores the forensic engineering approach applied to mechanical systems such as air‑conditioning units, pumping systems, fans, and other mechanical equipment. Attendees will gain an understanding of how mechanical failures are investigated, the methodologies used to identify root causes, and the role of forensic analysis in improving system reliability and safety.

Climbing: Lets Tie in & Consider the Risks

Presented by Jason Buchwitz

Thursday 25th June 2026 at 9.30am BST

In this presentation, Materials Engineer Jason Buchwitz will explore the construction and characteristics of indoor climbing walls, review trends in climbing-related accidents, and examine existing risk reduction measures, while considering which risks are unavoidable elements of the sport.

We look forward to presenting to you.

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Climbing: Lets Tie in & Consider the Risks

Chloe Duggan — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:52:07 +0000

Both indoor and outdoor climbing carry inherent risks, stepping off the ground always involves the possibility of an unexpected fall. While modern safety equipment and the rising popularity of indoor climbing have made the sport feel less extreme, more associated with bouldering gyms and social spaces than harsh days at the crag, the core danger of releasing your potential energy in an unplanned fall remains.

In this presentation, Materials Engineer Jason Buchwitz will explore the construction and characteristics of indoor climbing walls, review trends in climbing related accidents, and examine existing risk reduction measures, while considering which risks are unavoidable elements of the sport.

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Hawkins Dublin: CPD Burning Questions & Drinks Reception

Kirsten Beckwith — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:47:47 +0000

Hawkins are delighted to invite you and your colleagues to our Drinks Reception at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin.

Guests are invited to join us in The Wellesley Room from 4:30 pm for a 5.00 pm start. We commence with a CPD presentation before gathering in the Fitzgerald Room for drinks and canapés.

Join Forensic Investigators from Hawkins who will be presenting an immersive timeline of a multi-disciplinary fire investigation, from origin to recovery. The panel will present their findings to assist in determining potential liability exposures and the apportionment of responsibility across the various incidents.

There will also be an opportunity for our guests to examine real-life exhibits from our casework, and view photogrammetric models of exhibits and scenes.  Guests can also sign up to receive an exemplar report and model after the event.  

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Wednesday 20th May 2026.

Venue:
The Merrion Hotel,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
D02 KF79

Meet The Presenters

Our Burning Questions CPD presentation features Hawkins investigators alongside two established industry professionals – Ian Stafford from Davies Group and Martin Browne from H-F, who join the discussion to share their experience and insight from a client perspective.

> Jason Buchwitz, will share his expertise in fire investigation, covering the process from initial instruction through to scene examination and root‑cause analysis.

> Killian Walsh, who specialises in fire engineering investigation, will discuss potential defects that contribute to fire spread and compartmentation failure.

> Paul McCaughran, as a forensic architect, will explain how he assists legal teams in determining where responsibility for building defects lies and whether there are prospects for recovery.

> Major and Complex Loss Adjuster, Ian Stafford from the Davies Group will discuss the key areas for causation, establishing policy liability and recovery prospects.

> Solicitor Martin Browne will consider the expert evidence and what further steps are required in order to pursue any subrogated rights of recovery against any culpable third parties.

Jason Buchwitz, Fire Investigation Expert

Killian Walsh, Fire Engineering Expert

Paul McCaughran, Forensic Architect

Martin Browne, Solicitor

Ian Stafford, Director of Major & Complex Loss

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Hawkins Spring Drinks Reception 2026

Chloe Duggan — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:13:59 +0000

Hawkins are delighted to invite you and your colleagues to our Spring Drinks Reception at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester.

Guests are invited to join us in the Grand Hall from 4:30 pm for a 5.00 pm start. We commence with a CPD presentation before gathering in the Gallery for drinks and canapés.

Hawkins experts will guide attendees through the forensic investigation into the collapse of a racking system in a commercial warehouse and subsequent structural damage, followed by the the clean-up operation of potentially hazardous substances. We will also investigate a personal injury incident allegedly arising from a slip on a wet surface during the clean-up process. The panel will present their findings to assist in determining potential liability exposures and the apportionment of responsibility across the various incidents.

There will also be an opportunity to examine real-life exhibits from Hawkins casework and experience a virtual walk-through of a fire scene using a VR headset.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Wednesday 25th March, 2026

Venue:
The Whitworth Gallery
The University of Manchester
Manchester
M15 6ER

Meet Our Presenters

The CPD panel presentation From Collapse to Clean-up features Hawkins Experts:

> Mechanical Engineer George Jackson, who investigates the events that led to the collapse

> Chemical Expert Claire Mann, who leads the clean-up operation

> Personal Injury Expert Ian Tatner, who investigates the slip incident.

The Hawkins team are joined by Quantum Expert Nigel Jackson, from ALA and Loss Adjuster Mike Clementson, who demonstrate how the team work collaboratively to bring a major and complex loss to a conclusion. demonstrates how a real investigation takes place.

George Jackson, Mechanical Engineer

Claire Mann, Chemical Expert

Ian Tatner, Personal Injury Expert

Quantum Expert Nigel Jackson

Mike Clementson, Loss Adjuster, Claims Care Consultants Ltd

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Hawkins Hosts an Evening of Insights and Networking at London Drinks Reception

Chloe Duggan — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:46:40 +0000

It was a pleasure to welcome guests to our annual London drinks reception, at One Moorgate Place. The event brought together clients, colleagues and industry professionals for an engaging evening focused on forensic investigation and professional networking. Guests were greeted with refreshments before settling in for our CILA-accredited CPD presentation, delivered by Hawkins experts, alongside guest speakers.

Marketing Director and Chartered Civil Engineer, Andrew Reeves opened the evening with an overview of recent developments at Hawkins including:

The CPD presentation, From Collapse to Cleanup, guided attendees through a multi-disciplinary forensic investigation, from initial origin analysis to the final recovery phase. The scenario focused on the structural failure and collapse of a racking system, followed by our approach to the clean-up operation of potentially hazardous substances. It also addressed a personal injury incident arising from a slip on a wet surface during the remediation process.

Our presenters included Hawkins experts Gareth Dobinson, James Morris and Ian Tatner, joined by Nigel Jackson from ALA and Craig Faulkner from Crawford and Company.

The presentation was followed by a networking reception, with free flowing drinks and canapes. Guests had the opportunity to explore real-life casework exhibits, experience scenarios on a VR-Headset and share insights with colleagues. Highlights included a series of fire damaged exhibits and our ever-popular “guess the accelerant” scent challenge.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Details of our upcoming events can be found here.

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Understanding Ground Vibration and Noise from Railways: Key Insights and Future Directions

Chloe Duggan — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:20:56 +0000

In the hustle and bustle of urban living, vibrations are a constant, often unnoticed, part of our environment. Whether it’s the subtle tremor felt while driving a car or the gentle jolt in an elevator, these vibrations are generally accepted as part of daily life. However, when vibrations originate from external sources, such as road traffic, trams, or railway lines, they can intrude into homes, causing noticeable disturbances. This is particularly true near heavy traffic or underground railways, where vibrations can create a persistent trembling sensation in buildings. These vibrations often produce a low-frequency rumbling noise, known as structure-borne sound, caused by the building radiating sound into rooms. Secondary noises, like rattling doors or crockery, can also amplify the disturbance.

The impact of these vibrations depends on several factors, including proximity to the source, the speed and type of traffic, the quality of the road or track, and the construction of the building. Changes in the soil, such as modifications to the sewer network or adjacent buildings, can also exacerbate vibrations or increase ground-borne noise. Contrary to popular belief, vibrations from passing trains are too weak to cause structural damage to buildings.

The Reality of Building Damage From Vibration

A common fear among residents living near railways is that ground-borne vibration could damage their homes. However, this fear is largely unfounded. Damage to buildings due to ground-borne vibration from railways is exceedingly rare. In some cases, minor cosmetic damage, such as small cracks, may occur, but these are more likely due to natural factors like soil settlement during construction, weather variations, or poor construction quality, rather than vibration from rail traffic.

In construction scenarios involving activities like pile driving, which can cause vibrations much stronger than those from rail traffic, protocols are usually in place to assess and address potential damage. Typically, an expert may be commissioned to assess the condition of nearby buildings before construction begins. If cosmetic damage occurs and is linked to the construction work, the responsible company is usually liable for repairs. However, it’s important to note that the vibration strengths involved in such scenarios, often exceeding 5.0 mm/s peak particle velocity (PPV), are far greater than those produced by trains, which typically range between 0.1 and 0.6 mm/s.

The Growing Concern of Ground-Bourne Noise

Ground-borne noise, which is the sound transmitted through the ground into buildings, is an issue that particularly affects homes near underground railways. This type of noise is most noticeable inside dwellings and can be especially disruptive during quieter times, such as at night. Legal limits for environmental noise typically guide acceptable levels of ground-borne noise, with thresholds usually set around 35 to 40 dB(A) during the day and 25 to 30 dB(A) at night. These levels, though relatively low, can still cause discomfort, particularly if the noise is intermittent or occurs during sleep.

For underground trains, maximum ground-borne noise levels between 25 and 30 dB(A) have been applied by some authorities, reflecting the need to minimise disturbance to residents. While these levels are not typically harmful, they can cause significant discomfort, particularly for those who are more sensitive to noise. In some cases, a ‘C-weighting’, which adjusts for low-frequency sounds, is used to assess ground-borne noise more accurately.

The Complex Nature of Vibration

Vibration is a multifaceted phenomenon that can significantly affect the quality of life for those living near railways. Long-term exposure to noticeable vibration, particularly over several years, can lead to a range of reactions, from mild annoyance to significant discomfort. The relationship between vibration exposure and annoyance has been extensively studied, including in the EU Cargovibes project, which combined data from various field studies involving over 4,000 respondents. This study highlighted the correlation between vibration levels and the percentage of affected residents.

According to the Cargovibes study, at a PPV level of Vmax = 0.01 mm/s, the percentage of annoyed residents is close to zero. However, as the vibration level increases to Vmax = 0.4 mm/s, the percentage of annoyed residents rises to approximately 15%, with up to 5% being highly annoyed. These findings underscore the importance of managing vibration levels in residential areas.

Addressing Complaints and Future Directions

Complaints about vibration and noise are common, especially in areas where railway infrastructure has changed. While most countries do not mandate mitigation based solely on complaints, some infrastructure managers have developed procedures to investigate and address these concerns, sometimes including on-site measurements to assess the situation more accurately.

In some cases, a more detailed analysis is needed, involving the review of geophysical information to assess ground characteristics such as soil stiffness and density. If a serious risk is identified, further geological and geotechnical studies might be necessary to determine the area’s susceptibility to high vibration levels. Based on these assessments, a rough estimate of vibration strengths at the building’s foundation can be made.

Effective communication with residents is crucial. Reassuring them that there is little to no risk of damage to their property due to rail traffic can help alleviate concerns. Encouraging residents to keep a log of observed vibrations can assist in identifying patterns and determining if further action is needed.

Future Developments in Vibration Prediction

The prediction of railway-induced vibrations is evolving, with a range of methods currently in use, from highly scientific to empirical. As the demand for harmonisation and benchmarking grows, it will become increasingly important to account for differences in these methods.

Presently, methods for predicting vibrations in buildings caused by rail traffic on future tracks remain largely academic. Accurate predictions require extensive site-specific data, such as soil damping, soil layering, and the interaction between track and vehicles. This process is generally uneconomical for large-scale projects, presenting a significant challenge.

In research, scientific methods like finite element or boundary element modelling are used to assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures. While these approaches offer valuable insights, they often rely on rough assumptions, particularly regarding soil parameters and the source of excitation. As a result, these models cannot be directly applied to real-life situations without significant fieldwork to determine the crucial parameters.

Given these challenges, a flexible approach to setting target values for future cases may be necessary, considering a broader range of uncertainties and allowing for some excess in target values.

In conclusion, while railway-induced vibrations and noise are complex phenomena, ongoing research and improved communication with residents can help manage their impact on urban environments. As prediction methods evolve, the goal will be to balance accuracy with practicality, ensuring that mitigation measures are effective and economically viable.

About the Author

Dr Andrew Peplow has over thirty years of experience in civil and environmental engineering. He has been engaged in the understanding of computational dynamics, environmental noise, and vibration control. His early work on the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for acoustic and elastic wave propagation set the stage for contributions in the field. Andrew’s expertise has been further enhanced through collaboration with institutions such as KTH in Stockholm, TUM Munich and Aalborg University in Denmark. Supported by a Royal Academy of Engineering and EU Marie Curie grant, his joint research on the Waveguide Finite Element Method (FEM) and Exact FEM/BEM modelling has advanced the understanding of wave propagation in periodic and waveguide structures.

Andrew has provided his expertise on topics applied to advise and solve complex challenges in railway vibration, structural and building vibration prediction, and environmental noise control. He has been instructed as technical expert for industries ranging from heavy plant operations to large-scale HVDC stations and wind farms. He has also had articles featured in several notable acoustics publications including the Journal of Sound & Vibration, Applied Acoustics, and the Journal of Acoustical Society of America.

If you have a vibration or noise related query and need the help of an expert, contact us for a free consultation.

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Hawkins Hong Kong Drinks Reception 2025

Kirsten Beckwith — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:20:56 +0000

We are delighted to invite clients and colleagues to Lounge Hakuba on Thursday, November 20th from 6:00pm. Join the Hawkins forensic experts for an evening of networking, drinks and canapes.

Please register here or using the button below. We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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