Expert Services

SAFEgroup have technically competent and qualified experts who are well regarded within the HSE, Risk Management and Engineering Professions.

• SAFEgroup provides the following services to our Legal and Professional clients:

Expert Reports

Our Experts currently prepare in excess of 200 Expert Witness Reports each year to assist in workplace injury and public liability matters for many litigation firms across Australia. SAFEgroup have technically competent and qualified Experts with experience and expertise spanning numerous areas; work health and safety, risk management, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, mining, mechatronics, manufacturing, agriculture, processing, production, human factors, civil, structural, software and many more. Our Experts provide high quality, researched, referenced and technically competent reports to assist in determining issues of causation and liability for workplace incidents and public liability.

Since SAFEgroup’s establishment in 2000, our Experts have produced over 1500 reports and have gathered extensive experience in analysing and determining injury causation and preventability. For further information please contact SAFEgroup on (02) 4933 9942 or email expert.reports@safegroup.com.au​​​​​​​

Workplace Incidents

Reporting on all manner of Workplace Incidents by SAFEgroup's Expert Opinion & Litigation team. SAFEgroup’s workplace incident reports address incidents within the workplace resulting in physical, psychological and fatal injuries; comment on safe systems of work and risk management principles; legislated obligations; and analysis of Safety Standards, Codes of Practice, Building Codes and industry guidelines. Workplace Incident reporting covers the following:

• Workplace Health & Safety Management System (WHSMS) failures
• All facets of construction, mining and process industry safety systems failures
• Electrical safety
• Mobile plant failures & mobile equipment damage
• Plant and equipment failure & design analysis
• Fall prevention & safe working at heights analysis
• Hazardous manual task injuries, patient handling & system failures
• Analysis of slips, trips & falls using calibrated testing equipment
• Development of Original Equipment Manufacturer instructions & warnings for products
• Traffic management
• Load restraint assessments/verification
• Analysis of light aspects using calibrated electronic lux meters, time lapse video and lux meters
• Incidents involving asphyxiation and/or atmospheric contamination
• Building defects and compliance obligations
• Workplace bullying and psychological injuries
• Fires and explosions
• Analysis of automated systems software
• Determination of Safety Integrity Levels (SIL)
• Determination of machine guarding failures
• Determination of adequacy or otherwise of presence sensing systems (software and hardware)
• Assessment of machine PLC system errors.

Public Liability Incidents

SAFEgroup’s public liability reports address common law claims and matters of negligence relating to physical, psychological and fatal injuries, and provide comment on risk management principles, legislated obligations and analysis of Safety Standards, Codes of Practice, Building Codes and industry guidelines. Public Liability reporting covers the following:

• Analysis of slips, trips & falls using calibrated testing equipment
• Building structural integrity, defects and compliance obligations
• Events management obligations
• Plant and equipment failures
• Product liability
• Property matters, tenancy rights and obligations
• Recreation and sporting incidents
• Patient and aged care
• Educational facilities and institutions
• Workplace Health & Safety Management System (WHSMS).

Our Approach

SAFEgroup consultants regularly undertake expert investigations and prepare expert reports for both defendants and plaintiffs in many diverse fields. In the preparation of Expert Witness Reports, SAFEgroup Experts apply a methodical and investigative approach using a collection of the practical skills and experience, research and analysis of technical information and systems documentation, and testing equipment and tools of measurement at our disposal.

SAFEgroup’s Experts have a broad range of skills, qualifications, expertise and experience covering all facets of work health and safety and public liability to determine causation and liability for workplace incidents and public liability claims.

SAFEgroup’s Experts display multifaceted expertise which extend beyond specific industry sectors and are able to provide key detail and technical analysis of the contributing factors leading to injury.

SAFEgroup prides itself on the high quality of work and the inclusion of detailed evidence based reporting, unbiased opinions and developed hypothesis which is achieved through detailed analysis, research and peer reviews. For further information please contact SAFEgroup on (02) 4933 9942 or email expert.reports@safegroup.com.au​​​​​​​

Expert Team

SAFEgroup have technically competent, qualified and highly-regarded experts who have collectively provided in excess of 1500 reports/assessments since 2000 to many firms across Australia. SAFEgroup experts have experience and expertise spanning numerous areas including; work health and safety, risk management, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, mining, mechatronics, manufacturing, agriculture, processing, production, human factors, civil, structural, software and many more.

The SAFEgroup team also includes certified functional safety engineers with extensive experience in machinery, safety instrumented systems and telemetry, PLC and SCADA.

Our Experts currently prepare in excess of 200 Expert Witness Reports each year on workplace injury and public liability matters for many litigation firms across Australia.

Our multidisciplinary professional team allows SAFEgroup to provide Expert Witness Reports with a multi-faceted perspective. For further information please contact SAFEgroup on (02) 4933 9942 or email expert.reports@safegroup.com.au​​​​​​​

Report Options

SAFEgroup have a number of report options available depending on the stage or complexity of a matter. Standard Report An interview will be undertaken with the Plaintiff and a detailed analysis of evidentiary material will be undertaken. SAFEgroup will also provide advice on documents to be requested by subpoena in order to provide a thorough Expert Witness Report. SAFEgroup will undertake a view and assessment of the incident location/plant in addition to obtaining photographs and measurements for evidentiary purposes. SAFEgroup can also undertake relevant testing using scientific equipment and organise laboratory assessments and analysis of evidence provided if required. The Expert Witness Report will provide a thorough and detailed factual account of the incident and address the relevant legislation, Standards and regulatory requirements which apply. The Expert Witness Report will provide analysis of the documentation provided and provide material to support/counter this material where required. The Expert Witness Report will provide a summary of the root causes of the incident and the appropriate risk control measures that could have been implemented prior to the incident which could have prevented the incident from occurring. Complex Report A Complex Report incorporates the components of a Standard Report adapted for matters which are complex in nature, require significant research or analysis of lengthy material, require comment on or response to additional or counter Expert Witness Reports, involve 3 or more parties and/or where additional interviews/conferences are required. Preliminary Report Advice A preliminary opinion as to the potential outcome of a claim for liability and the circumstances of an incident to assist solicitors in providing information to their client/s. An interview will be undertaken with the Plaintiff and evidentiary material reviewed. SAFEgroup will also provide advice on documents to be requested by subpoena in order to provide a thorough Expert Witness Report. The preliminary advice cannot be used in negotiations or for the purposes of a claim in Court. In the event that the matter proceeds to Court, SAFEgroup can prepare an Expert Witness Report and the fees will be credited towards the final invoice. For further information please contact SAFEgroup on (02) 4933 9942 or email expert.reports@safegroup.com.au

Code of Conduct

Our Experts recognise that they have an overiding duty to assist the Court on matters relevant to the Expert's field of expertise. SAFEgroup Experts are governed by the Expert Witness Codes of Conduct as stipulated by the District and Supreme Court for the relevant jurisdiction. The Codes are available online for review and download. For further information please contact SAFEgroup on (02) 4933 9942 or email expert.reports@safegroup.com.au​​​​​​​