110 LAWYER MONTHLY EXPERT WITNESS AWARDS 2025 “Seeing workers diagnosed with silicosis on major tunnelling projects reinforced the urgent need for stronger dust control measures.” What are some of the most common misconceptions you encounter in legal cases involving workplace health and safety? One of the biggest misconceptions in workplace health and safety cases is the belief that exposure to airborne hazards isn’t harmful, when in reality, these exposures often have cumulative and long-term health effects. Another common misunderstanding is that providing personal protective equipment (PPE) alone is enough to keep workers safe. In truth, effective risk management follows a hierarchy of controls, prioritising elimination and engineering measures over PPE. Lastly, there’s a mistaken assumption that dust control practices have remained the same over time, when in fact, our understanding and approaches have evolved significantly with new research and technology. The intersection of law, science, and workplace risk can be challenging. What do you believe makes an effective and credible expert witness in occupational health matters? I think that an expert witness needs to have a solid technical understanding of the subject, have strong analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex science in a clear, unbiased manner. Credibility hinges on impartiality, so it’s essential to remain objective, focusing solely on the evidence and the facts. Staying up to date with the latest research and industry best practices is also crucial to ensuring that expert opinions are scientifically sound and withstand legal scrutiny. Your work often involves assessing invisible hazards like airborne contaminants and silica dust. How do you translate highly technical findings into clear, courtroom-ready expert opinions? A key challenge in expert witness work is translating complex occupational hygiene data into clear, compelling courtroom evidence. I focus on making my findings accessible by using straightforward language, analogies, and visual aids like photographs and charts. I also try to anticipate potential questions and misconceptions, ensuring my reports are structured to be both technically rigorous and easily understandable for legal professionals and decision-makers.
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