Dr.
Zeliger's investigation and expert testimony in these
areas include accident reconstruction; determination of
sources of fuel, oxygen and ignition; burn pattern
evaluations; CPSC, OSHA, FDA, EPA, DOT and ATF
compliance issues; adequacy of warning labels and
Material Safety Data Sheets; and chemical reactivity.
The
following case histories are illustrative of some of Dr.
Zeliger’s projects.
Case
History 1
An individual attempted to relight a bed of charcoal
that had apparently extinguished itself by squirting
fuel on it. Upon addition of the liquid, a fire erupted
and flashed back up the stream of fluid to its
container, causing it to erupt into fire and severely
injuring the person. The injured party claimed that he
had used a commercial lighter fluid. Dr. Zeliger's
investigation and experimentation revealed that
commercial, combustible, lighter fluid has limited
volatility and will not flash back up a stream,
regardless of how hot a bed of coals is. A flammable
liquid, however, will readily do so. Accordingly, it was
determined that a fuel other than lighter fluid, most
probably alcohol, was used.
Case
History 2
Aerosol cans of paint were used on a balcony that was
closed on the bottom and open on the top to recoat a
piece of furniture. While the spraying was in progress a
fire erupted behind a door to a gas fired heater at the
far end of the balcony twenty feet from where the
painting was being carried out. The fire flashed back to
the painters and severely burned them. Upon
investigation, Dr. Zeliger concluded that the fire was
caused by the migration of flammable paint solvent
vapors from the painting site to the pilot light of the
heater. Solvent vapors are denser than air. Upon
spraying, the vapors evaporated, sank to ground level
and migrated along the floor of the balcony and
ultimately under the door to the heater where the
ignition took place. Even though this was an outdoor
application, the enclosure of the bottom of the balcony
prevented dissipation of the heavier than air paint
solvent vapors. Dr. Zeliger testified that the
product's warning failed to alert the user about
potential vapor migration and the need to extinguish
pilot lights and other sources of ignition when using
that product.
Case
History 3
A fire of unknown origin erupted in a warehouse
containing swimming pool chlorine tablets and powder.
The responding fire company quickly hosed down the fire,
extinguished it and departed. Within a short period of
time a second alarm went out. This time the building was
completely engulfed in flame and chlorine gas was
spewing out, necessitating a large scale evacuation. Dr.
Zeliger's investigation revealed that the water
initially applied wet down the chlorine tablets and
powder, causing them to heat up to the point where the
wooden pallets holding the chlorine spontaneously
combusted. The heat produced by the secondary fire
caused large quantities of chlorine gas to be liberated.
