Calif-legal.com: California Expert Witness, James Kapin, MPH, CIH, REA, Accident Prevention & Safety, Chemical Accidents, Environmental Compliance, Hazardous Materials, Indoor Air Quality, Industrial Safety & Hygiene, Safety, Chemical Spills Expert Witness

Areas of Expertise:
Extensive experience in all aspects of hazardous materials management, including workplace safety, OSHA and EPA compliance. Areas of expertise include indoor air quality, industrial safety, industrial hygiene, hazard communication, mold, lead, asbestos, spill response, labels and warnings, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) preparation and management, respirator use and assessment of exposure to hazardous materials.

Credentials:
Mr. Kapin has an undergraduate degree (BA) in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a Masters of Public Health degree (MPH) with an emphasis in Occupational Health. He has several professional licenses including Certification in the Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene (CIH) from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and as a Registered Environmental Assessor (REA) from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Mr. Kapin has held offices in local and national organizations including the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Chemical Society. Mr. Kapin is 40-hr HAZWOPR certified and has additional training and experience with confined-space entry, respiratory program management, construction safety and related issues.

Summary of Experience:
Mr. Kapin has over 15 years professional experience with environmental and health and safety issues. He specializes in the storage, use, disposal and management of hazardous materials as well as assessment of exposure to hazardous materials. As a senior scientist and consultant at Advanced Chemical Safety, Mr. Kapin provides assistance to clients in government, business, industry and academia on issues of the highest technical complexity. He has particular expertise in the areas of laboratory safety and indoor air quality. Typical work efforts include: evaluating workplace concentrations of hazardous materials and developing appropriate control plans; assessing workplace environments and implementing systems to manage hazards and comply with applicable laws and regulations; conducting air quality evaluations, including chemical and microbiological sampling; preparing regulatory plans, programs and permits; developing and presenting education and training on a variety of technical topics. Mr. Kapin has particular expertise with conveying technical concepts in clear, easy-to-understand language.

Mr. Kapin has been retained by plaintiff and defense counsel to assist litigation, review case documents, provide expert opinion and support arbitration in a balanced, objective fashion. He actively shares his knowledge with others, presenting case studies and Professional Development Courses (PDCs) at national conferences as well as industry sponsored professional events. Mr. Kapin has been a member of the executive committee of the Division of Chemical Health and Safety (CHAS) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) since 1997 and is currently (2006) chair of the division. Mr. Kapin is also a member of the executive committee of the California Campus EH&S Association (CCEHSA) and is active in local section and national activities of the American Industrial Hygiene association (AIHA).