Email barry@esci.net

360.676.8088

Curriculum Vitae

Brian Erga

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), Power Option, June 1978, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
• Advanced Project Management, 1979, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington.
• Applied Protective Relaying, 1982, Westinghouse Electric Company, Coral Springs, Florida.
• NELPA Meter School, 1983, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
• Numerous electrical training courses and safety courses.

Professional Affiliations:

• National Electrical Safety Committee C2 (NESC), voting member assigned to NESC
     Subcommittee 8 "Work Rules"
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Senior Member.
     Engineering in the Safety, Maintenance, and Operations Subcommittee (ESMO).
• Chairman of the ESMO Underground Grounding Task Force.
• Active ESMO Committee Member:
     Live Work Guide Working Group
     Conductive Clothing Task Force
     Fall Protection Task Force
     Insulator Cleaning Task Force
     IEC TC-78
     Worker in the Air Gap Working Group
     Maximum Transient Overvoltage Task Force
     Work Methods Working Group
     Broken Insulator Task Force
     IEEE 1048 Grounding Task Force
     ESMO/NESC Coordinating Working Group ASTM, Member
• Active Member of ASTM F18 Subcommittee.
• Vice Chairman of ASTM F 855 "Temporary Protective Grounds to be Used on De-energized Electric Power Lines and Equipment"
• Quad States Instructors Association, Member.
• National Utilities Safety and Education Association (NUSEA), Member.
• Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), Member.

Professional Experience:

Electrical Safety Consultants International, Inc. (ESCI) 1994-Present
President:

• Oversees a staff of 12 professional safety, training and wellness experts.
• Oversees the safety and training needs of 40 plus electric utilities.
• Expert in the operations, maintenance and construction of electrical utility systems in the United States.
• Teaches grounding theory and application courses to utility workers.
• Considered the industry expert in equipotential grounding.
• Provides safety and training consulting services to the electric utility industry.
• Provides expert witness services relating to electrical cases.
• Involvement in many accident investigations of utility workers and the general public.

Puget Sound Power & Light Company, 1978-1996

• District Engineer.
• Substation Design, Operation and Maintenance Engineer.
• Training Supervisor.
• Safety, Standards and Work Methods Engineer.
• Oversaw the entire company's operation, maintenance and construction work methods and standard development.
• Distribution and Transmission Engineer.
• Designed hundreds of distribution and transmission line extensions.
• Designed and oversaw the construction, maintenance and operation of the electrical system in Whatcom County, Washington.
• Supervisor, Lynden Service Center.

Snohomish County PUD #1, 1973-1978

• Underground Construction Coordinator
• Line crew helper
• Underground Locator

Federal OSHA

• Technical consultant and advisor to the maintenance and revisions of Federal OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V.
• Technical expert and consultant to Federal OSHA on OSHA citations and investigations.

Protective Grounding Systems

• Leading industry expert in all aspects of protective grounding.
• Conducted more than 1,000 courses on grounding across the US.

Electrical Service Entrance Systems

• Developed Puget Sound Energy's electrical service entrance specifications and metering requirements for residential, commercial and industrial facilities.
• Designed and oversaw the installation hundreds of electrical services to residential, commercial and industrial facilities.

Electric Utility Systems

• Designed and oversaw the construction, operation and maintenance of major electrical substations energized at 4kV, 15kV, 55kV, 115kV and 230kV.
• Designed and oversaw the construction, operation and maintenance of overhead and underground distribution and transmission systems energized at 4kV, 15kV, 55kV, 115kV and 230kV.

Residential and Commercial Wiring Systems

• Designed and wired several new residences, and rewired a number of existing homes and commercial facilities.

Publications:

• "Test Results of Personal Protective Grounding on Distribution Line Wood Pole Construction" IEEE 88 SM 558-9 PWRD.
• "Test Results of Grounding Un-insulated Aerial Lift Vehicles Near Energized Distribution Lines" IEEE 91 SM 312-9 PWRD.
• "Worker Protection While Working De-Energized Underground Distribution Systems" IEEE/ESMO Task Force 15.07.09.01
• "Guide for Maintenance Methods on Energized Power Lines" IEEE 516.
• "Guide to Grounding of Power Systems" IEEE 1048.
• "Temporary Protective Grounds to be Used on De-energized Electric Power Lines and Equipment" ASTM F855.
• A number of articles in professional magazines and newsletters.

Consulting and Training:

Expert Witness:

• WISHA v. Washington Water Power.
• Haggerty v. Nevada Power Company.
• Blanchard v. A.B. Chance Company.
• Tami Price v. Interstate Travel Facilities, Inc, The Beard Company, Staffpro Plus, LLC, Toby Tindell, Christine Tindell, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, J. Dennis Green, Green's Remodeling, Inc.
• Garamedi v. Nevada Power Company.
• Irby Construction Company v. State of Alaska.
• US Department of Labor v. Commonwealth Electric Company.
• WISHA v. Wilson Construction Company.
• Tabak v. Nevada Power
• US Department of Labor v. Winco, Inc.
• US Department of Labor v. Harp Construction Company.
• US Department of Labor v. Great Southwestern Company.
• US Department of Labor v. Pike Construction.
• L.E. Myers v. US Department of Labor.
• Cleavenger v. Monongahela Power Co, Fairchild Cable TV, Time Warner Cable Inc.
• Steve Cservak v. San Diego Gas & Electric.
• Tanner Electric v. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Barbour v. Nevada Power
• Hicks v. Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation
• WISHA v. Potelco Construction Co.
• and more ... see Expert Witness page