Forensic Engineers and Consultants

Ellen Szubski

Ellen Szubski

Ellen Szubski

Ph.D., CXLT, CPSI, AHFP Phone: 803-732-6600 Cell: 803-667-1375 Download CV

Expertise

  • Human Factors & Safety
  • Vehicle/Pedestrian/Bicycle Crash Investigations
  • Illumination Evaluation
  • Workplace Injuries
  • Codes and Standards
  • Risk Assessment
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
Biography

Ellen Szubski, Ph.D., is a human factors consultant at The Warren Group. She earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Factors Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Clemson University.  Ellen is also a Certified XL Tribometrist, a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), and a Certified Associate Human Factors Professional (AHFP).

Ellen worked in the Clemson Visual Perception and Performance Laboratory examining the factors contributing to the conspicuity of pedestrians and bicyclists in challenging road conditions, such as nighttime driving. She did her dissertation on “The Influence of Pedestrian Biological Motion on Time-To-Collision Estimates at Night”. Prior to entering the forensic field, Ellen planned and conducted experiments for a major bicycle manufacturer that improved bicycle conspicuity. She also conducted laser strike perception and performance studies for the Department of Defense.

Ellen applies her experience in Human Factors to the analysis of crash investigations and other personal injury matters.  These matters often include collisions involving vulnerable road users and drivers, driver distraction, and slips, trips, and falls.  As a CPSI, she is well versed in playground safety standards, safety design, and maintenance contributing to playground injuries and fatalities. She utilizes her knowledge of OSHA regulations, codes, and standards in her analysis of premises liability incidents and safety consulting.

Ellen is a current member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) and its Forensic Professional Technical Group.

Qualifications
Current Member Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
M.S. in Applied Psychology
Ph.D in Human Factors Psychology
Certified Playground Safety Inspector
Certified Associate Human Factors Professional
Certified XL Tribometrist (CXLT)
Publications
The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

ECS The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

Recent Posts

Civil Twilight Pedestrian Collision: A Case Study

Susan, a 45-year-old runner, was jogging in the early morning approximately an hour before sunrise, also known as “civil twilight.” Civil twilight occurs both before sunrise and after sunset when the sun is below the horizon and the sky is partially illuminated. Susan was wearing dark athletic clothing and grey tennis shoes for her morning […]

Rainy Day Troubles: A Slip and Fall Case Study

An afternoon summer rain shower led to an elderly woman’s admittance to the hospital. Mrs. Jones, aged 68, entered a retail store to buy groceries for her visiting family. Mrs. Jones walked through the store’s vestibule toward the entrance where she slipped and fell, sustaining significant injuries. An investigation was conducted to determine the cause […]

Surprise Slip and Slides  

Falls were the number one cause of preventable non-fatal injuries and the number two cause of preventable deaths in the US in 2019 (CDC and NEISS data). Slip and falls occur when there is an unexpected loss of traction between a person’s foot and the walking surface.  Slip and falls are common and can occur […]

Playgrounds are not all Fun and Games

Play is an essential part of childhood development as children learn through play. Public playgrounds provide an environment for children to develop physical, behavioral, and cognitive skills. Though an essential aspect of childhood development, public play areas can also provide an opportunity for serious injuries and fatalities. In 2020, 120,829 children sustained serious injuries

What You Don’t See Can Hurt You-Undercarriage Crashes

A 43-year-old man driving his small vehicle northbound in the right lane of a rural two-lane paved road, was on his way to his favorite hunting spot in the early morning. He had two passengers with him—one in his front passenger seat and one in his back left seat. It was dark outside, and the […]

The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

An alarming 6,516 pedestrians were killed, and 54,769 pedestrians were injured as a result of traffic crashes in 2020 (NHTSA, 2022). A large majority (77%) of these pedestrian fatalities occurred in low luminance conditions such as nighttime while only 20% occurred in daylight (NHTSA, 2022). This dramatic difference between pedestrian fatalities during the night and […]

The Big Difference Between Conspicuity and Visibility

Visibility aids, such as lighting, reflectors, and fluorescent material, are marketed to vulnerable road users (VRUs) like pedestrians and bicyclists as a way to enhance their safety on the road. These visibility aids increase the VRU’s contrast within the roadway environment therefore increasing their visibility. However, increasing visibility does not necessarily mean enhancing conspicuity. For […]

The Best Use of Visibility Aids – Contrast

There are various visibility aids marketed for vulnerable road users (VRUs). Here, the term VRU is used to describe unprotected road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Visibility aids are designed to increase a VRU’s contrast within their environment, making them more distinguishable from the background to a driver. These visibility aids can include both […]

If There is a Human, There are Human Factors

If there is a human involved in the case, there is a good chance that human factors theories and principles will be applicable. Human factors is the study of people interacting with their surrounding environment. A human factors expert applies their knowledge of human capabilities and limitations to each unique case to assess the physical, […]

WARREN Welcomes Human Factors Consultant Ellen Szubski, Ph.D.

Please join us in welcoming Human Factors Expert Ellen Szubski, Ph.D, to the WARREN family!                     Ellen’s Areas of Expertise Include: Human Factors & Safety Illumination Evaluation OSHA Regulations Premises Liability Slips, trips, and falls Workplace injuries Vehicle/Pedestrian/Bicycle Crash Investigation Ellen Szubski is a human factors […]

Ellen Szubski, Ph.D., is a human factors consultant at The Warren Group. She earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Factors Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Clemson University.  Ellen is also a Certified XL Tribometrist, a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), and a Certified Associate Human Factors Professional (AHFP).

Ellen worked in the Clemson Visual Perception and Performance Laboratory examining the factors contributing to the conspicuity of pedestrians and bicyclists in challenging road conditions, such as nighttime driving. She did her dissertation on “The Influence of Pedestrian Biological Motion on Time-To-Collision Estimates at Night”. Prior to entering the forensic field, Ellen planned and conducted experiments for a major bicycle manufacturer that improved bicycle conspicuity. She also conducted laser strike perception and performance studies for the Department of Defense.

Ellen applies her experience in Human Factors to the analysis of crash investigations and other personal injury matters.  These matters often include collisions involving vulnerable road users and drivers, driver distraction, and slips, trips, and falls.  As a CPSI, she is well versed in playground safety standards, safety design, and maintenance contributing to playground injuries and fatalities. She utilizes her knowledge of OSHA regulations, codes, and standards in her analysis of premises liability incidents and safety consulting.

Ellen is a current member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) and its Forensic Professional Technical Group.

Current Member Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
M.S. in Applied Psychology
Ph.D in Human Factors Psychology
Certified Playground Safety Inspector
Certified Associate Human Factors Professional
Certified XL Tribometrist (CXLT)
The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

ECS The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

Civil Twilight Pedestrian Collision: A Case Study

Susan, a 45-year-old runner, was jogging in the early morning approximately an hour before sunrise, also known as “civil twilight.” Civil twilight occurs both before sunrise and after sunset when the sun is below the horizon and the sky is partially illuminated. Susan was wearing dark athletic clothing and grey tennis shoes for her morning […]

Rainy Day Troubles: A Slip and Fall Case Study

An afternoon summer rain shower led to an elderly woman’s admittance to the hospital. Mrs. Jones, aged 68, entered a retail store to buy groceries for her visiting family. Mrs. Jones walked through the store’s vestibule toward the entrance where she slipped and fell, sustaining significant injuries. An investigation was conducted to determine the cause […]

Surprise Slip and Slides  

Falls were the number one cause of preventable non-fatal injuries and the number two cause of preventable deaths in the US in 2019 (CDC and NEISS data). Slip and falls occur when there is an unexpected loss of traction between a person’s foot and the walking surface.  Slip and falls are common and can occur […]

Playgrounds are not all Fun and Games

Play is an essential part of childhood development as children learn through play. Public playgrounds provide an environment for children to develop physical, behavioral, and cognitive skills. Though an essential aspect of childhood development, public play areas can also provide an opportunity for serious injuries and fatalities. In 2020, 120,829 children sustained serious injuries

What You Don’t See Can Hurt You-Undercarriage Crashes

A 43-year-old man driving his small vehicle northbound in the right lane of a rural two-lane paved road, was on his way to his favorite hunting spot in the early morning. He had two passengers with him—one in his front passenger seat and one in his back left seat. It was dark outside, and the […]

The Difficult Task of Avoiding Pedestrians While Driving at Night

An alarming 6,516 pedestrians were killed, and 54,769 pedestrians were injured as a result of traffic crashes in 2020 (NHTSA, 2022). A large majority (77%) of these pedestrian fatalities occurred in low luminance conditions such as nighttime while only 20% occurred in daylight (NHTSA, 2022). This dramatic difference between pedestrian fatalities during the night and […]

The Big Difference Between Conspicuity and Visibility

Visibility aids, such as lighting, reflectors, and fluorescent material, are marketed to vulnerable road users (VRUs) like pedestrians and bicyclists as a way to enhance their safety on the road. These visibility aids increase the VRU’s contrast within the roadway environment therefore increasing their visibility. However, increasing visibility does not necessarily mean enhancing conspicuity. For […]

The Best Use of Visibility Aids – Contrast

There are various visibility aids marketed for vulnerable road users (VRUs). Here, the term VRU is used to describe unprotected road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Visibility aids are designed to increase a VRU’s contrast within their environment, making them more distinguishable from the background to a driver. These visibility aids can include both […]

If There is a Human, There are Human Factors

If there is a human involved in the case, there is a good chance that human factors theories and principles will be applicable. Human factors is the study of people interacting with their surrounding environment. A human factors expert applies their knowledge of human capabilities and limitations to each unique case to assess the physical, […]

WARREN Welcomes Human Factors Consultant Ellen Szubski, Ph.D.

Please join us in welcoming Human Factors Expert Ellen Szubski, Ph.D, to the WARREN family!                     Ellen’s Areas of Expertise Include: Human Factors & Safety Illumination Evaluation OSHA Regulations Premises Liability Slips, trips, and falls Workplace injuries Vehicle/Pedestrian/Bicycle Crash Investigation Ellen Szubski is a human factors […]

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