Brian Pearce has wide ranging experience as an ergonomics consultant and as a human factors researcher and has lectured on ergonomic issues in Europe, North America and Australia. He first acted as an expert witness in 1987, in the Australian test case on "RSI" (Susan Marie Cooper -v- Commonwealth of Australia), heard in the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Since then his advice has been sought in legal proceedings in the UK by both Claimants and Defendants and he has given oral evidence on numerous occasions. He accepts instructions to act as: a Party Appointed Expert; a Single Joint Expert; or as an Expert Adviser. Download CV

Brian Pearce is an Individual Member of The Expert Witness Institute, a Practising Member of the Academy of Experts, a Graduate Member of the Ergonomics Society, and a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. He has attended training courses on the duties of Experts under the CPR and is now regularly instructed as a Single Joint Expert.

In addition to consultancy and training activities, he maintains a website that summarises Judgments in personal injury claims for work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs). This website, which is referred to in the HSE’s latest guidance on WRULDs, was originally developed as part of a research contract for the HSE which examined how the Courts are interpreting HSE guidance documents and health and safety regulations by analysing transcripts of Judgments. (Download Research Report from HSE web site) Over 200 such Judgments are briefly summarised on the website to be found at: http://www.HumaneTechnology.co.uk/wruldii/intro.php

Areas of expertise

Brian Pearce is most frequently instructed in personal injury claims for work-relevant musculoskeletal disorders, e.g. back, upper limb & vibration-induced injuries, but he has also been involved in other types of legal proceedings in which ergonomics knowledge has been considered pertinent, e.g. contested enforcement notices and prosecutions for alleged breaches of health & safety regulations and vocational rehabilitation following traumatic injury.

He has prepared reports for the Court on an immense variety of systems of work, including (in no particular order) those of: crisp packers; delivery drivers; abattoir workers; sewing machinists; secretaries; ultrasonographers; journalists; welders; IT specialists; ambulance technicians; croupiers; labourers; financial dealers; fork lift truck drivers; nurses; food packers; print workers; call centre operatives; cleaners; postal workers; groundsmen; supermarket checkout operatives; pottery workers; maintenance fitters; train drivers; data input operatives; poultry processing operatives; optician's assistants; warehouse operatives; accounts clerks; leather finishers; electronics assemblers and numerous different types of factory work involving heavy or repetitive handling.

Split of instructions

Brian Pearce has never kept a detailed record of the split of his instructions between Claimants and Defendants and considers such an exercise virtually meaningless, given his involvement in Group actions with hundreds of Claimants or numerous Defendants and the way in which claims can be consolidated.

In the early days, he was frequently approached to act on behalf of Claimants but ended up mostly being instructed by Defendants, in part because the Legal Aid Board often jibbed at his hourly rate, which has always been higher than many other ergonomists. His repeated refusal to accept instructions on deferred terms also resulted in instructions from some firms of solicitors who acted mostly for Claimants not being confirmed. Since the introduction of the CPR, he has been instructed by Claimants and Defendants more or less equally, but most frequently as a Single Joint Expert.

Fee Rates

Brian Pearce is not the cheapest ergonomics expert. His standard hourly fee rate simply reflects his experience, the quality of service provided and the demand for his services by both Claimants and Defendants. Contact us to obtain current fee rates and availability.

He is prepared to discuss potential instructions by telephone, for up to 30 minutes, free of charge.

Terms and conditions of engagement

Terms of business are the Model Terms of Engagement for the Appointment of Experts of The Academy of Experts of which the letter accepting instructions forms a part. View the Model Terms of Engagement for the Appointment of Experts on the web site of The Academy of Experts or use the links below for files in PDF format (used with permission):

• for Party Appointed Expert;
• for Single Joint Expert;
• for Expert Adviser.

Contact Brian Pearce

If you have a particular case in which you think he might be able to assist, please telephone for a confidential discussion 0116 230 2989 or email b.g.pearce@HumaneTechnology.co.uk. If he does not have the relevant experience or pertinent expertise he will say so and endeavour to put you in touch with someone who has.

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