David Pearson
Senior Fire & Explosion Specialist
Chemistry Certificate, Granville Technical Collage
Bachelor of Science. (Applied Chemistry), University of Technology Sydney
Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management (Credit), University of Technology Sydney
Master of Science, Fire & Explosion Industrial Safety Management (ongoing), University of NSW
Address:
PO Box 592
Richmond
NSW 2753
Tel: +61 2 4724 4951
Fax: +61 2 4724 4999
Email: david.pearson@workcover.nsw.gov.au
Experience
David started his professional career in the Pharmaceutical Industry where he rose from an Analytical Chemist to the position of Laboratory Manager. He then pursued a career in state and federal analytical laboratories in the fields of analytical methods development, research and forensic toxicology. Since 1989, he has been working for WorkCover NSW at their TestSafe Facility in Londonderry NSW in the field of Fire & Explosions related research, testing, and specialist industrial accident investigations. He currently heads the Fire & Explosion Unit and has been involved in the investigation of most of the major industrial explosions that have occurred in NSW over the last 15 years.
Major Research Projects
- Pollutant emissions from combustion of hydrocarbon / ethanol mixtures
- Pollutant emissions from combustion of conveyer belting and electrical cable insulation
- Characteristics of pool fires involving fuel blends
- Evaluation of conveyor belt flammability test methods
- Full scale explosion tests on mine stoppings
- Development of ISO 6184 explosion test vessels for flammable dusts
Major Investigations
- Boral LPG Fire & Explosion, St Peters, NSW, 1990
- Explosion in a silo near Lismore, NSW, 1996
- Explosion in a waste oil storage tank, Belrose, NSW, 1996
- Explosion in an oil seed crushing plant, Rutherford, NSW, 1999
- Explosion in a workshop at Mt Thorley NSW, 2002
- Explosion in a grain silo near Yass, NSW, 2002
- Explosion at a container cleaning business, Silverwater, NSW, 2003
- Explosion and fire at a pet food manufacturing plant, Gunnedah, NSW, 2003
- Explosions and fire in a large ethanol storage tank, Port Kembla , NSW , 2004
Recent Publications
R. D Pearson, An investigation of a fire and explosion in a cottonseed meal silo at Caines Pty Ltd, Rutherford, NSW, 6 December 1999. TestSafe Report No: 19995. August 2000.
R. D. Pearson, A. D. S. Gillies, A. R. Green, R. Day, P. Dux, Evaluation of a full scale pressure test for ventilation control devices, ACARP Project No: C8006, November 2000.
R. Ryan, R. Cavasin, R. D. Pearson, B. McMahon, On site mixing of VAPORPH3OS (phosphine gas). Australian Postharvest Technical Conference 2000.
S. Gillies, R. D. Pearson, A. Green, R. Day P. Dux. Testing and usage of ventilation control devices within the Australian coal mining industry. 7th International Mine Ventilation Congress, Cracow, Poland 2001.
R. Ryan, D. Pearson, VAPORMATE (NON-FLAMABLE Ethyl Formate/Liquid Carbon Dioxide fumigant mixture) Poster session, International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection, 2002 York UK.
R. D. Pearson, B. Cabot, Determination of the flammability limits of Cyanogen/Carbon Dioxide mixtures in air. TestSafe Report No: 24292. Sept 2003.
J. Oberholzer, R. D. Pearson. Investigate testing facilities of ventilation devices and explosion barrier components. Australian Coal Research Project No: C12009. June 2004.
R. D. Pearson, Final report of specialist investigation of an explosion and fire at the Gunnedah premises of Best Care on the 25th of January 2003. TestSafe Report No: 25368. July 2004.
R. D. Pearson, Explosions and Fire at Manildra Park Pty Ltd, Prot Kembla on the 28th of January 2004. TestSafe Report No: 24927. July 2005.
Professional Memberships & Accreditations
- Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- Australian & New Zealand Forensic Science Society
- The Combustion Institute
- Association of Fire Investigators (NSW)
