Jim Wiethorn has been involved in the design, construction, and evaluation of residential, commercial and industrial buildings since 1973. His experience has included evaluation and assessment of damage and failure of all construction types and systems, in particular, crane accidents and operations. His construction background includes involvement as a third-generation general contractor in the family business, as well as Certificate of Competency as a General Contractor in Florida, by exam.

Dr. Wiethorn has owned and operated cranes while working in the construction industry and has evaluated over 1,100 crane and rigging failures throughout the United States and abroad. Currently, he serves on the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), Tower Crane Committee, and Rigger Task Force Committee dealing with the testing and certification of crane operators and rigging.

Additionally, Dr. Wiethorn is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASM”) B30 Main Committee; and, B30.3, Tower Cranes, and B30.29, Self-Erecting Tower Cranes sub-committees.

He currently has non-provisional patents pending for Crane Risk Logic; Overhead Power Hazard Identification and Non-Accident Data (Evaluator). Dr. Wiethorn is currently licensed as a professional engineer in 35 states. He has testified in over 130 trials and 320 depositions.