Senior Scientist/Fire Investigator

BSc (Hons)

work Glasgow

yvonne.tung@brookesbell.com

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Career Summary

Curriculum Vitae

Yvonne Tung has a BSc (Hons) Degree in Forensic Investigation from Glasgow Caledonian University and has completed the Fire Science and Investigation course at the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining Brookes Bell Scientist Team in 2021 as a Cargo Scientist and Fire Investigator, Yvonne worked for five years for another marine consultancy firm in based in Hong Kong, specialising in the forensic investigation of marine cargo related incidents and marine and land-based fires and explosions. 

On the marine side, Yvonne has been involved with contamination of solid and liquid cargo cases and many agricultural cargo claims (e.g. soya beans, corn and Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)) across Asia.  Yvonne has knowledge and experience with sampling techniques or protocols, guiding third parties on sampling procedures, advising on, and arranging laboratory testing requirements, attending at laboratories and interpretation of analytical results. 

Yvonne has investigated a range of incidents pertaining to compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) and International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Codes.  Yvonne has travelled and attended on board ‘live’ incidents to investigate the cause of marine fires and explosions or assess cargo damage involving hot work, mis-declared cargo fires and self-heating or reactive cargoes.  When necessary, Yvonne can liaise with salvage companies, ship and port officials regarding the safe discharge of damaged cargoes.  She has also provided advice for the safe carriage and packaging of dangerous goods in containers.

On the land-based side, Yvonne has been involved in investigating the causes of fires and explosions in offices, factories, storage yards, supermarkets, shopping centres and commercial and residential premises, as well as appliance and vehicle fires.  Yvonne has also conducted air sampling to assess the levels of indoor pollutants or contaminants.

Yvonne has also been involved in liquefaction cases (bauxite and nickel ore) and is also experienced with the laboratory work concerning the determination of flow point and moisture content of cargoes liable to liquefy.

Yvonne is fluent in English, Cantonese and has a good understanding of Mandarin.

Background

Professional Qualifications

The Academy of Experts (HK) - Role and Responsibilities of the Expert

The University of Edinburgh (UK) - Fire Science and Fire Investigation

Hong Kong Safety Training Association (HK) - Construction Industry Safety Training

Confined Space Training Limited (UK) - Safe Entry into Confined Spaces

Gardiner Associates Training & Research (UK) - GATR Electrical Training Course

Emergency Care Training (HK) - National Safety Council (USA) Standard First Aid CPR & AED

Attending lectures and online courses approved by International Association of Fire Investigators (IAFI)

Academic Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigation at Glasgow Caledonian University 

Professional Memberships

Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Previous Employment History

Fire and Marine Cargo Expert/Forensic Scientist/Consultant Hong Kong

Scientific and Consultancy Experience

• Experienced in the investigation of domestic and commercial appliance fires and product liability claims
• Land-based investigations have included fires in factories, large industrial facilities, warehouse premises, household properties and retail premises
• Investigation of vehicle fires including port equipment, railway equipment and road vehicles
• Travelled internationally to attend and assist in investigating a wide range of marine fires and explosions involving:
  • Hot work
  • General cargo fires
  • Mis-declared cargo fires
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) cargo fires
  • Self-heating of bulk cargo
  • Fires involving wood-based cargoes, including wood pellets, wood pulp and other wood products
  • Lithium-ion battery fires and thermal runaway incidents

• Experienced in the investigation of marine cargoes incidents such as:
  • Liquefaction (iron ore, bauxite & nickel ore)
  • Damage to agricultural cargoes (e.g., soya beans/corn/distillers dried grains with solubles/rice in bulk/bagged rice)
  • Fumigation issues and cargo infestation incidents affecting cargoes
  • Investigation of animal feed spoilage or cargo quality claims
  • Contamination of liquid natural gas (LNG)
  • Reactive cargoes (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, batteries and metal swarf)
  • Attended live coal cargo explosion incidents and provided advice on the safe carriage of coal, including conducting and assessing cargo gas readings and cargo temperatures on board vessels and attending laboratories to witness sampling and testing of coal cargoes
  • Experienced in the investigation of fertiliser cargo incidents, including contamination issues and cargo quality disputes, and attendance at laboratories to witness analytical testing and interpret results
• Provided technical advice regarding the safe carriage of dangerous cargoes
• Conducting air sampling to assess the levels of indoor pollutants/contaminants
• Investigation of counterfeit products
• Sampling, guiding third parties on sampling procedures, advising on testing requirements, following appropriate test standards, attending at laboratories and interpretation of analytical results
• Arranging site attendance, process site and recording findings, taking photographs, collecting and preserving evidence from sites
• Using digital photography, computer systems and scientific equipment to conduct detailed investigations and prepared impartial and concise expert reports suitable for court proceedings
• Conducted joint analyses of evidence with other experts and participated in joint party investigations
• Maintained chain of custody documentation for evidential material
• Attended joint party investigations
• Provided assistance on ‘live’ case incidents or investigations
• written technical articles for Protection & Indemnity Clubs
• Maintained laboratory equipment & personal protection equipment
• Delivered presentations to clients and seminars on technical and investigative topics