TASK FORCE SAFE
(This posting edited 11/03/08 – See Below) The aptly named project that conducts electrical inspections for nearly 90,000 DoD buildings and structures in Iraq.
The DCMA has been charged with this monumental task and has enlisted the expertise of USACE and Stanley Baker & Hill (SBH) a joint venture of Stanley Consultants, Michael Baker Jr. Co., and Hill International.
SBH has recently hired 70 Master Electricians and 37 Fire Inspectors. They have paid them very well in order to get the best of the best.
There will be 35 teams that will inspect each and every DoD building and structure for electrical deficiencies and fire hazards. Deficiencies will be recorded and reported. Hopefully there will be a system in place to mitigate serious electrical and fire hazards immediately. Such as those pictured in the photo above.
There is no doubt in my mind that KBR has taken serious objection to this new series of inspections. Earlier this year, KBR was tasked by General Petraeus to inspect “themselves” in light of the electrocution deaths of SSG Ryan Maseth, SGT Christpoher Everett and other soldiers and civilians. As I recall from my very own Senate DPC testimony, when asked if I felt this was effective oversight I replied “That’s like the fox watching the hen house!”.
Any and every electrical discrepancy that SBH records shines a negative light on KBR. Especially if it contradicts KBR’s own inspection reports. It could very well call KBR’s credibility into question. (OK I tried to say that with a straight face but just can’t so now I’m….LMAO)
KBR has 100’s of Millions if not Billions of DoD dollars at stake. At least two pending lawsuit for wrongful death by electrocuted soldiers families. Not to mention current and upcoming lawsuits by injured civilians and soldiers families due to shoddy electrical work. It is my suspicion that KBR will be doing what they can to discredit and invalidate the SBH inspectors and inspections at ever opportunity. They have to. If they don’t…they have to concede to the fact their work was shoddy and management poor and ineffective. They can’t really do that now can they.
Also, knowing KBR, they will do everything they can to prove that every damn finding is not repairable under the current contract and will insist on a new $Work Order$ to make repairs that should have been done right the first time. $$Ka-ching…Ka-ching$$ Hopefully these inspection results will not turn out to be another “cash cow” for KBR.
I am so glad to see the DoD and DCMA pursuing this resolution. This is the path to reducing if not eliminating electrical fires, injuries and electrocution deaths.
We are where we are today because of mother’s like Cheryl Harris and Larraine McGee who said “NO! I will not shut up! NO! I will not go away until I get answers!” Now they fight so that other families will not get the same phone call they did.
That’s what this is about. It’s not really about KBR. It’s not about inspections. It’s not about DoD or DCMA. It’s about Soldiers. It’s about Soldiers families. It’s about sons and daughter, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers. It’s about PEOPLE PROTECTING PEOPLE!!!
The recent electrocution death of an Afghan soldier at a US base in Afghanistan and the serious injury of a KBR electrician in Iraq just reinforces how important these inspections are.
“Let The Inspections Begin!!!”
Ms Sparky
Update: 11/3/08 I was recently corrected on what’s what with Task Force Safe: Here is an excerpt from the email. Thank you for the correction!
USACE and SBH have not been given the task of TF SAFE. TF SAFE in under DCMA but is really independent of all agencies. TF Safe started members of the Army 249th prime power doing inspections of facilities. TF SAFE trained these prime power Army members for 7 days. They were taught how to inspect these lower voltage installations.
TF SAFE also contacted the USACE to provide 70 Master Electricians,35 Fire Inspectors, a forensic fire investigator and several other key personnel. USACE then provided some of the Corps own Master Electricians to temporarily fill some of the positions. USACE then used their sub-contractor SBH to provide the workforce to TF Safe. All of the Master Electricians and Fire Inspectors then work for TF Safe. They are given 7 days of training and tested for their knowledge. If they fail these
tests they are released from TF Safe.The USACE and SBH are only providing workers and they are NOT in charge of TF Safe
I am truly glad that something is being done about the blatant electrical deficiencies due to KBR’s policies. I guess that my only question is will the inspections cover only the military or will they also inspect the KBR “Man Camps”?? Are the new numbers of fires just in the military housing and buildings or are the KBR housing and buildings included??
Ms Sparky’s Response:
That’s a very good point and I am going to find out.
What the DCMA is doing is GREAT . I’m a license electrician who recently got terminated because I refused a so-called directive. Thats another story ,I don’t even want to go there . I first went to Iraq back in Dec 2004 and it was bad then. I left and went to Afgan. Recently I came back to Iraq thinking things would be better.KBR went to sleep ,on the surface they haven’t done anything to bring things in some kind of Code.No improvments at all .Now I hear they’re going back to the British Standards. One month its the NEC the next month its back to the British Standards,also I’ve always been under the impression that by Military SOP’s we were required to have license . How does KBR skirt around that and get by it . Out of nine electricians where I was located not counting the ones who let their license expire I had the only license that was valid . Now those that didn’t have license are getting mail order appre. license . This doesn’t make the situation any better or really help matters.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Go to know. I will make sure to pass that on. Thanks
I agree that these inspections need to be done by professionals. KBR likes to say “we require all our electricians to be certified” but thats not the case. I just left COB Speicher and can say, there is no electrical code and not method of wiring that is the same. Take for instance the unofficial HVAC warehouse that Fred Johns who is the number one in HVAC on Speicher, says he doesn’t want the safe team to know about because they are not authorised to have it. Bad wiring, lighting and parts that are not authorized. Thats why the safe team needs to be there, to find these hidden danger zones and eliminate them.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
This info has been forwarded. Thanks.
This post was updated on 11/03/08 due to information I received with regards to Task Force Safe.
SBH………..They have no clue… what.. just went through there door………Training, processing, ect. //////talk about a cluster f___k…..I was there.I am a ME.Passed all test, big deal…went to an out post…….TOTALLY REJECTED by the ARMY….LT COL is in bed w/KBR…1 ME was a ME, KBRwife is here.etc…………….still here…….what a joke…..these fire guys no nothing…….in the way…………of what our mission is…we are .what a waste of tax dollars..KBR here ….wow…what a mess.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I would love to talk to you about this some more. Anonymous is fine. I always protect the identity of my readers if that’s what they wish. You can contact me via the “Contact Us” form at the top of the page.
A CAR was issued against KBR……..wonder What Level it was????….Where??? IN IQ????/………TF SAFE…
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I know it started out as a 4. I would like to talk to you about that and a few other things. Shoot me an email. You’re not the only one that’s pissed.
I first blogged about the CAR on 10/17
http://mssparky.com/2008/10/kbr-is-issued-level-iii-corrective-action-request-car/
Just a simple comment to sportsfanman. I probably know who you are and let’s just say TF safe is better off without you.
TF safe is not just about passing a test. TF safe cannot afford to have idiots in the field.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
TF Safe is not for everyone. But for the most part they are making some amazing progress. I understand SBH is truly just a manpower broker and are starting to pick up some of KBR’s bad habits. If SBH sugar coats an inspection and someone is killed or injured because of it, can SBH be held accountable?
I’m an Army 21R, Interior Electrician, serving as a mayor’s cell liaison to the Task Force Safe team on our base. Today I was shocked, while carrying my rifle with ammo, by faulty wiring which was the direct result of tampering with the lights by an unknown party. I mention that I was carrying my weapon because that metal conduit on my back, that I’m required to carry, puts me at additional risk considering my position. While KBR is not always at fault for wiring problems, we soldiers create many of the problems themselves, KBR did refuse to write up the shock investigation due to the amount of paperwork involved. KBR often lets buildings pass their QC and QA inspections while missing simple things like bonding and ground or proper RCD’s in wet or outdoor locations. We frequently find amperage on the ground rod. The problem is that as soon as KBR fixes something another unit will move in with different electrical requirements. KBR needs 3 to 9 months of paperwork to complete a rewire and in the mean time the unit will modify the wiring themselves. We’re still in a war zone and must complete our missions regardless of KBR’s paperwork time frames. With units exchanging hands every 12-24 months there’s no way KBR can keep up with the needs. We’ve put them in an impossible position then tied their hands up while the media and families take pot shots at them for wiring problems that are not always their fault. I’m not a fan of them either, but I can’t see any other company doing any better under the given circumstances. KBR may be at fault for some issues and I’m sure they’ve wasted lots of our money but don’t let the smoke screen fool you. We did this to ourselves for the most part. The buildings and facilities were never meant to be permanent, a couple years at best and they’re all well past their life expectancy. I can tell you this much though, I’ve been through hundreds of buildings and the base is a lot safer electrically then it was before. Some of the buildings are 100 times better than they were. A few of the buildings were having nearly monthly electrical fires and have since been rewired due to our inspections. But the job’s far from done.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks soldier and thanks for serving!!!
I hold the DoD just as responsible for the electrical situation and soldier deaths and injuries in the Middle East. Lack of planning, lack of pre-planning, lack of oversight, lack of clear expectations, lack of reprimand!!!
I just have one question for “soldier”, why does KBR have to submit paperwork to do work and then wait for approval . . they have a cost plus contract (do the work and then send in the bill).
Also thanks for serving our country.
Krash, KBR has to fix anything that TF Safe flashes within certain very quick timeframes. However if the fix goes over a certain dollar amount then it has to go through a process to get approval for the funding. When this occurs we, the base mayor’s cell and whoever the O&M contractor is, goes into a mitigation process where we determine what the best course of action is to safe the situation. i.e. disconnect power, etc. Occasionally there is an operational need to keep the power running, like an operation center or a guard tower. In those cases we do the best we can do and have to accept the risk after all this is a war zone. There is an emergency funding option but we cannot fall back on that for every circumstance. Once again we tied up KBR’s hands, even if TF Safe flashes a facility KBR cannot turn off the power to make corrections unless the military occupying that facility gives permission to turn the power off. Most of the time that’s not a problem but occasionally fixes have to be postponed until the unit can determine a day for the down time to occur. In such cases though, a commander usually has to agree to the risk involved. To get back to your question, many of the fixes mean that entire buildings must be rewired and that means a lengthy paperwork process. There is also no guarantee that KBR would complete the rewire, we often have local nationals completely renovate areas. Another thing to note is that KBR is only responsible in these circumstances to fix existing work not to install new work. Anything that a unit has installed that was not KBR’s handy work will normally be removed. That leaves you with a poorly wired building that now is missing needed lights, outlets, heating and cooling in locations where units needed it but had to do it themselves. It’s a choice of greater good though, let them have their extra stuff on a poorly wired building with severely overloaded circuits or remove the extra stuff and potentially face soldiers sleeping in areas with no heating or cooling. The point is that there is no easy choices here and we do the best we can do taking all things into consideration. Of course there is always room for improvement in everything we humans do.
(please keep in mind that things do vary a little from base to base, this is just my account from my base.)
Taskforce Safe needs to get to Afghanistan quick. KBR is inspecting their own work. Isnt that what got us in trouble to begin with.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks for that info. I have passed that on to Congress. If KBR wasn’t qualified to inspect their own work in Iraq, why would they be qualified to inspect their work in Afghanistan?
I have a suggestion that may or may not be helpful to the electric shock problems that are happening in the shower buildings.
Why not install solar water heaters and skylights in these buildings for our troops day showers only.. but it would kill two birds with one stone if we did this!!
Fist it would save lives !! and insure safety ! !
Second after we pull our troops out.. we are leaving our GREEN Product for a POSITIVE IMAGE for the USA Making a Difference in the World.. Small start for their Country but a START in the right direction !!!
Thank You..for the opportunity to express my opinion..
Ms Sparky’s Response:
You know there is some merit to that idea and I have been hearing more and more about people wanting to purchase sun showers to take to Iraq. Thank you!
Just remember that if it makes sense, if it works, if it reduces safety issues, and is good for the morale of the contractors you know KBR will not do it . . (not enough profit if it reduces costs)
Ms Sparky’s Response:
You just nailed that!!!
I am a professional electrical engineer with my own small consulting firm, and would jump at the opportunity to go overseas to aid in correcting these deficiencies. I worked for a DOD contractor in the past and have the necessary experience to make this problem go away. If anybody has a connection with whom I may contact, to lend my assistance, please email me at kichmaneng at comcast dot net.
Thanks
Ms Sparky’s Response:
It would be great to get a qualified electrical contractor over there!
This commenter asked me several questions. Ms Sparky’s answers are in bolt italics.
Ms Sparky,
I think you are very left-leaning with your vituperation. Are you? YES You are, aren’t you? YES Are you are concerned about casualties, or your own liberal vendetta? Casualties. I’m really could care less about politics. I’m not sure vituperation and vendetta are the right words. I would prefer unwavering commitment to the safety of our troops and civilians. But it’s your comment.
Maybe not. Are you willing to allow evidence that will disprove what seems to be your assignment of total and complete blame to KBR? This is where you are mistaken. I hold the DoD equally responsible for the electrocution deaths of our soldiers and the shoddy work of KBR. They had the responsibility to oversee the contract and the work. Your liberal emotions are clouding your tech/science background. That is a fact. I disagree. My emotions keep me focused and determined.
What makes you think all, all, our soldiers and others died from KBR incompetence? You can’t say that. This is bad reasoning in the first place. Secondly, it will be thrown out of court. I have NEVER said ALL. And as much as I would love to blame KBR for everything including the eruption of Mt Redoubt and global warming, I do pride myself in being a “reasonable woman”….is that an oxymoron?
If it wasn’t a war zone, I think we are looking at a crime scene in some of those deaths. I was in several camps and I saw the enemy. The enemy was there in the camps, ma’am, trying to kill us. Really? And who would the enemy be? Insurgents? Inside the camps? And you saw them? Unlikely! I was there for 2 years. I call BS on that. I don’t think you were there at all. Some of those soldiers probably died in service, not by KBR incompetence. You have cheapened their service. You want to take responsibility for that? No I have not. A soldiers worth is determined by how they serve, not necessarily how they die!
If you had more situation awareness, and science background you might be of some value to American interests. You are not qualified to make these critical judgments. But you are qualified to judge me critically having no history from which to base your opinion. Hmmm You sound like a KBR manager.
I started in October 2008 with TF SAFE as a Fire Protection Specialist. From the very start things in TF SAFE were very disorganized and shoot from the hip reactions. For almost a year I saw very little fixed when electrical problems were found. KBR, Fluor or whoever held the O&M on any facility for the most part did nothing. Almost everything was smoke and mirrors.As for the fire life safety violations most of the problems there were from the military side. The military did not care one thing for the most part about fire safety. This is the fault of the first line supervisors for failure to have the soldiers comply. All fire code violations were a direct result of laziness. 90% of all violations could be fixed very easily. The initial mission of TF SAFE was a very important mission in the start but, in a short time turned into a numbers game, popularity contest, revenge on WSI Fire Depts (former Chief Officers) or a resume builder for certain Chiefs of TF SAFE, and last the focus of SBH was to get the contract extension at what ever cost. The initial focus of the mission was lost early in and never returned.
I have to go with oltwobars and alan, as well. There isn’t an acceptable quality program on the military side to monitor the work being done. Smoke and mirrors, indeed. I have been hired by the AF to assist in electrical safety. Have been here 9 months on the job (after 5 years in Iraq and AFG), not one thing has been changed. The work put out by the military is worse than the majority of contractors I’ve seen (and I was an inspector for 2 years in Iraq). The guys doing the work are 19-22 years old, which in the civilian world would still be apprentices (union anyway). I’ll stop here for now………..
I am currently the S4 (Supply Guy) for a detachment of Air Force Civil Engineers, who are working for an Army Combat Engineer Brigade. My guys work with TF SAFE, inspecting/reporting & (most importantly) fixing the electrical problems. While I can not, and will not, speak for any of the other TF SAFE team members or of the installation work completed by any other service members; I can speak to the skill and integrity of my fellow detachment members. (wow that was a long introduction…) My fellow detachment members and the TF SAFE member that works with the electrical shop are outstanding craftsmen, with a sharp eye for discrepancies and a gifted mind for overcoming logistical shortfalls and/or construction anomalies. The comment by “pastcontributor” of “The work put out by the military is worse than the majority of contractors I’ve seen… The guys doing the work are 19-22 years old, which in the civilian world would still be apprentices (union anyway)” is a horrific generalization based on his preconceived ideas. If he was indeed in Iraq and Afghanistan for 5 years and an inspector in Iraq for two years, why did he not do his job and identify the faulty installation (done by an electrician, not after the user began tampering)? Just my two cents.
IF YOU HAD ANYTHING AT ALL WITH TSF AS OF 9/11/09….AND I MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL…SEE THIS SECTION OF MSSPARKYS BLOGS: http://mssparky.com/2009/09/dod-contractor-discloses-social-security-numbers-for-269-employees/comment-page-2/#comment-4714
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST OF 269 THAT WERE DISTRO’D TO 106 OF THE ELECTRICIANS AND FIRE INSPECTORS!!