CNN Special Investigations Unit
Ryan Maseth, a 24-year-old Green Beret, died in his shower January 2.
The Pentagon findings on Houston, Texas-based KBR stem from the widely publicized death of Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a highly decorated 24-year-old Green Beret from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Maseth was electrocuted while taking a shower at his base in Baghdad.
His January 2 death was just one of many deaths now believed to be linked to shoddy electrical work done at U.S. bases, managed by U.S. contractors, according to Pentagon sources.
The Pentagon’s Defense Contract Management Agency recently gave KBR a “Level III Corrective Action Request” — issued only when a contractor is found in “serious noncompliance” and just one step below the possibility of suspending or terminating a contract, Pentagon officials said.
In KBR’s case, it means that the contractor’s inspections and efforts to ensure electrical safety for troops have been unacceptable, and must be significantly improved, Pentagon sources told CNN.
Just after Maseth’s electrocution, Pentagon officials estimated that about a dozen troops had been electrocuted in Iraq. But Pentagon officials now say at least 18 troops have been electrocuted since 2003 — many due to faulty wiring and improper grounding.
The number could be higher than that when Afghanistan is included, say congressional sources.
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“I can’t make sense around Ryan’s death, that he died like that, that he was so trained. So highly trained to survive,” said Maseth’s mother, Cheryl Harris, in an interview earlier this year. “It just feels so surreal. It’s so painful to think about how he died.”
Largely because of Harris’ efforts to demand answers about her son’s death, the U.S. Senate and House have held oversight hearings in recent months in hopes of finding out how the electrocutions occurred.
“The fact that there’s an assessment made at this level — a level three — which is very serious, indicates to me, and to a lot of people, how serious this problem is,” said Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pennsylvania.
“It’s really a question in the end about justice. The only way we can have justice in a case like this for the families and for the American people is to have serious accountability. That has not happened yet. There’s still a lot of parties here that have not been held to account for what happened here,” Casey said.
Danielle Brian, the executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a Washington-based watchdog group, said accountability is needed, but difficult to come by when KBR’s contract is so integral to the Iraq war.
“The problem, of course, is it’s such a big contract,” Brian said. “The government’s in a place — the Pentagon’s in a place where they say, ‘How can we suspend KBR? They’re sort of running the show over there.’ ”
“It’s so big — it’s too big to cancel that contract or suspend them from future contracts,” she added.
Brian said the action against KBR amounts to “nothing more than a slap on the wrist” for a company with an estimated $24 billion contract for its work in Iraq. She pointed out that KBR’s government contract is paid for by U.S. taxpayers.
“I think the public should demand that the government generally hold its contractors accountable, and remind the government this is our money — we don’t want our money spent this way,” Brian said. “We want to make sure that if our money is being used to hire contractors in Iraq, that it is being spent well and that it’s protecting our troops.”
Since CNN first reported the story about Maseth’s death last spring, the network has repeatedly asked the Pentagon and its contract agency for an interview. They have never agreed to an interview to answer questions about Maseth’s death or other similar cases.
KBR declined comment for this story, but earlier told CNN it found no link between its work and the reported electrocutions.
The company’s contract in Iraq is vast and encompasses numerous responsibilities that vary from one location to another, ranging from the upkeep of U.S. bases there to providing most of the basic services on the bases. All of the 18 electrocutions occurred in different places and under different circumstances.
There are at least two lawsuits now against KBR, including one by Maseth’s family, and they are trying to determine precisely what role, if any, KBR played in the specific circumstances that led to those deaths.
“I want KBR to be exposed. More than anything, I just want them to step up and take care of what they’re being paid to take care of, and to do the work that they are contracted to do. More than anything, let’s put the security and the safety of our troops first,” Harris said. 
Watch Maseth’s mother discuss the case »
Pentagon officials told CNN that KBR’s initial corrective efforts have not been sufficient. KBR will now have to come up with a corrective plan that is acceptable to the Pentagon. The company could still receive fines or penalties.
So far, the company has not been held responsible in any of the deaths. The company has denied liability in the lawsuits. (End of Article)
Ms Sparky
I have to admit I am a little disappointed that CNN was not able to use ALL the info we gave them at this time. Damn lawyers!! Anyways…just be patient. Trust me it’s worth the wait!
I am an ex employee of KBR and I have information of all the wrongs doings and misuse of government funds. Any one and everyone know that if you are NOT associated with the right group/people or in bed with some one of authority then you are not the person that will be employed with KBR for long. I have evidence and there are many who are willing to come forth with information, but it seems as if KBR is untouchable and the some military official and government staff is in bed with KBR. No one wants to listen or hear the truth about KBR.
KBR is getting away with murder……
Regards,
Ann
P.S. Minor Correction relevant to the post made on 11/25/2008 @8:27 a. m.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
KBR is NOT untouchable. There are tenacious Congressman and Senators that ARE calling KBR to task. The DCMA just issued a Level III CAR. CNN and the NY Times are actively investigating. Changes are being made. KBR is about to lose the protection of their Republican umbrella. It’s time for someone in KBR to get wet! I see criminal charges in the future.
which department was that CAR issued
it’s not a crime Ann to be friends with the right people in camp
they do reward you for doing a good job. I have been given over a year off and a new job title with the brass of Balad for 2.5 years i did my job
unlike most of my department. I came back from ASHRAF the Site Manager asked me to fix my department i was given 4 months i did it in 2.
it was disaster one innocent a TCN got hurt the foreman tried to cover it up wrong thing to do I fired those 2 gentlemen for negligence
not following procedure
i also fire 20 people most of them Bosnian because they are incompetent
so being friends with the brass the rewarded me with a year off on disability because i burned myself out
so i disagree Ann
Ms Sparky’s Response:
If your location is committed to a safe and honest workplace that is great. But that is not how all sites are run or have been run. Things may be getting better. But they are far from good. And just because positive changes are being made, does that excuse KBR and it’s offending managers from Bill Utt on down from the negligence that has already occurred? If some is serial killer and then has a change of heart for some reason and feels “real bad” about what they have done and doesn’t ever do it again, does that exonerate them for the crimes they have already committed? I don’t think so.
I feel Ann is very brave to come forth and want to share her story. And there are very important people who want to hear it.
I agree that not everyone who works for kbr and is in a leadership position, is “doing something wrong”. It is however the policies that the company has that is the main problem. Most supervisors who work for kbr can’t make the big decisions without the approval of the camp manager and or the project manager. As for a supervisor firing an individual or group of individuals, it can not be done. Supervisors or managers lower than the project manger has no authority to fire anyone, only to write them up and submit it up to the PM via the chain of command. So I think when the above post by KBR Supervisor is misleading so the general readers who freaquent this site, think that kbr is not to blame for the problems and there are many with the facilities over there but it is the Contracting Company who sets the policy, so yes KBR is to blame.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
In all fairness to both KBR Supervisor and TonyB….Each camp was run differently. Same company, different “rulers”, different empires, different rules. KBR Supervisor may have been empowered by his management to fire people. But I will say it is my experience that is not par for the course. KBR is so desperate for that beating pulse that your offense had to be pretty bad to get fired.
So you both very well could be right. But when push comes to shove, “KBR the company” is ultimately responsible. It’s their poor management structure and professional integrity that has seriously contributed to this problem. I think we will find that is what the Level III CAR will state.
not true the Supervisor has authority to fire and promote people
in the shop here are: the things i can do
write the SOP
set the structure
I can write workers up for legitimate reason not BS you get to 4 bye bye
no matter what level you are
I lay out the shop
the only thing i send the camp manager is requisition
I have a pretty good working relationship with the Project Manager
he did give me a year off with pay with 40,000.00 to sit on my but and do nothing disability leave sucks
5-0 on my board to become supervisor hmm
don’t get me started on how bad my department was it was a joke
i fixed it in 2 months
I am not misleading
safety is very big issue on Anaconda
there are problems that need to be addressed
there is a major house cleaning going on right now
changes are coming to Anaconda big changes
it all started with HVAC has been reorganized
no it is other departments turn O&M&L
no we are not to blame if we find anything wrong
we terminate the individual
and cover ups don’t fly with me
Ms Sparky’s Response:
You’ve been empowered to manage your department. That is not the case theater wide. Unfortunately!
it necessarily dose not exonerate them
the changes are a step in the right direction
i agree there needs to be more oversight and regulators
to watch how the tax payer money is being spent
and not wasted or over charged
by the way i believe you do the crime you do the time
Tony when things are bad i am the first to sound the alarm to camp management
here is what i believe and implement
provide best possible service to the military
things i do not tolerate:
tardiness
unsafe practices
not following SOP
0 call backs
shoddy looking line set
what i will allow
i want a low number of work orders
what i expect
best customer service
best pm service on units
so try not to attack my character i am one of the few people
that do my job
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Keep up the good work. But try to understand it sounds like you have a unique situation. How many people working for KBR have been terminated for “sounding the alarm”. Hundreds maybe more. I firmly believe if there had not been Senate and Congressional Hearings, lawsuits by dead soldiers families, and a Presidential change…it would be business as usual for KBR. I’ve said it before. KBR is changing because they have to not because it’s the right thing to do. And I will bet there is money to be made by making the changes. KBR is a money first company.
As stated, not all who are in leadership positions are “bad apples”, there are a few who actually care for the troops wellfare and if Supervisor is one of those, there is no need to be in a defensive position. I too know serveral who are trying to do the right thing and eliminate the problems with shoddy work, but they are far and few in-between. I wish KBR Supervisor all the best in change, however, change comes from the top down! Thats not going to happen with Corporate KBR.. Simper-Fi
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I agree. But, if KBR had spent the same amount of time and energy in setting up an ethical and effective management structure from the beginning as they have been trying to convince the DCMA that they did all electrical work to the British Standards (total BS) we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
In other words…they are spending an immeasurable amount of time and energy tryng to cover their butt!
We are working on it the problem is we don’t have the quality of personnel over there, i will admit that and it is hard to get rid of people, one foreman we terminated we had to pile up the write ups
to get rid of him he would have used the race card (mexican)
most supervisors won’t do anything they are there collecting a check.
one thing i myself don’t tolerate our checks are taxpayer money
as for corporate change is coming check there website kbrjobs.com
you see a lot of director positions open
as for the standards for electrical on anaconda we are updating everything to US code
it is hard getting us the proper material there it takes us 8 months to get parts we need to get up to code
as for the HVAC shop I recovered all freeon even out in the field
drained the oil out of the compressors braze them shut
just for the record Anaconda is federal installation which means US law and regulation apply which means all safety rules apply
it’s just sometimes stuff gets missed or over looked Sh!t happens
we are very busy over there
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I have a feeling there is going to be even more corporate change….keep an eye on CNN and my blog. Also, you claim that standards for electrical at Anaconda are being brought up to US Standards. Then why all the effort to convince the DCMA that all electrical work has been done to the British Standards…which is a bold faced lie! And as far as Safety goes…I am glad to see the changes. But after years of “This isn’t the US…OSHA doesn’t apply here.” I’m skeptical.
Again…I am glad you are conscientious and ethical. It’s a step in the right direction for KBR!!
American people, after working diligently and responsibly in order to obtain a cost savings I needed a Project Manager’s signature in order to submit the report.
The Project Manager didn’t even know what a Cost Savings Report was.
Contact me if you want what I’ll call … this checkmate. When ready, we’ll bring KBR to its knees just as the company has brought the American people.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Not surprised. And these would be KBR’s best and brightest!