Comments on: Contractor (KBR) for military committed serious violations http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:53:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: EEugere@aol.com http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 EEugere@aol.com Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:49:06 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1473 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. <strong>Ms Sparky's Response:</strong> Not surprised. And these would be KBR's best and brightest! 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!

]]> By: KBR Supervisor http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 KBR Supervisor Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:50:15 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1134 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 <strong>Ms Sparky's Response:</strong> 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!! 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!!

]]> By: TonyB http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 TonyB Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:59:01 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1130 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 <strong>Ms Sparky's Response:</strong> 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! 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!

]]> By: KBR Supervisor http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1129 KBR Supervisor Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:01:04 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1129 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 <strong>Ms Sparky's Response: </strong> 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. 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.

]]> By: KBR Supervisor http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1128 KBR Supervisor Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:34:02 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1128 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 <strong>Ms Sparky's Response: </strong> You've been empowered to manage your department. That is not the case theater wide. Unfortunately! 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!

]]> By: TonyB http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 TonyB Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:01:17 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1126 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. <strong>Ms Sparky's Response: </strong> 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. 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.

]]> By: KBR Supervisor http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1116 KBR Supervisor Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:06:24 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1116 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 <strong>Ms Sparky's Response:</strong> 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. 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.

]]> By: Ann http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Ann Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:33:05 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1103 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. <strong>Ms Sparky's Response:</strong> 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. 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.

]]> By: ms sparky http://mssparky.com/2008/11/contractor-kbr-for-military-committed-serious-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 ms sparky Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:02:18 +0000 http://mssparky.com/?p=605#comment-1101 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 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!

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