Report: U.S. troops exposed to 231 shock incidents
By Robin Acton
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 29, 2009
U.S. troops in Iraq suffered electrical shocks about every three days in a two-year period surrounding the electrocution death of a Shaler Green Beret, according to an internal Defense Contract Management Agency report obtained by the Tribune-Review.
The 45-page document — a high-level request for corrective action generated last fall — found that Texas-based military contractor KBR Inc. failed to properly ground and bond its electrical systems, which contributed to soldiers “receiving shocks in KBR-maintained facilities on average once every three days since data was available in Sept. 2006.”
The agency determined that KBR “failed to meet basic requirements to identify life-threatening conditions on tanks, water pumps, electrical outlets and electrical panels.”
The report adds that government search results of a KBR-maintained database revealed that 231 electrical-shock incidents occurred in the period from September 2006 through July 31, 2008 — indicating that the activity continued long after the death of Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, who suffered cardiac arrest after stepping into his Baghdad shower on Jan. 2, 2008.
Records show Maseth was electrocuted when he turned on the water that flowed through metal pipes. The Army Criminal Investigation Division recently determined Maseth’s death was negligent homicide, rather than an accident as previously reported.
The Army named KBR and singled out two unidentified company supervisors for potential criminal liability. As yet, no charges have been filed.
Maseth is among at least 18 Americans — including 16 soldiers and two contractors — who have died of electrocution in Iraq since 2003. In October, Pfc. Justin Shults, 21, of Reading, was shocked and badly burned when he stepped onto metal steps attached to a shower trailer.
The Army said in a statement that the shock suffered by Shults was caused by an “improperly bonded electrical conduit pipe” on the ground.
The report indicates that KBR failed to correct and identify dozens of deficiencies in its contracted work for the government — even after repeated inspections revealed hazards. It adds that government inspectors found “serious National Electric Code violations associated with bonding and grounding of conductors which presented an electrical shock and fire hazard” in various structures throughout the Iraq theater, including a building identified as LSF1.
Maseth’s mother, Cheryl Harris of Allison Park, confirmed that her son lived in that building, which she said is also known as Legion Security Forces building 1. Harris, who has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against KBR, declined to comment on the report on the advice of her attorney.
Heather Browne, director of corporate communications for KBR Inc., released a statement that the company is not providing comment on the report, which has not been released publicly.
“KBR remains committed to the safety and security of all employees and those the company serves. We have fully cooperated with the government when issues have been raised about work in Iraq and we will continue to do so,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the report obtained by the Tribune-Review cites numerous instances in which deficiencies in electrical systems were reported to the contractor and went uncorrected.
The report indicates that male and female troops received shocks in showers, latrine buildings and other locations from loose wires, improper grounding and improper bonding of electrical lines. It adds that inspections last summer revealed that KBR personnel did not follow standard operating procedures and that the company failed to identify poor performance among its workers. (click HERE to go to the original article)
HERE is a link to the other I article I wrote about the Level III CAR
Stay tuned. I will be writing more about this Level III Corrective Action Request (CAR).
Ms Sparky
Can someone explain the CAR Level III? I don’t understand it too well.
If KBR was suppose to have the proper electrical standards in place, why has DOD, DCMA, or the Army not completely taken away KBR’s money that they had to have charged for all electrical work and everything else? Something doesn’t seem right here.
It is like paying your neighbor to fix your fence, but it falls down and hurts someone. Then you say to your neighbor, “Hey I know you F-up in building the fence between our houses, but let me pay you to redo the fence. If I pay you the same amount again and maybe more for you to have someone licensed, the fence will be good enough.”
Why can the Government not hold KBR to the proper standards in not only installing but also maintaining the electrical equipment? Why must the government have to pay again for the work that should have been right the first time?
I don’t know what to even say about this anymore.
Concerned
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Sounds to me like you understand very well. The Level III CAR is written when a very serious violation of the contract has been committed. I was told the CAR actually left Iraq as a Level IV. Was downgraded at the Pentagon to a Level III. Somewhere somehow KBR has convinced the DoD they are irreplaceable and can not just be fired! Well done on KBR’s part. And someone in the DoD is protecting KBR at all cost. I suspect there is a soon to retire General somewhere in position that can protect KBR in exchange for a cushy job after retirement. Like Larry J Lust.
hello my name is john an im an kbr electrician.i have read up on all info about the soldiers that were killed before i got hired on at kbr.it bothered me alot that they let that happen.one of the reasons i came here.a soldier comes over her to fight for are country an gets electocuted is discracefull an someone should be punished.i think kbr was trying to save money an hired very inexperianced help.they have recently hired many licenced electricians from the states to come over here an fix the problem an that is why im here.we have found many problems an are fixing them.one thing that bothers me an all of the electricians i work with is that we understand that kbr screwed up an now is trying to fix the problem but it seams they care more about looking like their fixing the problem then actually doin it.the paperwork takes up most of are day,which gets changed frequently.all they have to do is let us go through every building an make it safe for are troops,is what we want to do.it is getting done but not like it should.the management is poor.their attitude is you dont like it leave,argue your fired.its like they really dont care about keeping everyone safe,just want it to look that way so they can still keep on making money.i do know that everyday we do try to make this place safer an take pride in that an hope to keep on doing that with kbr or without.my opinion to maintain or install electrical needs to be managed by a company that does an knows only electrical..thank you,an do know that these bases are gettin safer,just not as efeciantly as we all would want.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks for trying to make a difference in the safety of our soldiers and civilians. Be safe.
I might not be aware of all the facts, but i was under the impression that KBR screwed up when they took over the maintenance agreement without doing an inspection of the work of another contractor. The Government forces these local contractors that do not know there Butts from a hole in the ground, so we can win the friendship the locals haha, then KBR hires the cheapest unqualified people who print up there credentials off the Internet, because licensed electricians they have to pay more. Bottom line is since the Tax payer is paying for this let Americans do the work buy American Products from home, stimulate our economy and keep our soldiers safe from faulty wiring.
Oh yeah Go Big Blue, miss my old Kentucky Home,
Tell every one back home we Love our country and proud to stand with our troops. Hi Donna, Lil David, Brittany,Candice, Eli my grandson, Goliath and Samson.
Hey pops, we are so proud of you, and miss you sooooo much. Evey sleeps with me, she misses you and so does Elijah. I can’t wait until you come home again. We love our country, and appreciate everything you are doing for our country and our family. Love you, Brittany Elaine.
Since the Senate Democratic Policy Committee has published the Level III CAR issued to KBR in September 2009, I am going to publish it here as well:
It’s a pretty good size pdf:
http://mssparky.com/documents/CAR_HQ_08_LOGCAP_001_LIII.pdf