LOGCAP Statement of Work (SOW)
I can not tell you how many times I heard from my very own KBR Safety professionals and managers “That we were in a war zone and OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety) doesn’t apply here (Iraq).” Basically telling me to “cross my fingers and hope for the best.” Electricians really don’t care for that too much.
My General Foreman insisted I work electrical circuits energized. We couldn’t get decent Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). One time we received a whole shipment of “safety glasses”. I don’t know where they came from, but they didn’t have any ANSI Z87 stamp. They were plastic garbage and just crumbled. They provided no protection and were more dangerous because they would have just shattered on impact or melted in an arc flash. When this was brought up, we were told to use them anyway. I was appalled at the nonchalance of our non-American tool room attendant. I took it straight to the HSE Manager. I was surprised when I learned my HSE manager did not approve or have control over PPE that is purchased by someone other than himself. Hmmmm. That’s interesting.
Gloves were also an issue. KBR purchased crappy canvas paper garbage for gloves. KBR also had this “one size fits all” PPE mentality. At that point I just took control of my own PPE and purchased safety glasses and gloves with my own money from the States and had then sent over. But I do suspect KBR was charging premium for the garbage they were purchasing and issuing.
The point of this post is not KBR and their crappy PPE. My point is that I was reading over the Statement of Work (SOW) for a past Task Order and ran across this section.
1.1.2. Worksite Safety. The contractor shall be responsible for safety of employees and base camp residents during all contractor operations conducted in accordance with this Statement of Work and the Army and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety regulations and guidance as it applies to the Iraq Theater of Operations.
So, my question is. “How does it apply to the Iraq Theater of Operations?” Are they (KBR) to adhere to Army and OSHA safety regulations? Or is this just another attempt by the DoD to say “we tried to write it in”, but then let the KBR attorney’s pick it apart and they say “they don’t have to”?
If it’s true that KBR is responsible for the safety of their employees, then every attorney representing killed or injured employees due to KBR’s alleged negligence needs to get a copy of these Statements of Work for their specific Task Orders and read it. FYI if you are going to do a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request you will need the LOGCAP III contract number which is DAAA09-02-D-0007.
I am trying to get a list of all the Task Order numbers, with dates and location. If someone has that please send it to me.
If you have a copy of a Statement of Work (SOW) for a specific Task Order please send it to me so I can read it.
Ms Sparky
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 7:26 pm |
I have known people who were told to erect razor wire without any gloves simply because the management did not want to cross level them from another site or spend the money on a closing base to get them.
“It’s a war zone” Yes it is which makes it even more imprtant to do things safely, teh troops have enough dangers outside the wire, why should KBR be allowed to continue endangering them inside?
Saturday, June 6th 2009 at 10:17 am |
You may also be able to request these Statements of Work from KBR. They have them ALL.
Saturday, June 6th 2009 at 3:19 pm |
We tried to get the electrical SOP from the higher ups in Kuwait and they blew us off. Then the whole deal about it being a “living” and “ever changing” document kept it out of reach.
Tuesday, June 9th 2009 at 5:05 am |
i never seen the SOP in all my time with KBR!! i suppose that was how upper management wanted it!! don’t talk about the grounding & bonding validation paperwork, YOU could drive a bus through it and was open to interpretation by the individual conducting the validation work!!
Ms Sparky’s Response:
It’s hard to call management on their crap if you don’t know how you are supposed to perform your work.
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 7:44 pm |
“My General Foreman insisted I work electrical circuits energized. We couldn’t get decent Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). One time we received a whole shipment of “safety glasses”. I don’t know where they came from, but they didn’t have any ANSI Z87 stamp. ”
That “general manager” should have been shot, er, terminated. You NEVER work on energized circuits! Lock-out, Tag-Out!
There were two major suppliers of safety equipment, one was Lab Safety Supply. I forget the name of the second one. They were the only ones we were supposed to utilize.
“I was surprised when I learned my HSE manager did not approve or have control over PPE that is purchased by someone other than himself.”
The HSE Supervisor was responsible for ALL PPE on the site. He either had control of what was purchased, or he was stupid.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes my General Foreman should have been shot or exterminated…I mean terminated. But that just didn’t happen then2004, 2005, 2oo6! And as far as the HSE manager…even as late as 2006, I went to the HSE office to get some Danger Tags for a LOTO station I was “trying” to established, much against the will of the same General Foreman now Supervisor….yes in typical KBR form he was promoted far beyond his qualifications. Back to my point, the HSE office didn’t have ANY LOTO equipment. None, Zero, Zip, Nada!!!
This just proves my point about the total inconsistency of how KBR managed their LOGCAP locations. It was a flipn’ free for all. Everyone did their own thing. A whole bunch of personal empire building.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 12:18 pm |
any contract that is issued by the government would be governed by the EM385 at the very least. The EM385 is very similar to OSHA and basically refers you to OSHA, NEC and NFPA codes indirectly. I know that every contract I worked on a military facility back home had a statement that all work was to be performed up to current NEC standards. The military doesn’t actually have to follow the NEC or NFPA standards but they do. That’s what the EM385 is, it’s their version of “codes and compliance”. So yes, KBR as a subcontractor, would be bound to perform the contract under the regulations of the EM385 at least.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
So why hasn’t that been happening? Where was the DCMA in all this?
Saturday, June 12th 2010 at 11:50 am |
turned down work for KBR contractor olgoonik for $18.35. heard that KBR was making over 235.00 per man hour. enlighten me as to why the pay is so little.