IG blames system failure in death

By KIMBERLY HEFLING (AP) – July 27, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department’s Inspector General has determined that military leaders and a military contractor failed to protect a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering in his barracks in Iraq.

The 2008 death of 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth has triggered investigations into the other electrocution deaths of U.S. troops and the review by the Defense Department’s IG.

The inspector general says that “multiple systems and organizations” failed and exposed Maseth to “unacceptable risk.” That’s according to a summary of the IG’s findings obtained by The Associated Press.

It specifically spells out that KBR Inc. installed improperly grounded equipment that faulted and led to Maseth’s death. (Click HERE for original article)

Wow. I just couldn’t be more pleased. As soon as I get the reports I will post them on Ms Sparky!!

(UPDATED July 27, 2oo9 11:23 PST)

By KIMBERLY HEFLING Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press
July 27, 2009, 12:50PM

WASHINGTON — Military leaders and a major military contractor failed to protect a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering in his barracks in Iraq, the Defense Department’s Inspector General determined.

The early 2008 death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh, triggered an investigation by the IG of Maseth’s death, but also a review of 17 other electrocution deaths in Iraq. Uproar over it also led to the electrical inspections of about 90,000 U.S.-maintained facilities in Iraq, which are ongoing.

The inspector general says in its findings to be released later Monday that “multiple systems and organizations” failed and exposed Maseth to “unacceptable risk.” A summary of the IG’s findings were obtained by The Associated Press.

Maseth was electrocuted while showering when he came in contact with an energized metal shower and hose caused by the failure of an ungrounded water pump located on the roof of the building, the IG said. It says Houston-based military contractor KBR Inc. installed the pump and adjacent water tanks.

KBR did not ground equipment during installation or report improperly grounded equipment during routine maintenance, the inspector general said. It also says KBR did not have standard operating procedures for the technical inspection of facilities.

But it also says military commanders and key decision makers failed to ensure that renovations were properly performed and did not address the maintenance situation.

Maseth’s family has an ongoing lawsuit against KBR. A spokeswoman for KBR did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Of the 18 electrocution deaths in Iraq, nine were blamed on touching live electrical wire or cables and didn’t warrant further review by the IG, according to the summary. Eight involved possible equipment faults or malfunctioning that caused or contributed to the electrocutions, the IG found.

It says it asked military criminal investigations to reopen investigations into four of the deaths, and is still waiting for the results of the review.

Last fall, Gen. David Petraeus, then the commander in Iraq, ordered an inspection of about 90,000 U.S.-maintained facilities in Iraq by a task force called Task Force SAFE. Of the 67,000 inspected so far, about 18,000 have been found to have major deficiencies. About 11,000 of the major deficiencies have been repaired. (click HERE for original article)

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1. KBR wants the Ryan Maseth wrongful death lawsuit to be heard in Iraqi court? I’ll bet they do!
2. 3rd anniversary of the electrocution death of SSG Ryan Maseth
3. KBR loses appeal in the electrocution death of SSG Ryan Maseth (update #2)
4. Second company sued in SSG Ryan Maseth electrocution death
5. DOD IG Report on the Electrocution Death of SSG Ryan Maseth