The IBEW loses Sister Katharina (Kat) Engnell, a licensed journeyman electrician from Local 46 in Seattle, Washington. Engell was electrocuted and died on the job on November 20, 2008 at the Saint Gobain glass plant.
Kat Engnell was an amazing woman. Originally from the South, Kat moved to Seattle after receiving her Masters Degree in Fine [...]

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I got this comment last night in response to  “My 100th Blog Post - How MsSparky.com Evolved”. I get these responses all the time in emails and I normal just disregard them…but not today!
This is a comment from “DC”.
the testifying, I get. But the public speaking and anything remotely related to work or even specifically [...]

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The “Electrical Worker” a monthly publication of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) recently published an article spotlighting IBEW member Marijane Green, mother if two active duty Marines. This mother is seriously concerned about the safety of her sons. You can read this article entitled “Troops Endangered By Shoddy Electrical Work” by clicking [...]

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This wiring method was such a common occurrence used by Iraqi and Turkish subcontractors that I had totally forgotten about it until someone sent me a photo. I thought it would be fun to have a quiz. So…tell me what’s wrong with this installation!!
This is a standard 230 volt switched receptacle….It is equivalent of our [...]

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(Note to bloggers and website owners-Help me get this word out. Please link to this post.)
I have been contacted by a National US news program that is looking for people who are willing to share their experiences about the electrical conditions in their camps. Electrician experience is always welcome but you don’t have to be [...]

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You watch and you decide.

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I do not understand why the Department of Defense is not getting it!!! Read on….
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Editorial: Electrocutions
The tragedy of preventable death
August 4, 2008
The death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth in Iraq could have been prevented if the Army and a defense contractor had done their jobs.
Maseth, who grew up outside Pittsburgh, was [...]

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This is the most recent AP news article on the Iraq Electrocutions. You read it and you tell me what you think. Here’s what I think…finally…..someone wrote one in favor of poor little ole KBR.
Report appears to clear KBR in soldier’s death
July 29, 2008 6:21 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - An interim Defense Department report has [...]

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With current media coverage on the Iraq Electrocutions and tomorrows hearings of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform entitled “Deficient Electrical Systems at U.S. Facilities in Iraq” they decided to air my segment of “The Story” today.
Before I give you link….I want to say the “The Story” did and awesome job. My [...]

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For much more info on the investigation of this issue go to my
“KBR & Senate Hearing” Category
Pentagon: 16 soldiers died from electric shock
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sixteen American troops have died from accidental electrocutions in Iraq, the Defense Department said Friday, more than the military has previously disclosed.
Most of the 11 Army soldiers and five Marines [...]

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Well…. today was a first. I recorded a session for “The Story” an American Public Media daily national program. I had never been in a recording studio before. Didn’t have a clue what to expect or what to do. The technician John, also a licensed electrician, walked me through the process and got me used [...]

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This is by far the best video out there. Great job ANP! Be sure to use the full screen mode. For some reason some company networks will not show this video. If you can’t see it you may try to view it from another system…home, Starbucks, etc.

The majority of the news media ran the Associated [...]

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I have been listening to and reading the news about this hearing. I know the news media can only print so much, but they are leaving out many important details. So I am posting the testimony of each person that testified. I want to make sure you know the truth about what was [...]

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I did not get the opportunity to meet Rachel McNeill prior to these hearings and I do not have a photo. I do feel that being in the Military and still having the bravery to testify speak volumes as to her character.

Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing
“Contractor Misconduct and the Electrocution Deaths
of American Soldiers in Iraq”
Rachel [...]

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I am an IBEW Local 48 Electrician. It was very difficult to keep my emotions in check after hearing the heartbreaking testimony of Cheryl Harris and Larraine McGee. I was nervous at first, then angry and by the time I read my last paragraph it was difficult to keep my emotions under control. This is [...]

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I’ll bet I didn’t sleep an hour Thursday night. I was so afraid I wouldn’t hear the alarm that was set to go off at 3:00am in the flipn’ morning! Consequently…I did hear the alarm go off because I was ALREADY UP!!!!
Other than being delayed right off the bat, having to detour around thunderstorms and [...]

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Cal didn’t get to come home this weekend. He was stuck in Akron. He gave me a call to tell me there was one hell of a storm going on. During our conversation the tornado sirens went off. Damn that triggered an Iraq flash back. They sounded similar to the “take cover” alarms that would [...]

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I am all fired up!!! Hoppin’ mad. Furious. Pissed off!!!
I recently watched a CNN report about a highly decorated Green Beret, Staff Sgt Ryan Maseth who was electrocuted and died while serving in Iraq. This didn’t happen on the front line. This didn’t happen while he was engaging the enemy. This happened while he was……taking [...]

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It was 95 degrees today…in SW Washington….in May!!! Unbelievable. These temps have me reminiscing about “the good ole days”. The two years I spend in Baghdad. My hottest day there was 137 degrees. But it was a dry heat. Ha Ha. That’s hot by any standard. Summer days in the 120’s & 130’s was the [...]

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