thedrifter
07-28-09, 06:25 AM
IG blames system failure in electrocution death
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jul 28, 2009 6:40:05 EDT
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 in a report released Monday.
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 that “multiple systems and organizations” failed and exposed Maseth to “unacceptable risk.”
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 military contractor KBR Inc., based in Houston, 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.
“Individuals and responsible officials underestimated the risk associated with continued, long-term use of ungrounded electrical systems in Iraqi-constructed facilities,” the IG said.
Heather Browne, a KBR spokeswoman, said the company had not seen the report and would not comment on the contents. But she said in an e-mail that while Maseth’s death was tragic the company maintains it is not responsible. She said KBR informed the military of the absence of grounding and bonding in the structure nine months before Maseth’s death.
“Prior to that incident, the military never directed KBR to repair, upgrade or improve the grounding system in the building in which Maseth resided, nor was KBR directed to perform any preventative maintenance at this facility,” Browne said.
Maseth’s family has an ongoing lawsuit against KBR. It was initially told Maseth had brought a small appliance into the shower, then was told he’d reached up and grabbed wires hanging over the shower.
Cheryl Harris, Maseth’s mother, said in a statement she read over telephone that she was pleased that the IG conducted the investigation.
“The results are revealing and contrary to what KBR and its president have continuously stated,” Harris said.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said KBR should be sanctioned or punished somehow, but the report also raises questions about oversight of contract work.
“There’s much more work to be done to hold those responsible accountable,” Casey said.
The IG also sounded alarm bells about the quality of the electrical work in facilities where troops live and work in Afghanistan, but said some positive improvements have been made to prevent electrical problems.
Of the 18 electrocution deaths of U.S. soldiers and contractors 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.
One of the four, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Minn., died Sept. 11, 2004, while showering. His family was told he died of natural causes. Late last year, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology changed the manner of his death to “accidental,” caused by electrocution and inflammation of the heart.
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, according to the task force.
Ellie
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jul 28, 2009 6:40:05 EDT
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 in a report released Monday.
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 that “multiple systems and organizations” failed and exposed Maseth to “unacceptable risk.”
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 military contractor KBR Inc., based in Houston, 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.
“Individuals and responsible officials underestimated the risk associated with continued, long-term use of ungrounded electrical systems in Iraqi-constructed facilities,” the IG said.
Heather Browne, a KBR spokeswoman, said the company had not seen the report and would not comment on the contents. But she said in an e-mail that while Maseth’s death was tragic the company maintains it is not responsible. She said KBR informed the military of the absence of grounding and bonding in the structure nine months before Maseth’s death.
“Prior to that incident, the military never directed KBR to repair, upgrade or improve the grounding system in the building in which Maseth resided, nor was KBR directed to perform any preventative maintenance at this facility,” Browne said.
Maseth’s family has an ongoing lawsuit against KBR. It was initially told Maseth had brought a small appliance into the shower, then was told he’d reached up and grabbed wires hanging over the shower.
Cheryl Harris, Maseth’s mother, said in a statement she read over telephone that she was pleased that the IG conducted the investigation.
“The results are revealing and contrary to what KBR and its president have continuously stated,” Harris said.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said KBR should be sanctioned or punished somehow, but the report also raises questions about oversight of contract work.
“There’s much more work to be done to hold those responsible accountable,” Casey said.
The IG also sounded alarm bells about the quality of the electrical work in facilities where troops live and work in Afghanistan, but said some positive improvements have been made to prevent electrical problems.
Of the 18 electrocution deaths of U.S. soldiers and contractors 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.
One of the four, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Minn., died Sept. 11, 2004, while showering. His family was told he died of natural causes. Late last year, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology changed the manner of his death to “accidental,” caused by electrocution and inflammation of the heart.
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, according to the task force.
Ellie