Senator to meet with KBR CEO next week to discuss electrocution issue
WASHINGTON, DC- After learning today that faulty wiring is more widespread than was previously known, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
"Today we learned that the problem of faulty wiring is more widespread than originally thought. We have already lost 13 individuals and countless others have been electrocuted and injured.
“According to internal Army documents, electrical problems are the most urgent noncombat safety hazard for soldiers in Iraq. This is unacceptable. Our service men and women already sacrifice enough, they shouldn't have to fear for their safety due to faulty wiring.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Army has known of the immense safety problems posed by faulty wiring since the very start of the U.S. occupation in Iraq. Yet no real action was taken and no sense of urgency was shown, until a brave mother began asking questions this year and demanding answers after her son died. It should not have taken a grieving mother to compel the Army to finally take action to investigate.
"I'm looking forward to meeting with Mr. Utt, the CEO of KBR, next week to discuss how we can better protect our troops."
Senator Casey will be meeting with the CEO of KBR Inc., William Utt, next Friday in Washington, D.C. where he will ask Mr. Utt what he is doing to fix the systemic problem of faulty wiring at facilities and prevent further harm to our troops in Iraq.
Senator Casey has pressured the DoD for answers on the issue of electrocution-related deaths in Iraq since learning about this fatal problem from Cheryl Harris, mother of Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth who was electrocuted while taking a shower in Iraq. Last week, Senator Casey sent a letter to General David Petraeus on testimony he gave stating that 13 individuals, not 12 as originally thought, have been electrocuted in Iraq since September 2003. In the letter, Senator Casey specifically referenced an Army safety report issued in October of 2004 which stated that several soldiers were shocked while in the shower.
Last month, after meeting with Cheryl Harris, Senator Casey sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, demanding to know what steps the Department of Defense (DOD) has taken to ensure that no other soldiers serving in Iraq are electrocuted due to faulty wiring or negligent maintenance.
According to the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Staff Sergeant Maseth died when the electricity in the shower facility short-circuited because an electric water pump on the rooftop was not properly grounded. An initial investigation by the DOD’s Criminal Investigative Division office found that the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) was aware of the electrical safety hazard posed by this shower facility prior to the death of Staff Sgt. Maseth. The Pentagon has turned over the investigation to the Department’s Inspector General for further investigation.
In April, Senator Casey asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate all accidental electrocution-related deaths or injuries of military and contract personnel in Iraq. Because the Inspector General (IG) of the DOD was already conducting an ongoing investigation, the GAO declined Senator Casey’s request.
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"Today we learned that the problem of faulty wiring is more widespread than originally thought. We have already lost 13 individuals and countless others have been electrocuted and injured.
“According to internal Army documents, electrical problems are the most urgent noncombat safety hazard for soldiers in Iraq. This is unacceptable. Our service men and women already sacrifice enough, they shouldn't have to fear for their safety due to faulty wiring.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Army has known of the immense safety problems posed by faulty wiring since the very start of the U.S. occupation in Iraq. Yet no real action was taken and no sense of urgency was shown, until a brave mother began asking questions this year and demanding answers after her son died. It should not have taken a grieving mother to compel the Army to finally take action to investigate.
"I'm looking forward to meeting with Mr. Utt, the CEO of KBR, next week to discuss how we can better protect our troops."
Senator Casey will be meeting with the CEO of KBR Inc., William Utt, next Friday in Washington, D.C. where he will ask Mr. Utt what he is doing to fix the systemic problem of faulty wiring at facilities and prevent further harm to our troops in Iraq.
Senator Casey has pressured the DoD for answers on the issue of electrocution-related deaths in Iraq since learning about this fatal problem from Cheryl Harris, mother of Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth who was electrocuted while taking a shower in Iraq. Last week, Senator Casey sent a letter to General David Petraeus on testimony he gave stating that 13 individuals, not 12 as originally thought, have been electrocuted in Iraq since September 2003. In the letter, Senator Casey specifically referenced an Army safety report issued in October of 2004 which stated that several soldiers were shocked while in the shower.
Last month, after meeting with Cheryl Harris, Senator Casey sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, demanding to know what steps the Department of Defense (DOD) has taken to ensure that no other soldiers serving in Iraq are electrocuted due to faulty wiring or negligent maintenance.
According to the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Staff Sergeant Maseth died when the electricity in the shower facility short-circuited because an electric water pump on the rooftop was not properly grounded. An initial investigation by the DOD’s Criminal Investigative Division office found that the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) was aware of the electrical safety hazard posed by this shower facility prior to the death of Staff Sgt. Maseth. The Pentagon has turned over the investigation to the Department’s Inspector General for further investigation.
In April, Senator Casey asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate all accidental electrocution-related deaths or injuries of military and contract personnel in Iraq. Because the Inspector General (IG) of the DOD was already conducting an ongoing investigation, the GAO declined Senator Casey’s request.
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