Report: Bad wiring led to multiple shocks

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Poor electrical work done at U.S. bases in Iraq led to electrical shocks occurring once every three days for nearly two years, a Pentagon report indicated.

At least 18 U.S. military personnel have been electrocuted in Iraq since 2003. Many of the electrocutions were attributed to substandard electrical work performed on U.S. bases, Pentagon sources said.

Houston-based KBR, the Defense Department contractor responsible for maintaining and providing services at most U.S. bases across Iraq, experienced "systemic failures" in its electrical work that threatened the life, health and safety of people on base, documents from a violation report obtained by CNN said.

In KBR-maintained facilities, 231 electrical shocks were reported from September 2006 through July 2008, the documents indicated.

KBR has been at the center of controversy concerning the electrocution of soldiers at U.S. bases in Iraq, CNN said Friday. Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a decorated Green Beret from Pittsburgh, was electrocuted in a shower on a U.S. base in Baghdad Jan. 2, 2008.

KBR said its investigation into Maseth's death indicated its work was not responsible. However, documents obtained by CNN indicated the Army investigator assigned to look into Maseth's electrocution blamed KBR, stating there is "credible information that KBR's negligence led to Maseth's death."

The statistics about the frequency of shocks on bases were in the complete report that led to KBR's citation for being in serious violation of its contract several months ago.