Review of Electrocution Deaths in Iraq: Part 2 - Seventeen Incidents Apart From Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Maseth, U.S. Army
Abstract
This is Part II of our Review of Electrocutions in Iraq. Based on preliminary work conducted in support of Part I, and growing congressional interest, we sought information on all electrocutions that occurred in Iraq since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003. We identified 17 other electrocutions involving U.S. military or contractor personnel, as listed in Appendix A. Nine of the 17 electrocutions involved accidental deaths that resulted from the victims touching or coming into contact with live electrical power lines. Whether equipment maintenance complied with proper electrical standards or grounding requirements were not issues in these nine electrocutions, and the investigations conducted in the cases sufficiently established responsibility for the deaths. The circumstances surrounding these deaths were straightforward, and the respective investigations laid out the relevant facts surrounding these incidents and established responsibility for the deaths. The remaining eight electrocutions involved equipment malfunctions that could have related to whether equipment maintenance complied with proper electrical standards or whether the respective chain of command acted responsibly in protecting Service members. This report presents our results after reviewing the eight electrocutions involving equipment which occurred prior to Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Maseth s death in January 2008. In each case, prior to our review, either the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC), or the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) completed an investigation.2 In addition, in most cases, other investigations were conducted, including accident/safety investigations, command directed investigations, and autopsies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 24, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA596330
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense