U.S. Sen. Bob Casey yesterday sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates asking what steps the Department of Defense has taken to protect soldiers in Iraq from being electrocuted due to faulty wiring or negligent maintenance.

The letter followed a meeting between Mr. Casey and Cheryl Harris of Cranberry, whose son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Douglas Maseth, 24, formerly of Shaler, was electrocuted while taking a shower in Baghdad in January. An investigation showed that he died because an electric water pump was not properly grounded, a problem that the Defense Contract Management Agency was aware of but had failed to correct.

At least 12 servicemen have been electrocuted in similar incidents.

Mr. Casey asked Mr. Gates for an accounting of how many wiring inspections have been conducted and what oversight has been implemented to avoid future accidents.