Baltimore Sanitation Worker Dies from Overheating

Baltimore — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Ronald Silver II died from hyperthermia while working last Friday.

"Our hearts are first and foremost with him, his family and loved ones, and his DPW colleagues as we grapple with this loss," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and DPW Director Khalil Zaied in a joint statement.

Silver collapsed and died in the extreme heat (99 degrees) on August 2 while working in the Barclay neighborhood. The Baltimore City Health Department had issued a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert.

On August 5, the public works department announced it would pause trash collection on August 6 for mandatory heat safety training.

AFSCME Maryland Council 3 accused the DPW of failing to guarantee safe working conditions, citing a July report from the Baltimore Inspector General’s Office that detailed poor conditions for DPW employees.

URLs

• Joint Statement: https://x.com/BaltimoreDPW/status/1819746626648371472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1819746626648371472%7Ctwgr%5E6abe15d50ec456358007d61862997f0cb0abd0ed%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fbaltimore%2Fnews%2Fbatimore-city-dpw-worker-dies-while-on-the-job-due-to-medical-situation%2F
• Trash Collection Pause: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/news/press-releases/2024-08-05-dpw-pause-trash-and-recycling-collections-tuesday-august-6
• Baltimore Inspector General’s Office Report: https://inspector-general.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Public%20Synopsis%2024-0784-C_0.pdf