Posted on 05/01/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - May 1, 2025 - Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works now has a heat safety policy in place, FOX45 News learned Thursday, following the death of an employee from a heat-related illness.
In August 2024, DPW solid waste worker Ronald Silver died on the job on a day when the heat index in Baltimore City was nearly 108 degrees. Silver experienced extreme heat exhaustion while collecting trash. Witnesses and coworkers also claim his repeated pleas for help went ignored, in part, due to an abusive work culture within DPW.
With several days already exceeding 80 degrees in 2025, DPW told FOX45 News it has been operating the plan to “safeguard health and safety.”
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“While final sign-off from the union is still pending—as required by our collective bargaining agreement—the majority of training, equipment, and procedures have already been implemented,” according to a department spokesperson. “HIPP-related negotiations remain ongoing, and we are working in good faith with our union partners to complete this final step.”
DPW is committed to consistent application of the plan, protecting employees from heat-related risks, and maintaining a collaborative relationship with labor leadership, the statement continued.
During a March 20 hearing at City Hall about a report from the Office of Inspector General detailing a toxic workplace culture within DPW, Director Khalil Zaied indicated the policy was in the works and told City Councilmembers he anticipated the policy would be in place in three to four weeks.
Silver’s death sparked an investigation by Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) agency as well. The probe resulted in a finding of a lack of heat prevention protocols and training "were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”
While the MOSH report calculated a fine of $4,500 for the City of Baltimore, the state agency cannot levy the penalty against City Hall because state law prevents one government agency from fining another.
Baltimore City’s Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming also did an investigation into Silver’s death, and said the fact that Baltimore can’t be fined doesn’t ensure accountability.
“What usually changes with people is money. Money is such a powerful motivator, and the fact that a man is dead and there was no fine because some legislators decided a long time ago that government can't fine government - we need to do better,” Cumming said during an interview for FOX45 News In Depth. “If people want to work for the government and we want people to work for government, then you should darn well, fine government if they are not doing their job.”
Everybody should be held accountable to the same standard. Don't carve government out of that, she said.
Lawmakers passed a bill during this last legislative session that would allow such fines. It’s not clear if Gov. Wes Moore will sign it.