Hearing Set After DPW Worker Dies in Heat

The Baltimore City Council is set to hold a hearing on August 22 to investigate the working conditions at the Department of Public Works (DPW) following the heat-related death of worker Ronald Silver II. Silver's death from hyperthermia has prompted his family to demand immediate action and transparency from the city. The incident occurred amid a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert, with temperatures reaching up to 105 degrees. Reports from the Baltimore Office of the Inspector General had previously highlighted poor working conditions, including the lack of water and cooling facilities for DPW workers. In response to Silver's death, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health and the Baltimore Police Department have both launched investigations. City officials, including Councilman Zeke Cohen and Governor Wes Moore, have emphasized the urgency of addressing the systemic issues within the DPW to prevent further tragedies.