Baltimore public works employee dies from heatstroke, prompting calls for improved working conditions due to longstanding issues within the agency.
Baltimore public works employee Ronald Silver II died from heatstroke during a hot summer day while collecting trash, prompting calls for improved and more considerate working conditions for the city's public works employees. Critics blame the tragic death on longstanding problems within the agency, including an abusive culture by supervisors and a lack of concern for basic health and safety measures. Baltimore's public works agency has come under scrutiny for inadequate access to water, ice, air conditioning, and fans for employees during intense summer heat. In response, the agency suspended trash and recycling collections to provide employees with mandatory heat safety training, and union leaders presented a list of demands to address working conditions, including updated policies, upgrades to facilities, and better training.