DPW

The state labor department found that on August 2nd, workers like Ronald Silver II were subject to direct sunlight with a heat index of 108 degrees.

During the time of the investigation, two sanitation workers died from illness or injury on the job. While the report does not detail their causes of death, it provides insight into the conditions they experienced before they died.

This comes after months of insisting from the Maryland DOL that citations are due within six months of the incident.

The program is under the authority of DPW. Resolutions like the one passed Monday can serve to put public pressure on the department.

Environmentalists say they remain concerned for the Prettyboy Reservoir.

“When I passed out and hit the ground, I fell and hit the back of my head. Mr. Silver kind of shook me and woke me up off the ground. And when I asked him what happened, he said I collapsed,” said Travis Christian during a news conference.

Timothy Cartwell is the second DPW solid waste worker to die on the job this year.

DPW omitted 40% incidents that could be potential heat sickness in the most recent investigation.

An outside law firm found a lack of training and knowledge about heat safety. They also found a culture in which employees were afraid to speak up about safety concerns out of fears over retaliation.

Khalil Zaied will lead an agency that has been marred by several scandals that include water quality issues, poor service delivery and reports of a toxic work culture.