In wake of Baltimore DPW worker's death, hearing over job conditions set for Thursday

BALTIMORE - Members of the Baltimore City Council want to question the Department of Public Works at a hearing Thursday evening after a worker died on the job.

The hearing will happen at City Hall starting at 5 o'clock.

Ronald Silver was a sanitation worker who died earlier this month from hyperthermia. His death fueled pressure for the Department of Public Works to address work culture and conditions.

Silver collapsed and died at a Baltimore resident's home while working through an intense heat wave.

Councilman Zeke Cohen, along with councilmen Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer and Antonio Glover, plan to ask questions at the Thursday night hearing about practices and protocols at the department.

Cohen told WJZ they plan to hear from Silver's family, other workers, the Inspector General's Office and the Department of Public Works at the hearing.

Cohen said he wants to identify problems at the department and make changes to protect workers while still serving residents.

"Be in conversation with those workers, that's what I want to see," Cohen said. "And that's what I'm going to really push Director Zaied and the entire Department of Public Works agency to do."

Cohen said he plans to also question the city's contract with an outside law firm that was hired to investigate Silver's case independently.

However, Silver's family attorney, Thiru Vignarajah said, "it is strange that the city would hire its own investigator when there is a Maryland state agency as well as the Baltimore Police Department."

Cohen said he understands why some people have reservations about the law firm selected.

"When you look into their history and you've seen some of the pushback they've had against OSHA, against workplace regulatory standards, against unions, it definitely raises some concern from my colleagues and I."

Cohen added that he trusts the findings from the Inspector General's reports and wants to hear more from them at the hearing.

Governor Wes Moore  called for a state investigation into Silver's case and wants the Department of Public Works to be held accountable.