In response to the tragic death of Department of Public Works (DPW) crewmember Ronald Silver II at the end of last week and as part of our ongoing commitment to employee safety, DPW will conduct a mandatory heat safety training session on Tuesday, August 6. This session will focus on the Occupational Safety Health Administration’s guidelines for recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and related illnesses and ensure employees recognize heat stress hazards and act appropriately to address those hazards. It is required for all employees from the Reedbird and Bowleys Lane facilities. Transportation will be provided to accommodate all staff.

While Tuesday’s training targets Reedbird and Bowleys Lane employees, this series of sessions will be offered to all DPW employees and is in addition to DPW’s ongoing heat education efforts. Normal duties will resume on Wednesday, August 7. Due to the training, trash and recycling collections will be suspended on Tuesday, August 6, with a make-up day scheduled for Saturday, August 10. Residents can call 311 to confirm if they are affected by this schedule change.

Service Adjustments:

• Trash and Recycling Collections: Suspended on Tuesday, August 6. The make-up day is Saturday, August 10.
• Mechanical Street Sweeping: Operations will continue as scheduled.
• Residential Drop-Off Center and Landfill Operations: Unaffected by the service change.

On Tuesday, drop-off centers will remain open to residents and haulers during regular operation hours:

• Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road (9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• Northwest Residential Drop-off Center, 2840 Sisson Street (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
• Southwestern Residential Drop-off Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
• Eastern Residential Drop-off Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

DPW remains committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our frontline workers as the City grapples with the impact of extreme heat. We will continue to assess working conditions at all sites and make necessary adjustments to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.

DPW is currently assisting the Maryland Office of Safety and Health (“MOSH”) as they investigate the circumstances around Mr. Silver’s death. As part of standard procedure, the Baltimore Police Department’s (BPD) Special Investigation Unit is conducting its own review of the incident. We are fully cooperating with both efforts and request that any inquiries specifically about the investigation be directed to the Baltimore Police Department, as this remains an active investigation.

Throughout the Summer, the department has worked to provide real-time solutions as high temperatures continue to impact Solid Waste operations. Some of the additional resources include cooling stations at the Reedbird and Bowleys Lane Sanitation Yards. New trailers are now available to provide crews with relief from the heat. Before the arrival of the new trailers, DPW used Charm City Circulator buses as cooling stations. Solid Waste supervisors also deliver ice, cold water, and Gatorade throughout each shift. Ice machines have been repaired, and additional freezers are on-site to ensure ice is stocked and available.

In the long term, the Scott Administration has sought to make investments in facilities that have been neglected for decades, committing over $20 million for the renovation of DPW’s Solid Waste facilities over the next three years. These improvements are integral to the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), with construction expected to begin as soon as next year. Funding allocations include:

• Western Sanitation Yard (Reedbird/Cherry Hill) - $8.1million
• Southeast Sanitation Yard (Kane Street) - $7.8 million
• Eastern Sanitation Yard (Bowleys Lane) - $2.1 million
• Health and Safety Improvements - $3.2 million