The family of a Baltimore sanitation worker who died of heat stroke earlier this month is demanding accountability from City Hall and calling on other workers to share their stories.
Ronald Silver II, 36 years old, died on August 2nd of hyperthermia, i.e. heat sickness. He worked the trash and recycling route, literally hauling tons of trash while traveling about the city. On the day he died, Baltimore City had issued a Code Red heat advisory, meaning temperatures were at or expected to be 105 degrees.
“Ronald was the backbone and heartbeat of our family, and he was taken from us long before his time in what was a completely preventable death,” said Renee Meredith, an aunt of Silver’s and the only relative to speak publicly during the press conference.
Silver’s five children stood in front of their other relatives, all wearing shirts emblazoned with family pictures of their now-deceased father.
Through their lawyer, Thiru Vignarajah, Silver’s family is demanding that the Baltimore City Council hold immediate investigative hearings on Silver’s death. The family also demands direct “real time” updates straight from City Hall into Silver’s investigation – not secondhand reports filtered through the media.
They want that to happen immediately.
“A statewide investigation is a wonderful step in the right direction for the workers who are going to be toiling in the hot summer heat next summer, but it’s August. It’s hot today. It’s going to be hot this week,” said Vignarajah, a former state deputy attorney general and four-time citywide candidate for elected office. “Those investigative hearings need to happen this week or next week. They don’t do our workers any good if we do them in the dead of winter.”
“Ronnie was not just a sanitation worker,” said Vignarajah, calling Silver’s death “preventable.”
“He was also a son, brother, cousin, nephew, fiancée, and father to five beautiful children.”
Litigation against the city is on the table, Viganarajah confirmed, although no suits have been filed at this time. Right now, he said the priority is accountability and answers from the city and its public works department.
workers comp will payout and if he had life ins .they will be alright