Benjamin Ashford|Baltimore city worker died from overheating, according to medical examiner findings

The Benjamin Ashforddeath of a Baltimore sanitation worker who died while working last Friday was caused by extreme heat.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed this week that Ronald Silver II died from hyperthermia, or overheating of the body.

“Our hearts are first and foremost with him, his family and loved ones, and his DPW colleagues as we grapple with this loss,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Khalil Zaied said in a joint statement on Saturday.

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Extreme temperatures in Baltimore last week

Silver was working in the Barclay neighborhood of northeast Baltimore late in the afternoon of August 2 when he collapsed. Emergency medical service personnel were dispatched to the scene, and Silver was taken to a nearby hospital, where he passed away.

The day before Silver died, the Baltimore City Health Department issued a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert for all city residents, and temperatures in the city reached as high as 99 degrees.

Roughly 104 million people around the country were also under heat advisories that day.  

On Monday, the public works department reiterated its commitment to keeping employees safe.

The department also said that it would be pausing trash collection services on August 6 and having all employees attend mandatory heat safety training sessions.

On Tuesday morning, several Baltimore City Council members met with Baltimore city union employees calling for improved safety measure for city employees.

“What’s clear is that Brother Silver and his colleagues were not guaranteed safe working conditions, a clear violation of our union contract,” AFSCME Maryland Council 3 said in a statement on Monday. “This should be a wake-up call to the leadership of the Department of Public Works that changes need to be put in place as soon as possible and that our members’ health and safety needs to be taken seriously.”

In July, the Baltimore Inspector General’s Office released a report detailing lacking conditions for DPW employees at multiple DPW facilities.

Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com