IG: Some Baltimore DPW workers found to be without health insurance. Many were unaware they lacked coverage.
Some 136 workers within the city’s Department of Public Works’
Investigators spoke to 46 of the 136 who were affected, according to Cumming. Two learned they were within the time window of starting their city employment to sign up for health insurance. And only two people knew about their eligibility for a credit waiver, which can be either
Cumming said the results of the investigation began when her office reviewed Workday, the city’s internal human resources system.
“I was surprised that nearly a fifth of all solid waste workers didn’t have insurance, considering how dangerous their jobs are,” she said in an interview. “That’s when I knew there was a major communication breakdown. We have second-chance workers but we’re not giving them tools to succeed. The city has failed them.”
In a response memo, HR director
“That said, we acknowledge the anecdotal information related to the challenges faced by (solid waste) employees in DPW accessing and enrolling in the City’s employee benefits program. Our commitment to supporting all employees in their benefits enrollment is paramount and we take these concerns seriously,” they wrote. The two directors said city agencies would communicate more with eligible workers. The city will also hold an informational session
Public Works has been under scrutiny since the summer, after sanitation worker Ronald Silver II died on the job from hyperthermia, and the OIG released two reports about the agency’s failure to provide workers with adequate cooling provisions, like ice and air conditioning, and kept toilet paper and Gatorade behind locked doors. The city has since contracted with a law firm known for opposing heat-related regulations to review workplace conditions within Public Works. Deputy DPW director
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