* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Sneed and President Scott
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Death of Trina Cunningham
For the purpose of inviting the Director of DPW, the Acting Bureau Chief of the Department of Finance’s Office of Risk Management and Division of Safety, and the plant manager of the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death of Trina Cunningham, as well as worker safety at all wastewater treatment plants.
body
Recitals
Whereas, Trina Cunningham, a 20 year employee of the Department of Public Works at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant tragically and needlessly died at the Plant on June 2, 2019; and
Whereas, Ms. Cunningham had been walking along a catwalk inside the grit building when she fell 20 feet into the water filtration system, in a vat of churning water and debris and drowned; and
Whereas, Ms. Cunningham was a trusted and respected supervisor for the Department of Public Works at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant; and
Whereas, Ms. Cunningham was admired by her colleagues for her commitment and dedication to the job; and
Whereas, Ms. Cunningham was a loving wife, mother, sister, and daughter; and
Whereas, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) investigated the circumstances of Ms. Cunningham’s death and issued multiple serious citations for violations by the City that contributed to her death; and
Whereas, MOSH investigators noted that the Patapsco Waste Water Plant’s management team routinely violated its own standard operating procedures; and
Whereas, Other health and safety problems have occurred at water and wastewater treatment plants, including conditions relating to a fatality at the Back River Plant in 2018; and
Whereas, MOSH issued abatement dates for correcting the violations for October 30th and November 25th; and
Whereas, The City has appealed these abatement dates and has asked for additional time to come into compliance with the law; and
Whereas, Each City employee deserves a safe and healthy work environment in which to do the employee’s job and working conditions that are, at a minimum, fully compliant with state and federal regulations.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council invites the Director of DPW, the Acting Bureau Chief of the Department of Finance’s Office of Risk Management and Division of Safety, and the plant manager of the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death of Trina Cunningham, as well as worker safety at all wastewater treatment plants.
And be it further resolved, That the City will strive to assure that no other employee ever dies from a work-related, preventable incident.
And be it further resolved, That the City renews its commitment to provide safe working conditions for all its employees and to establish a genuine culture of safety at all City-controlled sites.
And be it further resolved, That the City encourages all employees to report unsafe conditions and equipment, and that the City wants all employees to know that such concerns can be reported without fear of sanction or retaliation.
And be it further resolved, That the City Council will institute additional oversight and review of water and wastewater treatment plant safety operations and will request that plants provide monthly updates to the Labor Committee on all efforts to identify and correct hazardous and unsafe conditions, in addition to those cited by MOSH.
And be it further resolved, That the City Council urges DPW to request the services of the MOSH Consultation Program, which is designed to help employers recognize and control potential safety and health hazards at their work sites, improve and/or establish their safety and health program, and assist in training employees.
And be it further resolved, That all unions representing workers at these plants (the City Union of Baltimore, AFSCME) have genuine involvement in all aspects of this consultation process.
And be it further resolved, That DPW provide the Labor Committee with monthly updates on the progress of this consultation, which will include reports from the unions.
And be it further resolved, That after initial investigations at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Consultation Program will expand to the treatment plants Back River, Ashburton, and Montebello.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Director of DPW, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Acting Bureau Chief of the Department of Finance’s Office of Risk Management and Safety, the Deputy Commissioner of Division of Labor and Industry of the Maryland Department of Labor, the Head of the Bureau of Water and Wastewater of DPW, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.