A 45-year-old bakery manager was killed Wednesday morning in a tragic accident involving industrial machinery at the Palermo’s Pizza facility in West Milwaukee.
Robert Cherone, of Elkhorn, died around 6:30 a.m. after emergency responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene. According to WISN 12, local police and firefighters arrived after reports of an industrial incident. Paramedics pronounced Cherone dead at the facility.
Authorities have not yet specified the type of machinery involved or the circumstances that led to Cherone becoming trapped. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into the incident in coordination with local law enforcement and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, Fox News reported.
Cherone had worked as a bakery manager at the plant and had spent several years in the food production industry.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Palermo’s spokesperson Rebecca Schimke called the accident a “terrible incident” and said the company is cooperating fully with investigators. “Palermo’s will be supporting the employee’s family and next of kin. We will also be offering counseling and support services to the Palermo’s team during this difficult time,” Schimke said.
Following the incident, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO—the state’s largest labor organization—issued a statement calling for stronger workplace safety standards. “This tragic incident underscores the need for everyone involved in our workplaces—workers, employers, relevant government agencies—to work together aggressively to ensure that every person who goes to work to provide for themselves and their family comes home safely at the end of the day,” the organization stated.
Colleagues remembered Cherone as a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to his work, according to his professional profile.