Wisconsin pizza plant worker crushed by robotic machine dies; investigation underway
A Palermo’s Pizza facility worker in West Milwaukee died after being crushed by a robot during an early-morning shift; authorities are investigating with OSHA's help and the company is offering family support.
A West Milwaukee pizza factory worker was killed Wednesday after being crushed by a robotic machine during a shift at Palermo’s Pizza facility, authorities said. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Robert Cherone of Elkhorn and was on site around 6:30 a.m. when the fatal accident occurred.
Police and firefighters responded to the plant, and Cherone was pronounced dead at the scene. The West Milwaukee Police Department said the incident is under investigation, with assistance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. Details about how Cherone became trapped in the machinery were not immediately available as investigators collected evidence.
Palermo’s Pizza issued a statement saying the company is cooperating with authorities and supporting Cherone’s family. Spokesperson Rebecca Schimke said, “The tragic accident that took an employee’s life earlier today is a terrible incident that is being fully investigated. We are cooperating with government officials and gathering facts. 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.”
According to Cherone’s LinkedIn profile, he was a bakery manager at the Palermo’s facility, and colleagues described him as an experienced worker who had spent years in the food production industry.
Wisconsin’s largest labor organization, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, released a statement urging broader attention to workplace safety. “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,” it said.
Investigators from the West Milwaukee Police Department, OSHA and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials cautioned that details about how the accident occurred and whether safety procedures were in place will be clarified as the inquiry progresses. No further updates were provided at the time of publication.