A devastating incident at Palermo's Pizza in West Milwaukee has left the community in shock after 45-year-old Robert Cherone, a dedicated bakery manager, was fatally crushed by a robotic machine during his shift. The accident occurred around 6:30 AM in the factory’s production area, where automated systems handle pizza dough stretching and shaping, according to Fox News.

Cherone, an Elkhorn resident with extensive experience in food production, was pronounced dead at the scene despite desperate efforts by first responders to save him. The exact circumstances of how he became trapped in the machinery remain under investigation by the West Milwaukee police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Palermo’s Pizza issued a statement through spokesperson Rebecca Schimke, expressing grief over the tragedy. “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,” Schimke said, adding that counseling services would be offered to employees.

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Cherone was well-regarded among colleagues, with his LinkedIn profile highlighting his role as a bakery manager and his commitment to his craft. The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, the state’s largest labor organization, responded to the tragedy, stating, “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.”

This incident echoes a similar tragedy in Missouri, where 38-year-old Nicolas Lopez Gomez, a Guatemalan worker, died after becoming trapped in an industrial oven at the Gilster Marylee Cereal Plant while cleaning it. Authorities ruled out foul play in that case.

As investigations continue, Cherone’s death raises urgent questions about workplace safety and the risks posed by automated machinery in industrial settings.

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