A 37-year-old employee was killed at a Westlake Royal Building Products siding plant in North Carolina Aug. 9, after his arm was apparently caught in machinery and he was pulled in.
The Salisbury Post quoted East Spencer, N.C., Fire Chief Shawn McBride as saying that the unidentified employee was feeding materials into a press when he was pulled into the equipment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's online database of its investigations said it opened a review Aug. 10.
McBride did not respond to a request for comment from Plastics News but the Salisbury paper said the first emergency workers on the scene pronounced the employee dead.
The paper reported that a custodian was able to help firefighters remove the deceased employee from the machine.
Emergency personnel were called to the scene shortly before 2 p.m.
Westlake said it is supporting the deceased employee's family and providing counseling to staff.
"On behalf of its entire employee family, Westlake ... expresses its condolences to the family of an employee at [the] facility who lost his life," the company said. "An investigation into the cause of the accident by company Health, Safety and Environmental management has begun.
"The company will provide its assistance and support to the family and also provide counseling services to employees at the facility," Westlake said.
The factory makes the company's TruExterior Poly Ash siding and trim made from polyurethane and ash.
Westlake acquired the plant in 2021, as part of its $2.15 billion acquisition of the North American building products business of Boral Industries.