Worker dies after fall into ‘hot tank’ at factory site
AMAN has died a week after reportedly falling into a hot tank at work. The employee was being treated in hospital following an incident at the American Pan factory, in Skelmersdale.
Health and Safety Executive inspectors have visited the site at Seddon Place, on the town’s Stanley Industrial Estate.
Lancashire police are also investigating.
The company manufactures and repairs bakery equipment.
Workers at American Pan reported how the worker fell into tanks which can reach temperatures of 70°C.
They said the worker, understood to be in his 50s, had worked there for around 10 years and had a supervisory position. He was a dad and his family were said to be “devastated” by his death.
A close friend said: “What’s happened is shocking.
“He is well-known on the site and respected.
“He was involved in carrying out work on those tanks and somehow he’s ended up falling in.”
An HSE spokesperson said: “HSE is aware of the incident and is liaising with Lancashire Constabulary while making further inquiries.”
Lancashire police were unavailable to comment.
American Pan is owned by Bundy Baking Solutions, in Ohio, USA, and says it provides “expert engineering, state-of-the-art manufacturing, and advanced tooling capabilities”.
The company declined to comment.