A worker drowned in a tank of molasses in Michigan last Tuesday after donning protective garb, entering the container and adjusting a valve, MLive.com reports.
The company’s owner reportedly used an electric saw to cut Robert Herweyer out of the container of molasses before attempting CPR.
An official from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed to NBC 5 it opened a fatality investigation at Agri-Science Technology Company in Saugatuck. The official also said MIOSHA cannot provide information on an open investigation, noting it could take several weeks or months to complete.
Herweyer and another worker were cleaning what MLive called a “12-foot-tall hard plastic tank,” during the time of the incident.
David Alexander, owner of the business, reportedly told police Herweyer lowered himself into the tank using a forklift to adjust a valve. He stopped moving while attempting to climb out of the container, MLive reported.
“He said Robert was just there, standing by the tank wall, and when he was yelling at him what was wrong if he was OK or not, Rober never responded back or moved his head in a yes or no motion,” police said in their report after interviewing co-worker Kevin Deherrera.
An emergency room doctor from Holland Hospital told MLive Herweyer died from drowning and had syrup in his lungs.
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MLive also reported Herweyer and his wife, Joy, were expecting their first baby.
