A man has died while working at the Nyrstar zinc plant

UPDATED: An investigation has been launched after a man died while working at Hobart’s zinc works site.

The Nyrstar zinc works plant in Lutana.

HOBART’S zinc works owner says it is working closely with WorkSafe Tasmania and Tasmania Police to investigate the death of an employee at the ageing industrial site.

A 60-year-old man died while at work at Nyrstar’s Lutana smelter late on Tuesday afternoon with the cause of the man’s death unknown.

Police said the man’s death was not considered suspicious and no other injuries were reported.

WorkSafe Tasmania were notified and a report will be prepared for the Coroner, Tasmania Police said.

A Nyrstar spokeswoman said the company had begun investigating how the death occurred.

“Nyrstar is undertaking an investigation into the incident and is working with WorkSafe Tasmania and Tasmania Police,” the spokeswoman said.

“Nyrstar extends its sincere sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the employee.”

The spokeswoman said the company would not yet reveal any further information about the worker’s death and said support would be offered to company employees.

“We are not releasing the employee’s name at this time. Nyrstar will offer counselling and other support to colleagues who have been affected by this incident,” the spokeswoman said.

Unions have previously expressed concerns over safety at the ageing industrial site and called on the plant’s new owners to invest in the plant when they took over in August.

It was announced last month that Nyrstar has been taken over by major shareholder Trafigura which held $US53.8 billion in assets across commodities, trading and production.

The Australian Workers Union last year wrote to WorkSafe Tasmania about 15 safety issues including claims of unstable flooring and an under-maintained flue system in one area.

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Last month AWU state organiser Kevin Midson told the Mercury a worker narrowly avoided a death at the site.

“We had a young guy back in February have about a metre of walkway completely fall from beneath him. He managed to grab onto the rail and swing himself up. It was about an eight-metre drop below, so it would have meant serious injury or death [if he’d fallen]. Chemicals wear away at the walkways.”