Alison Dirr

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

MOSINEE — A 55-year-old Merrill man working as a contractor for a Mosinee paper mill died Monday after falling about 20 feet.

The Mosinee Fire Department was called at about 9:15 a.m. to Expera Specialty Solutions for a report that someone had fallen, said Fire Chief Josh Klug.

Addie Teeters, a spokeswoman for the company, said the man was a contract employee who was on site installing insulation on equipment when he fell about 20 feet from a man-lift.

She said another employee found him shortly after 9 a.m. and the company's first responders tried to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene. She said he did not have anyone with him when he fell, so how he fell is unknown, but he had completed mandatory training that includes fall protection measures.

"Incidents like this do not happen frequently, if ever," Teeters said.

The man had been working on site for about two hours Monday morning, she said. She did not know how long he had been a contractor for the company.

Expera is not releasing the name of the contractor.

"This is something we never want to see happen, and everyone is sending their prayers and condolences to the family," Teeters said.

The man's name has not been released so next-of-kin can be notified, Mosinee Police Chief Ken Muelling said.

Alison Dirr can be reached at 715-845-0658. Find her on Twitter as @AlisonDirr