A worker died after a large pile of rock salt fell onto the heavy machine he was operating at a suburban Philadelphia salt yard.

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The salt, which is used to keep roads clear of snow and ice, fell on the man at the International Salt facility at New Ford Mill Road and Bordentown Road in Morrisville, Bucks County, Pa. around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Falls Township Police told NBC10.

Police said the man was moving rock salt with a front-end loader when the 100-foot tall mineral pile toppled over, burying the machine and trapping him inside.

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Several emergency crews were dispatched to the scene of the industrial accident and firefighters used shovels to find the man. When they finally reached the machine, the man was already dead, still sitting in his seat, police said.

The man's death comes as many Southeastern Pennsylvania municipalities and state road crews prepared to deal with a winter storm that is expected to bring several inches of snow and frigid temperatures.

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Officials have not released the name or age of the victim.

NBC10 is continuing to follow this developing story and will update the story as more details become available.