The accident happened at approximately 11.30am on Tuesday (July 25), according to reports.
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the incident.
Police chief Jason Garcia said the man, named as Noel Oquendo, was an employee at the company and was working in an area of the plant with numerous types of equipment but did not say exactly what type of equipment was involved.
“A preliminary investigation indicates the man was struck in the head just after 11:30am as he was tending to a possible problem with the machine he was manning," he told news agency lehighvalleylive.com.
“The machine printed labels for plastic bottles before they were shipped.”
Garcia did not have a cause and manner of the Berry Plastics employee's death. The Morris County medical examiner will make that determination.
Berry Plastics, based in Evansville, Indiana, has several plants globally and makes packaging for dry foods, bakery, snacks, confectionery, dairy and beverages.