TWO men lost their lives after a colleague turned on the giant industrial oven they were cleaning leaving them to cook to death.

The metalworker who switched on the cooker is receiving counselling after detectives discovered the men had tried to rip insulation off the walls and clawed at the door in a desperate bid to escape.

The horrific accident happened after they ignored safety measures that would have warned colleagues they were still inside.

The furnace — used to heat metal ready for smelting — can reach temperatures of 800C (1,472F).

Somehow its automatic door closed on them and when staff finally realised they were missing their charred and blackened bodies were found lying on the floor inside.

Cops say they had actually finished the cleaning job before returning a second time without telling colleagues.

Officials said they ignored four safety precautions used at the factory owned by the Salzburger Aluminium AG company in Lenz, Austria, to avoid such incidents.