Construction worker injured in accident at Canberra House

The man is in a stable condition at Canberra Hospital after a ceiling collapsed on him at Canberra House on Marcus Clarke Street in Civic on Thursday afternoon.

ACT Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said the man appeared to have been an inexperienced worker, and a preliminary investigation would examine whether he had had adequate training and supervision.

If this preliminary investigation proved that had not been the case, then Mr McCabe said the matter would be referred to the major investigation team.

An emergency services spokesman said the man had been taken to hospital in a serious condition suffering from neck, chest and hip injuries.

Mr McCabe said the company, DECC, was doing demolition work at the site in West Row, pulling some ceiling matter down, when part of the ceiling collapsed on a worker.

CFMEU ACT secretary Dean Hall, who inspected the site shortly after the incident, said the estimated weight of the ceiling was half-a-tonne and up to five workers had to lift the rubble off the man.

Mr Hall said the man, believed to have a broken shoulder and pelvis, tried to dive away from the falling ceiling before it landed on him

"He was in a very bad way and in extreme pain. It took them a long time to get the ceiling off him," he said.

"The estimated weight of the ceiling was equivalent to a family car."

Mr Hall said nearby public servants heard the commotion and provided first-aid to the man as he waited for ambulance assistance.

He said two ACT WorkSafe inspectors attended the site and no demolition work would be conducted on the building until further notice.

Counselling would be offered to the workers who freed the trapped man.

CFMEU officials have begun discussions with the property managers of the site and Mr Hall said the union would participate in the investigation.

Mr McCabe said he had been briefed on the accident and he believed it was an isolated incident.