A Queensland Police Service spokesman described the incident as an "industrial accident" after emergency services were called to the residence on Warner Road in Warner just after 5.30pm.

The man was "trying to separate hydrogen from water" when the explosion occurred, police said.

Paramedics, fire crews and police attended the scene but there was little they could do, with the man being declared dead at the scene.

A crime scene was not declared because the death was being treated as non-suspicious.