Man pinned by pallet of olive oil in workplace accident

A man was transferred to hospital by helicopter after being pinned by what is believed to be a pallet of olive oil. Photo/File

A man has been pinned by a pallet believed to contain hundreds of kilograms of olive oil in a workplace accident on Waiheke Island this morning.

The man was flown by helicopter to Auckland City Hospital just after 11am.

St John spokeswoman Jennifer Porter said the 35-year-old man was in a serious condition.

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedic Russell Clarke said the man was moving the pallet of olive oil off a truck.

"The loading mechanism on the truck failed and pinned the pallet against [him]. It hit him about waist height. It pushed him into a bank for a short period of time."

Clarke said he believed bystanders freed the man from under the pellet, and that the injuries were around his abdomen.

Worksafe has been contacted for comment.