A worker being taken to hospital after being trapped under a steel pole at the Central Interceptor site in Sandringham, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
A worker has been winched out by crane after becoming trapped under a steel pole at a major Auckland Council infrastructure project.
More than a dozen firefighters and several police and ambulance staff are on the scene at the Central Interceptor site on Haverstock Rd in Sandringham.
Fire and Emergency said it happened in a 6-7m deep hole.
The man was put on a stretcher and winched out by a crane on the site accompanied by a rescue officer just before 10am.
He did not suffer serious injuries, Watercare said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
"It has been confirmed that a construction worker received minor injuries only at a Watercare Central Interceptor Haverstock Rd site, Sandringham this morning," Watercare reported.
Work on the project has been suspended for today. The worker was not involved in tunnelling work, Watercare said.
"We are relieved our worker is not seriously injured and we'd like to thank emergency services for their quick response," Watercare Chief Programme Delivery Officer Shayne Cunis said.
"Safety remains our first priority and we will be investigating this incident."
WorkSafe said it is aware of the accident and is making inquiries.
Firetrucks responding to the incident on Haverstock Rd in Sandringham, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
The Central Interceptor is a new sewage system for Auckland and a huge tunnel is being bored under parts of the city.
The project is the answer to decades of sewage spewing from old pipes every time it rains.
Once up and running Central Interceptor will prevent the majority of wastewater overflows, when the volume of stormwater exceeds the pipes' capacity, resulting in wastewater overflowing into creeks and streams and contaminating them.
