A 61-year-old Taunton man was impaled on a metal rod after he fell 15 feet at a Rochester construction site on Saturday morning.

A Life Flight helicopter ambulance flew the victim to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center for treatment after crews spent more than one hour extricating him.

The cause of the accident is unclear, but U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an inspection the day it happened.

“The purpose of the inspection is to determine whether or not any workplace safety standards were violated in connection with this incident,” Fitzgerald said. “If violations are identified, OSHA could issue citations and propose fines for the employer.”

Fitzgerald said it’s too early to say how long the investigation will last.

The accident occurred at the Zero Waste Solutions facility under construction at 35 Cranberry Highway. In 2013, ABC Disposal Services, Inc. broke ground on what will be a 90,000-square foot waste processing facility.

OSHA identified the man’s employer as Barnes Building & Management Group, a subcontractor based in Weymouth.

According to Barnes Building & Management Group’s website, the company specializes in steel construction throughout New England. Supplying and erecting steel roofs, walls and panel buildings are listed as some of the company’s services.

Calls to Barnes Building & Management Group have not been returned.

Police Chief Paul Magee said first responders were on the scene for two and a half hours Saturday morning. Police received a 911 call at 8:38 a.m.

Magee said the man’s current condition is not known at this time.

According to fire officials, two engines were dispatched to set up a landing zone for the helicopter.

A fire department press release stated the man spoke to first responders throughout the ordeal despite his injuries.