A stonemason has died after being crushed by two slabs of granite at a business on Brisbane's bayside.

Ray Finch, 61, was killed when the 300-kilogram slabs fell off the back of a truck while it was being unloaded at Cleveland.

The ABC understands an employee tried and failed to lift the slabs off Mr Finch, who had owned and operated the business for the past five years.

When paramedics arrived they also tried to save him, but Mr Finch was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members rushed to the site.

His son, Ray Finch Junior, said his dad would do anything for his family.

"He's worked hard his whole life and this was basically going to be the last couple of days of the hard struggle this year," he said.

"Next year was going to be beautiful things.

"He's going to be greatly missed. He's probably the hardest working person I've ever met.

"He's been a stonemason all of his life, in my opinion he was one of the best in the industry.

"It's just a real shock for him to be gone."

The incident is being investigated by police and workplace health and safety.

Winds may have contributed

Emergency services were called to the address on Shore Street West about 10:00am. ( ABC News: Kathy McLeish )

Acting Inspector Catherine Jones said strong winds might have played a part in the accident.

"It is believed at this stage that it may have been a contributing factor," she said.

"It's a tragic accident ... absolutely.

Queensland Police and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) are investigating and preparing a report for the coroner.

Office of Industrial Relations executive director Julie Nielsen said it was a tragic incident just days before Christmas.

She said WHSQ would seek all relevant documents to determine what occurred "and to conclude if the duty holders have discharged their duties".

Second workplace crushing accident in recent months

In October, two workers were killed by a falling concrete slab at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Acting Premier Curtis Pitt said police and Workplace Health and Safety would be aware of that during their investigations.

"We've seen continued improvement in workplace health and safety outcomes for many years in Queensland and we've prided ourselves as a state having a great framework [for workplace safety and workers' compensation]," Mr Pitt said.

"We have to always be very, very vigilant about safety in the workplace.

"It's not something that is an optional extra, it is something that is so important because people deserve the right to go to work and return home safe to their loved ones at the end of each day."