A 65-year-old foreman died at a University of Queensland construction site this morning when he was struck by a piece of heavy machinery.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union workplace health and safety co-ordinator Andrew Ramsay said the Sunshine Coast man was hit by a formwork shutter at the Learing Innovation Building site, on Staff House Road, when workers were attempting to lift the piece of machinery by crane.

He said a lifting point broke on the shutter and caused it to swing into the foreman, delivering a fatal blow.

According to police the man was dead when they arrived sometime before 10am, despite attempts to revive him through CPR.

Mr Ramsay said work had stopped at the construction site and workers were being counselled by the CFMEU's Mates in Construction service.