A worker was killed when a concrete pillar fell on him at a demolition site in Rosebank in Johannesburg on Thursday, paramedics said.

"The 58-year-old worker, driving a concrete chipper tractor, was busy trying to break a pillar on the first floor on the Volkswagen building which was being demolished at 9.20am," said spokesperson Percy Morokane.

"However, the concrete pillar fell on him, crushing him to death.

A high risk rescue team from Emergency Management Services recovered the body at 8pm.

"It was a very difficult operation because the building was declared to be unsafe."

All work had been suspended on the site and labour department inspectors had gone to the scene.

Sapa