FLORENCE — A construction worker was injured Friday at the University of North Alabama when he fell from a steel beam, hitting his head, authorities said.

Stan Baker, 43, of Ocoee, Fla., is an employee of Dixie Steel, which is a subcontractor for Consolidated Construction of Alabama. He was taken to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital where he was stable, conscious and determined to have no broken bones, according to University of North Alabama spokesman Josh Woods.

Later, he was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for a more in-depth examination.

The accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. at the construction site of the planned academic center and student commons building, behind Rogers Hall. Woods said Baker was working with six other employees at the site. Baker and all of the other workers were wearing the proper safety harnesses, when he slipped and fell from about 26 feet.

“His safety harness caught him, suspending him in the air after falling about 10 feet,” Woods said. “The harness snapped, and he fell another 16 feet and hit his head on a beam in the process.”

Huntsville’s Consolidated Construction of Alabama received the $7.67 million contract to construct the three-story building. Construction began at the end of August and is slated for completion in late fall.

The building will house a variety of food offerings including a full-service Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Frostbite Frozen Yogurt, as well as an expanded university bookstore and Listerhill Credit Union financial literacy center, all on the first floor.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 256-740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.

Video: Worker injured after fall at UNA construction site