Dave MacKenna says the injured man is in high spirits. (CBC)

A 40-year-old construction worker is recovering in a Cape Breton hospital after his feet were run over by a three tonne steamroller Monday evening.

The man was paving part of Heathview Drive in Coxheath, a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Cape Breton Regional Police Staff Sgt. Robert Walsh said both the man's feet and ankles appear to be broken.

"He remains in care with non-life-threatening injuries at this point," he told CBC News.

"The scene was examined by the regional police forensic examination section and the incident is being investigated by the Department of Labour."

The man was part of a paving crew working for Municipal Ready Mix. Dave MacKenna, president of the company, said all safety procedures were in place and being followed.

"It's not just known exactly what took place to cause this accident," he said. "It appears that somehow, the victim became in contact with the roller and the operator doing his job, he didn't really see it. And the other employees, when they hollered, he stopped but they had already done the damage."

MacKenna said this is the first time since the 1950's that they've had an accident involving a steamroller.