Updated at 12.10pm with OHSA's reaction

It may be hard to believe but this picture sums up the 'Only in Malta' to a tee. The worker seen in the photo is operating a mechanical shovel dangling from a crane trying to demolish a roof in Mosta.

According to residents, this risky operation in Triq in-Naġġar has been going on for the past week.

The reader who took the photos said he hoped action would be taken by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority before it was too late.

'Tell us before you inform the media' - OHSA

In a statement, the OHSA said it only became aware of the unsafe work practice through Times of Malta’s online report out of sheer coincidence.

It said that by the time its officers reached the site, at about 10.15am, the ceiling had already been dismantled. It said its officers still took the necessary enforcement action but did not say what this action was.

CEO Mark Gauci said that had the authority been informed of what was taking place it would have stopped the work before it was actually completed.

“It is deplorable that someone was so 'concerned' that rather than contacting the OHSA and informing us accordingly about the situation, he felt it more 'useful' to contact the media. This resulted in a situation whereby a worker continued to be exposed to danger unnecessarily. This is totally unacceptable in this day and age," the authority said.