The Westpac Rescue helicopter was dispatched to Clarence Town, north of Newcastle, on Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency services responded to a worksite around 3 pm, after workers reported a man had been shot in the head with a nail gun on a worksite.
Despite the initial reports, paramedics found the man had been struck by a large piece of wood while demolishing a building, and a nail was embedded in the man’s forehead.
The man was transported to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in a stable condition, following the work of paramedics.
SafeWork NSW is expected to begin its investigation into the incident shortly.