Detailed in a safety alert by the state’s Mine Safety Operations Branch, the technician was driving between sites on an exploration lease before the incident occurred at about 3pm in dry weather.

He stopped at the stock gate to open it, but did not apply the park brake beforehand.

While the technician was walking, the vehicle rolled forward and pinned him between the gate and the bull bar.

“The field technician was alone at the time of the incident,” the branch said.

“He was discovered approximately forty-five minutes later in a distressed state, semi-conscious, vomiting, and experiencing difficulty breathing and speaking.

“He was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment and released forty-eight hours later. Fortunately he had no internal damage or fractures but he did suffer significant bruising.”

Field trials during an investigation revealed that the service vehicle, found to be in good working order, could roll forward towards the gate in some locations when the engine was idling, the transmission was in neutral and the park brake was not applied.

“Similar serious incidents with vehicles rolling and pinning a person at a gate have occurred at other sites within Australia when park brakes were not applied or were inadequately applied,” the branch said.

The field technician had only started his employment 4.5 days earlier, but was experienced with four-wheel drive vehicles.

One of the recommendations was for mining and exploration companies to consider installing alarms which activate when an operator leaves a vehicle without applying the hand brake.