Worksafe is warning of the risks of not parking vehicles safely after a ute rolled backwards down a steep ramp at a mine site in Tasmania, crashed through an embankment and landed in a canal.
The incident occurred while two electricians were inspecting a job at a tailings dam, accessible only by a steep ramp.
According to WorkSafe Tasmania, after reaching the top of the ramp the passenger got out of the vehicle and guided the driver onto what appeared to be a flat, stable section of ground.
The driver parked the ute and got out, believing the vehicle was secure.
However, almost immediately, the vehicle began rolling backwards down the steep ramp.
“The driver initially tried to get back into the vehicle, but realised he couldn’t do so safely and moved out of the way,” Worksafe said.
“The vehicle rolled backwards about 25 metres, crashing through a 1.2m high bund and ending up in a canal.”
No one else was on the ramp or access road at the time and no injuries were reported.
“However, the outcome could have been more serious if other vehicles or pedestrians had been present at the time,” said Worksafe.
The driver said he believed he had parked on level ground and had taken precautions, including leaving the vehicle in gear and applying the handbrake.
Worksafe said it remains unclear why these measures did not hold the vehicle in place.
Following the incident, WorkSafe is urging all workplaces to review and strengthen their parking and vehicle stability procedures.
“This may include training workers about the control measures that should be used to make a vehicle fundamentally stable when parked and training supervisors to ensure that the control measures are being used as intended,” they said.
