Man dies after vehicle rollaway incident in central Queensland

A man has died following a vehicle rollaway incident in central Queensland, Australia.

The 27-year-old worker died after the vehicle he was cleaning rolled and struck him on Sunday afternoon.

He was rushed to Mount Morgan hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns around workplace transport safety, echoing a similar case where a mine worker died after a vehicle incident in central Queensland. Employers must ensure robust procedures exist for tasks involving stationary or parked vehicles, given rollaways remain a persistent hazard across heavy industry and construction sites.

Businesses operating fleets or heavy machinery should review their vehicle policy and ensure staff follow strict protocols when cleaning, inspecting or parking vehicles on sloped or uneven ground. A thorough vehicle inspection checklist can help identify braking or handbrake faults before they contribute to a fatal incident.

Other recent cases reinforce the risks tied to vehicle-related workplace incidents. In one instance, a man was flown to hospital after a bobcat incident in central Queensland, while another man died after a vehicle related workplace incident in Canberra's north. Together, these events underscore why consistent safety controls matter nationwide, not just in one region.

Organisations should maintain a clear company vehicle policy outlining responsibilities for drivers, cleaners and maintenance staff. Pairing this with structured incident management tools ensures any rollaway incident is reported, investigated and addressed swiftly, reducing the likelihood of repeat occurrences.

Live updates on this incident were first published here, and further details may still emerge as investigations continue.

Safety professionals across construction, manufacturing and mining sectors should treat this incident as a reminder to reassess vehicle handling procedures, particularly around cleaning and stationary tasks where rollaway risks often go unnoticed until it's too late.