Before the accident the worker, Donald Welch, had finished a 75-hour-week with the last 12-hour shift ending at 6.30am.

Four hours later he started what was supposed to be a nearly 1000km drive to his home in Wongawallan with the crash occurring at about 5:30pm.

According to the Daily Mercury, Welch said in Rockhampton Supreme Court filing that he was provided with accommodation at the Capcoal village that served the mine under his initial employment terms.

“Workpac used to make a booking at the camp so Mr Welch didn't have to leave until 10am the day after his last shift,” the newspaper reported.

“However, Anglo American changed its policy in mid-2011 which meant employees had to vacate the accommodation at 10am on the checkout day, even if they'd just completed a seven-day rotation or night shift.”