A mechanic with BMW Sauber has escaped with minor injuries after suffering an electric shock as the team started testing its Kinetic Energy Recovery System on the first day of Formula 1 testing at Jerez.

Test driver Christian Klein was sent out to complete a three-lap installation run with the KERS device in place before returning to the pits.

As the car came to a halt, mechanics moved forward towards the car but the first member of the team to touch the sidepod received an electric shock which saw him fall to the ground.

After being helped to his feet by fellow team members, the mechanic was taken to the circuit medical centre before being released with slight injuries and grazing to his left hand and arm.

"After extensive dyno testing and a successful shakedown in Miramas last week, the BMW Sauber F1 Team for the first time ran an F1.07C equipped with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in an official test," a team statement read. "Right after the installation laps in the morning there was an incident involving a mechanic.

"When the car returned to the pits he touched it and suffered an electric shock. He sustained slight injuries to his left hand and grazing on his left arm. After a brief examination at the track's medical centre, he has returned to work with the test team.

"Because the team is still investigating the incident, the car did not run in the afternoon."

The incident is the second in a week involving the KERS system after Red Bull was forced to evacuate its Milton Keynes factory last Wednesday after a fire scare during a battery test.