Mechanic Rudolph “Rudy” Lindstrom, 57, was working underneath a modified mantrip pickup truck at Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountain No. 1 mine on January 2 when the unit fell off the jack stands, crushing him.

According to the report, Lindstrom, a nine-year mining veteran with nine months on the job with Signal Peak, had asked another worker to assist him in removing the old power steering fluid from the truck’s system.

“The miner entered the [manual transmission] truck, depressed the clutch pedal and started the truck, which was in gear at the time,” investigators recorded.

“After starting the truck, the miner's foot slipped off the clutch pedal, causing the truck to lurch forward and fall off the jack stands.”

The modified mantrip, known as the No. 9 vehicle, had not been blocked or chocked against motion before work began, nor was the park brake engaged.

“The accident occurred because the truck was left in gear when it was started and because of the truck not being securely blocked in position while repair/maintenance work was being done under the vehicle,” MSHA concluded in its report, noting that a missing rubber friction pad/anti-slip cover on the clutch pedal created a contributory unsafe condition.

“The mine operator did not have in place safe procedures to support elevated equipment during this type of maintenance and repair work.”

To rectify the issues, the operator implemented new procedures entitled “Supporting Elevated Equipment” for staff working on raised equipment, on which all workers were trained.

Additionally, Signal Peak Energy purchased a 4-post runway 18,000 pound lift with a 68-inch rise for use in its surface shop.

The mine was also ordered to replace the friction pad/anti-slip cover on the clutch pedal, after which staff was trained on checking for equipment safety defects as part of pre-operational inspections.

Signal Peak’s Bull Mountain received two citations related to the incident, the first being a 104(a) citation for a violation of 30 CFR 77.405(b) for failure to securely block the unit.

“This condition also constitutes a violation of 30 CFR 77.404(c),” MSHA noted.

The second citation, also a 104(a), was issued for a violations of 30 CFR 75.1914(a) relating to the mine’s failure to maintain the truck in a safe condition, specifically regarding the missing friction pad cover.

The underground Bull Mountain No. 1 operation, open since 1991, operates a longwall and one continuous mining machine development section in the Mammoth seam and produces approximately 3,650 tons daily with 197 employees.

The non-fatal days lost incidence rate for the mine for 2009 was 1.72, versus the national NFDL rate for underground coal mines last year of 4.24.