The set of clothing consists of two types of long-sleeved polo shirts and pants made of the best protective materials - fire and heat resistant.
“The clothing will be tested by our experienced miners,” assures Przemysław Łuczak, head of the OSH and training department at the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine. “For now we have ordered 10 sets, 5 for each Section. The clothes are personalized, sewn to size. This is very important, because well-fitting clothing will effectively protect our workers. Now workers will test the clothing in underground conditions for several months,” Łuczak adds.
Working in mining involves many dangers, such as the methane ignition that painfully affected workers at the Szczygłowice Section in January this year.
“The safety of our employees, especially those who go underground every day and work in extreme conditions, is of utmost importance to us. This cannot be converted into any numbers or savings. That's why we attach great importance to the opinions of the miners themselves; their assessment of the new clothing, both in terms of protection, comfort and durability, will be decisive for our further actions," said Adam Rozmus, Vice-President of the JSW Management Board for Technical and Operational Matters.
The manufacturer assures that the properties of the material are preserved even after 100 washing cycles, allowing for a long period of use. All items of protective clothing are made of very lightweight materials that provide high comfort (breathability, rapid moisture removal from the body). Interestingly, the fibers used in the clothing are the same as the ones used in the suits and underwear of Formula One drivers, as well as in the protective clothing of firefighters.
“The key to the exceptional properties of this clothing is its composition. The clothing is made from a permanently flame-retardant fabric with advanced meta-aramid and para-aramid fibers at its heart. These are materials with natural built-in fire and heat resistance, which means that their protective properties do not disappear or deteriorate during washing or use. The whole is complemented by antistatic fibers, crucial in the prevention of discharges," explains a representative of the company manufacturing the protective clothing.
Feedback from those who will be the first to use the new clothing will allow a final evaluation and implementation of the best possible solution for all the Company's units.
