JSW workers set progress record

The record-breaking output of 619 m is not only the best result in JSW, but probably also the best result among all Silesian mines, as the previous record of 608 m was set by the crew of KWK Sosnica.

The previous record held by JSW belonged to the employees of unit GRP-6 from the Pniówek Mine, who in March recorded a progress of 577 m. Before them, the record holders were the miners from Zofiówka with 517 m.

“We all have great satisfaction with the result achieved. We realise that this rivalry is treated with a pinch of salt, because we know that safety is the most important thing. If the conditions were unfavourable and safety was threatened, no one would think about breaking records,” said Senior Foreman, Kolanowski, the head of unit GRP-4z in the Zofiówka Section.

“In the case of the F-1 roadway, everything favoured us and the crew pulled off a good result, which turned out to be a record. During this time, we have not recorded a single, even the slightest, accident at work. It is a pleasure to work with such responsible and committed people. Thanks to them, by the end of August, the corridor works plan in the Zofiówka Section was exceeded by over a kilometre. Once again, I would like to thank our workers and congratulate them on the result,” added Wojciech Mazurek, Mining Works Manager of unit GG-2z.

The F-1 top gate, where the record was set, is being mined with an MR340X roadheader. The LPCBor11/V32 support was used with 1 m spacing. In addition, along the entire length of the roadway, the miners had to build reinforcing steel beams with a V29 profile, anchored with 5 m string anchors at 1 m intervals. Pipe sprags were used to stabilise the roof supports. The lagging consists of a welded hitch mesh and a welded chain mesh. The average daily progress (including Saturdays and Sundays) exceeded 20 m. This is 8 m more than scheduled. The maximum progress the miners were able to make during one shift was 7 m.

It is worth mentioning that the working face was mined in category III hazard of gas and rock outbursts, and this entailed daily blasting works aimed at relaxing the rock mass. With 619 m of progress, more than 700 t of materials had to be transported to the working face and about 30 000 t of excavated material transported.

The record-breaking 619 m were planned and executed in a six-shift system, as the distance from the personnel transport shaft to the inlet of the F-1 roadway is almost 3.5 km, with the last 2 km covered by miners on foot. Thanks to this organisation of work, the crews exchanged at the working face.

According to the documentation, the excavation of the F-1 roadway (1207 m long) was scheduled to finish on 31 December 2021, but it is already clear that the work will be completed much earlier.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/14092021/jsw-workers-set-progress-record/