Metallurgical Industrial Complex of Nizhniy Tagil, Vysokogorskiy Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise, and Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise of Kachkanar (members of Evraz Group) summed up the results of the annual labor protection agreement signed by the companies’ employees and managements, reports the spokesperson for Evraz Group.

This agreement is part of the companies’ collective agreements; it covers a number of measures aimed at improving the employees’ working environment and providing for their safety. Last year, these measures affected over 5,000 people working for Evraz Group in Nizhniy Tagil, Kachkanar, and Nizhnyaya Salda.

The enterprises took more than 150 steps targeted at making the workplaces of metallurgists and miners better. Some new industrial equipment was bought, which made it possible to abolish almost all manual labor. The transportation shop of Metallurgical Industrial Complex of Nizhniy Tagil, for example, now has a device meant for automatic wheel dismantling. Yuzhnaya mine of Vysokogorskiy Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise has been equipped with machines meant for washing large amounts of working clothes. The companies had their conditioners and ventilation systems replaced last year, the changing rooms and showers were refurbished and redecorated. What is more, the employees now have improved access to clean drinking water facilities.

The three companies are investing in preventive measures as well. Over 900 inspections related to compliance with the annual labor protection agreement regulations were conducted on the premises of Metallurgical Industrial Complex of Nizhniy Tagil, Vysokogorskiy Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise, and Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise of Kachkanar in 2006. Every month, the workers and management meet to discuss their working conditions and present their improvement proposals. The Urals-based members of Evraz Group are currently using a new labor protection agreement that takes into account all the earlier proposals.