Few days ago Uralkali approved a strategic investment program for the development of production.

The first industrial conference on the problems of labor protection at industrial enterprises of the Perm Region was held at the Second Ore Administration of Uralkali. The conference was sponsored by the regional branch of Roskhimprofsoyuz (Russian Trade Union of Chemical Workers). It was attended by specialists of the state labor protection bodies of the region and representatives of major chemical enterprises in the Kama region - heads of labor protection and industrial safety services, trade union activists. The conference participants have discussed the problems which exist today in the field of labor protection at enterprises and the ways of their solution.

Welcoming the conference General Director of Uralkali Maxim Shirokov stressed the importance and topicality of its subject: "Without doubt the problems of labor protection constitute an integrated element of the general strategy pursued by the state in the field of security, including national security. It is a gratifying fact that in the recent year we are witnessing significant changes in the state's approach to these issues."

According to Maxim Shirokov, only a few days ago Uralkali approved a strategic investment program for the development of production. Beginning with 2004, ever-increasing investments will be made in the renewal of the active and passive parts of the fixed assets of the company. Thus the investment budget for the next year will exceed 4 billion rubles. Among other things the money will be used for replacement of the obsolete machinery and equipment . This will impart an even greater development potential to Uralkali and will markedly improve the working conditions of its employees.

Over nine months of 2003, the labor protection and industrial safety service of Uralkali has carried out 205 practical actions for accident prevention at the enterprise. and the company has invested 20 million rubles in these activities. Regular checkups of the condition of workplaces and of compliance with the safety prevention rules carried out in Uralkali have resulted in the fact that in the last five years the number of the company's workers who sustained injuries decreased by 3.5 times.

"A considerable decrease in occupational traumatism in Uralkali is quite obvious," said Nikolai Sitnikov, Chief Labor Protection Specialist of the Central Committee of Roskhimprofsoyuz. "An almost 20 percent drop, with the kinds of work carried out at the enterprise, is a very good indicator. This testifies to the fact that the Uralkali management devotes a great attention to the problem of ensuring safe working conditions for its personnel."

The attention paid by Uralkali to the problems of labor protection and labor safety was also noted by Valery Parshin, Deputy Head of the Labor Department of the Perm Region, who said: "Uralkali exemplifies the socially oriented business, which does not concentrate only on earning maximum profits. This is one of few enterprises of the region where adequate funds are invested in the improvement of the working conditions."

The conference participants were shown the labor protection system operating in Uralkali. The guests visited several divisions of the ore administration and saw how and where the Uralkali workers are working: the production sections, dressing and shower rooms, places for rest.

"Uralkali is one of the best enterprises of the chemical industry not only in the region but in the whole country," said Alexei Klein, Chairman of the Perm Regional Branch of Roskhimprofsoyuz. "The company operates in accordance with the international standards, including such standards in the field of labor protection. Here there is something to see and learn from."