PRODUCTIVITY AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN POLISH COAL INDUSTRY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030656-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 656
• Publication Date: January 7, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL 5UIiriUCR 1 INC
URITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
'COUNTRY Poland
SUBJECT Economic - Mining, coal, metallurgy
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
Daily newspaper; biweekly and monthly
periodicals; book; pamphlet
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1947 .,. 1950
DATE DIST. 7 Jan 1952
NO. OF PAGES 5
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT h0.
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PRODUCTIVITY AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN POLISH COAL INDUSTRY
OPERATING COSTS IN MINING -- Warsaw, Zycie Gospodarcze, 16--..31:!OA;49
Labor and raw materials constitute the major operating costs in coal mining.
In Poland, labor costs comprise 60 percent and raw materials 16 percent of the
total operating coats. The Polish coal industry employs about 300,000 persons,
or 23 percent of the total employment in socialized industry. As a result of
conferences in 1949, it was decided to increase coal-mining labor productivity
6.16 percent over 1948.
The Dolny Slask Coal Mining Association has not been able to meet its norms
for improving labor productivity. The miners in Walbrzych have to contend with
geological and technological difficulties that are common knowledge. The size
of the rocks precludes the use of coal cutters. Rock content frequently amounts
to 37 percent of the gross extraction.
In raising the efficiency of coal mining, it is necessary to consider the
performance of machinery and equipment. In 1948, breakdowns accounted for a
loss of over one million tons of coal. The coal industry should possess a cata-
log of standardized machines and equipment for the replacement of worn parts to
reduce work stoppage. The Standards Commission for the Coal Industry is working
on this project.
The Commission for Labor Standards was created to work out norms for simi-
lar work at various mines. The commission has 13 subcommittees. Up to 30 April
1949, the commission had worked out 126 general norms and 933 specific norms.
Absenteeism is a serious problem in coal mining. An absenteeism rate of 5
percent with current employment figures means a loss of 3,672,000 tons of coal
annually; absenteeism in black coal mines (including sickness) amounted to 7.41
percent for 1048 and 8.71 percent for April 1949.
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Another source of waste is the time consumed in travel from portal to mine
face and return. The average time consumed is 99 minutes, as follows: descent
in shaft, 15 minutes; travel by rail, 17 minutes; from car to face, 19 minutes;
from face to car, 18 minutes; by rail to shaft, 16 minutes; ascent in shaft, 14
minutes. With the present number employed every 5 minutes shaved off this
average means 2,000 tons of coal production added daily.
The plan for 1949 calls for a saving of 18.33 percent in the consumption
of raw materials, such as lumber, explosives, lubricants, etc. Savings can be
effected by lowering consumption norms, reducing waste and utilizing waste pro-
ducts, using substitutes, reducing surplus stocks, and reorganizing the system
of procurement. The Commission for Technical Standards in the Consumption of
Raw Materials has been working on this problem since November 1947. A uniform
consumption file has been set up to check excessive requisitions for supplies.
Lumber is an important consumption item. In 1948, coal mining consumed
23.8 cubic meters of lumber per 1,000 tons of coal extracted. It is estimated
that the coal industry in 1949 rill consume about 1,800,000 cubic meters of lum-
ber. The current rate of consumption is 0.9 cubic meters less per ton of coal.
About 180 grams of explosives were consumed per ton of coal extracted in
1948. It is expected that consumption in 1949 will be reduced to 172.4 grams
per ton of coal, or a 5-percent saving over 1948. This will mean a saving of
540,000 kilograms of explosives in 1949.
EMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY -- Warsaw, Gospodarka Planowa, Sep 48
Employment and coal production in kilograms per man-day in the Polish coal
industry are as follows:
Yr
Av No of Workers
Production per Man-Day
kg
1938
148,822
1,580
1945
149,639
860
1946
203,000
1,004
1947
208,517
1,138
1948 (1st half)
216,600
1,205
CONDITIONS AT BRZESZCZE COAL MINE -- Warsaw 17 1949
Participating in work competition, Franciszek Apryas, a miner, achieved 600
percent of the established norm effective prior to 1 January 1949.
Apryas works at the Brzeszcze Mine, constructed in 1904 on a vast plain at
the foot of the Beskics. In the Brzeszcze Mine area, there are 43 seams of coal
from 0.7 to 1.5 meters thick, inclined at a 7-14 degree angle. The mine has
a coal reserve of about 550 million tons, calculated on the basis of a 1,000-
meter depth.
The working conditions in the mine are difficult because the seams are thin,
making reinforcement difficult. There are numerous cracks in the seams which
allow water to seep through; and, since the Brzeszcze is a gas mine, there is
danger of explosion. In 1917, a new shaft was sunk in Jawiszowice, which is near
Brzeszcze.
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Franciszek Apryas started mining in 1928 at the Brzeszcze Mine, which at
that time was the only state-owned mine, the others all being owned by foreign
capital.
When war broke out in 1939, Apryas continued to work at the mine. In 1945,
when the enemy retreated, Apryas with a few friends organized an industrial
guard to prevent the destruction of installations and to keep the mine going.
Being an experienced and efficient worker, he was assigned to work on seam
28, where working conditions were unusually difficult. He organized the work
and increased production. Before that time, a 200-meter face was worked by 15
two-man teams, but after Apryas took over it required only eight teams.
In appreciation of his achievements, the Chief Work Competition Committee
sent Apryas to Czechoslovakia on a holiday in 1948. Spurred by discussions with
other workers there, he decided to achieve the highest productivity in the coun-
try. In October 1948, he achieved 362 percent of the norm and in December, 462
percent. As a result, the Brzeszcze Mine fulfilled the plan ahead of schedule.
Apryas received a citation and was presented with a radio.
Apryas attributes his achievements to efficient organization of the work
and full utilization of working time. He is first on the Job on seam 28, 360
meters deep. The face is 200 meters long and there is a large slate content
in the roof. The actual coal seam, from 0.7 to 0.9 meters thick, inclines at
an angle of from 8 to 12 degrees. The work progresses in cycles; the first
shift extracts the undercut coal to a depth of 1.60 meters, the second shift
moves the transport equipment, and the third shift moves the iron batteries and
mines the face. The reinforcement of the roof is diagonal, 2-meter beams are
laid one meter apart at right angles to the face and braced by two props.
The cutting is done by a Sullivan chain cutter by the afternoon and night
shifts. The cutter travels to the face in the morning shift. The coal is cut
just above the base of the seam. This method of cutting has been tried on this
seam for many years and found the most satisfactory considering the hardness of
the coal.
The rift made by the cutter is thoroughly cleaned of the coal particles
along the length of the face and 1/2-meter props, somewhat smaller in diameter
than the rift, are wedged into the rift 2 or 3 meters apart to prevent it from
closing by settling. Wedging of the rift prevents pressure on the arm of the
cutter. It also prevents the rift from closing and facilitates cleaning in
preparation for the charge. Fewer holes are required and a smaller charge is
used, sufficient however to break up and loosen the undercut coal. The upper
holes for the charge are drilled 20 centimeters from the roof to the depth of
the undercut and spaced 3.6 meters apart. The lower holes are drilled 40 centi-
meters from the base of the seam to the same depth as the upper ones and spaced
the same distance apart except that the lower holes are placed midway between
the upper holes forming a zigzag line from top to bottom with equal obtuse angles
and spacing the charges 1.8 meters apart. Since the seam exhibits no definite
plane of fracture, the holes are drilled parallel to the roof and the base along
the length of the seam.
In loading the charge, the direction and the length of the opening, the
depth of the undercut, and the ceiling are taken into consideration. This method
of drilling and blasting increases production and reduces consumption of ex-
plosives. In November 1948, 127 grams of explosives were used per ton and in
December, 122 grams.
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Before the charge is exploded, all the props are strengthened, the roof is
examined, coal chute couplings are checked and all necessary adjustments made
to assure efficient operation throughout the day. Meanwhile, the loader loads
the slack into the chute and thoroughly cleans the rift to secure a clean rift
in blasting and to permit the coal to be easily lifted with a shovel and loaded
on the chute.
Apryas also helps to prepare the charge. Not more than 2 meters (on both
sides) are blasted and exposed at a time in order not to weaken the roof. After
the blast, he helps the loader clear the coal and prepare a convenient space for
reinforcing the roof by placing two timber supports. When the second blast is
exploded, the loader clears the coal and Apryas follows him and cleans the area.
He places the beams against the roof, holding them with his shoulder while he
places the props under them. He has become so expert that he can gauge the
length of the props without measuring them and requires only 4 minutes to place
one set if it is necessary to cut the props. The loose rocks are cleared and
put beyond the chute with the waste. The coal is placed in the chute very care-
fully not to impede its progress and in case of any breakdown immediate adjust-
ments are made.
The work is so efficiently organized that in December 1948 Apryas and his
loader worked more than 40 meters of face extracting 81 tons of coal per day,
when the norm for both of them was only 8 meters or 12.6 tons. In addition,
Apryas put up 49 beams and 98 props per day.
Full utilization of working time is the basis of work competition. Pstrov-
ski, the initiator of work competition utilized 92 percent of working time for
production; Miner Czeslaw Zielinski, 91 percent; Simko, 93 percent; Nierychlo,
94 percent; and Markiewka, 93 percent. Miners not participating in work competi-
tion utilize barely 50-70 percent.
Apryas utilizes 95 percent of the working time for production. Normally,
two men work together to set up pit props. Apryas does this work alone, which
results in a great saving of time.
LABOR COMPETITION TO PROMOTE MINE MECHANIZATION -- Katowice, Dziennik Zachodni,
16 Jun 50
At the beginning of June 1950, coal mines under the jurisdiction of the
Rybnik Coal Association initiated labor competition programs. Workers at the
"Marcel" Coal Mine, the first mine in the association to engage in labor competi-
tion, pledged to put into operation eight coal cutters.
Workers at the workshop at the "Anna" Coal Mine pledged the repair and ac-
tivation of 87 various mining machines.
The "Chwalowice" Coal Mine pledged to put into operation five additional
gallery chain coal cutters and three electric drills, and to repair 20 hammers
and two pillar cutters. Also, 336 members of the crew pledged to increase the
monthly production by 2,322 tons of coal through full utilization of new equip-
ment.
Workers at the "Debiensko" Coal Mine pledged to increase the productivity
of coal cutters by cutting the coal face 1.8 meters thick instead of 1.3 meters.
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COAL RESOURCES AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES OF DOLNY SLASK -- Wroclaw, Dolnoslaski
Informator Gospodarczy, 1947
The most valuable natural resource of Dolny Slask is coal, which, unlike
that of Gorny Slask, yields high-grade foundry and blast-furnace coke. In 1912,
H. E. Booker estimated deposits of black coal in the Walbrzych basin at 522
million tons, plus probable deposits of 344 million tons. In addition, the con-
firmed deposits of Nova Ruda are estimated at 196 million tons, plus probable
deposits of 881 million tons. In both areas the seams are thin (1.5 meters),
with gas occurring frequently. Walbrzych and Nova Ruda yield 5 percent hard
coal, 40 percent bituminous coal, 45 percent cannel coal, and 8 percent gas.
Of the 966,000 tons of coke produced in Poland in 1945, 790,000 tons or 80
percent came from Dolny Slask. The sale of this coal for domestic fuel is to
be banned. Gas produced as a by-product of coke serves the Sudetens, Wroclaw,
Legnica, and Boleslawiec.
Seven mines are in operation; four in the Walbrzych, and three in Nova Ruda.
All are under the jurisdiction of the Dolny Slask Coal Association in Walbrzych,
4 Zamkowa Street, telephone 123.
The mines of the Walbrzych are as follows:
Bialy Kamien Mine in Bialy Kamien; includes a coke plant, a "Lofix" briquet-
ting plant, and a power plant; director, Engineer Pawlowicz.
Victoria Mine in Sobiecin; includes a coke plant and a power plant; direc-
tor, Engineer Michalski.
Bolwslaw Chrobry Mine in Walbrzych; includes a coke plant and a brickyard;
director, Engineer Zewierzejew.
Mieszko Mine in Walbrzych; includes the Mieszko Coke Plant; director, En-
gineer Widlarz.
The.Nowa Ruda area includes the following mines: Nova Ruda Coal Mines and
Clay Pits, the Jan Mine, and the Przygorze Mine. There is also a plant for
firing clay. The director of the entire combine is Engineer Sielava. The ex-
traction of clay for refractory chamotte products amounts to 60,000 tons Zaan-
nually Yj.
Products of the foregoing Walbrzych and Nova Ruda enterprises include:
coal, coke, fire clay, ammonium sulfate, benzol, tar, pitch, ammonical liquor,
gas, electricity, building bricks, graphite, and naphthalene.
According to prewar estimates, the probable brown coal reserves of Dolny
Slask amount to 7,400,000,000 tons. German data of 1937 gave the production of
ten mines near Zoraw as 977,000 tons, while mines near Luban and Wegliniec pro-
duced 600,000 tons. One of the largest mines, in Trzciniec, had a prewar out-
put exceeding 3 million tons. Most of the mines, flooded and mined during the
war, are now being reopened.
The Karol Metallurgical Plant in Walbrzych is one of two plants in Europe
producing metal mine supports. A similar plant is to be activated in Gorny Sis.
to fill domestic and export requirements.
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