The former “Dukla” guys feel at home at Lazy

LAZY – The February plan of the development crew with 27 members managed by Libor Popp, Chief Foreman, and Roman Pastucha, Head of Development Works 2, at Lazy Site, Karviná Mine was quite easy. They should connect the return-air gateroad # 74029 in Block 7, Doubrava field to the cross-entry # 74060. In total, it was 203m of development works with a SM 130 roadheader in the cross-section TH 16/18. Let’s not take too much of your time and say straight away they were successful.

“Despites the fact that the development works were done across a bounce-prone coal field classified in Bounce Risk Class 3 and we had to do de-stressing blasting works, conditions for mining were good and it was only pity that the gateroad was so short,” the contented Chief Foreman said after the task was fulfilled. He left aside the fact that the above mentioned 203 meters represent the longest developed gateroad in February at Lazy Site. “It would be nice if it was at least some eight hundred meters. Now once you start up, and you’re almost done,” smiled Libor Popp.

The development crew from Development Works 2 Department came over to Orlová Site, Karviná Mine in 2006 from the idled Dukla Mine. It came originally under the management of Milan Drobisz, Chief Foreman, who had to hand it over to Libor Popp due to health problems. Even if the transfer to the new workplace was not that easy – “it is as if you were re-planting an old tree,” Libor Popp tries to explain the feelings of the crew members – they were evaluated to be the best development crew at Lazy already in 2007. They keep this high standard even now and compete successfully with the renowned Lazy crews of Petr Funiok or Jiří Burdek.

“We are benefiting from the fact that we have experienced miners in our team, such as shift foremen Vlastimil Bilan, Viktor Kustvan, Petr Rojíček or Milan Zelinka,” praises Mr. Popp. “And Miloš Horník’s team from ČSA Site proved well when they joined us to cover continuous operations. They are skilled guys who fit in the team greatly.”

Libor Popp who’s fifty-two years old belongs to the skilled guys. It is interesting that he came to the Karviná district from Znojmo in southern Moravia. “My uncle was a miner and that’s probably why I was dreaming about becoming a miner when I was a kid,” he recollects the idea with a smile. He was trained to be an underground operator on electrical assemblies at František Mine but, once his studies were over, he joined a development crew in 1975. Despites an eight-year break he had 26 years of practical experience since that time.

“Where I see the key problem is the shortage of experienced workers,” Libor Popp shares his views on the current mining industry. “We miss the old guys. Those who are coming to the mines now, know almost nothing about mining. It is tough to face the reality then and not many of them keep the job.” That’s why he supports records and targets. “Guys make more money; they can organize an event together or play bowling and discuss their problems. They are also motivated to achieve great results again,” explains the convinced non-smoker, father to three kids and passionate fisherman.

“As concerns fishing, I prefer the sportive fishing - that is “catch and let go”,” he says. “Just live and let live.”

(Bohuslav Krzyžanek)