After the merger Uralkali has been continuously moving to common standards in all areas of its business. Occupational safety is not an exception, in particular working clothes. Common workwear has been ordered for operational personnel. All engineers and workers will wear new working clothes both in Berezniki and Solikamsk. Only the workwear for miners will be different: it must be compliant with underground working conditions.
Development of new workwear design was started in 2011. It was a very challenging task for the Occupational Health and Safety Directory. The working clothes must be universal and protect employees from dust, dirt and chemical exposure while being comfortable and wear-resistant. The solution was found with a leading workwear fabric manufacturer, an Italian company Klopman. Employees of global corporations, such as British Petroleum, Volvo, Coca-Cola and Mercedes wear garments made of their fabrics.
"Durable, comfortable, impressive and stylish", Uralkali employees say about new working clothes. In the next two years employees in Berezniki and Solikamsk will change into new workwear. These clothes are more comfortable, beautiful and functional than the old ones.
Klopman’s Indestructible fabric met Uralkali's needs completely. This unique fabric is made of synthetic fibers (65%) and cotton (35%). The textile weave is so tight that it prevents dust particles from permeating between threads, so it is just possible to shake your garments well enough to clean it. Special finish helps repel dust, dirt and even chemicals. It cannot be easily rumpled and does not shrink after laundering.
Sergey Trenikhin, head of building repair and maintenance department, Berezniki-4:
– I got used to new workwear very quickly. It is comfortable, I feel very free and cozy, it is made of good strong fabric - I am sure it will retain its smart appearance for a long time. I am very glad that there are more pockets, not large, but medium size which is more convenient. The pockets are zipped, but not fastened with a Velcro, this ensures reliable closure, and nothing can be dropped out.
Special attention was given to the design of new working clothes. The style and colors of the uniforms were competitively chosen from designers' offers of Russian leading manufacturers. Finally, the appearance of an Uralkali employee became modern and stylish. All company's employees are expected to wear sea-green garments with red insets by 2014.
Alexander Solovyov, head of occupational safety department, Berezniki-4:
– Nice clothing, modern design. It appeals to me that the "coat" was replaced with a jacket; it is more comfortable and gives more ease of movement. There are a lot of pockets, one can put anything they need: a pen and a notepad, gloves - there's enough space for everything.
About Klopman workwear
When in 1940-50s industrial boom was on in America, the world started to change drastically: semiconductors, polymers, stereo sound in cinemas and color television appeared. Meanwhile, a young specialist of Du Pont company, Bill Klopman found a solution for those customers whose working clothes could endure only for three-four months. He proposed a new textile formula which is still in use today: 65% polyester and 35% cotton. This is how first polyester-blended fabrics came into being; they showed better qualities than cotton and all its analogs and offered exceptional color consistency. The quality of new textiles and their colors were highly appreciated both by trade unions and employers. And Bill Klopman's name took its rightful place in the world's fabric industry.
