The award ceremony took place on 28 June 2011 at the headquarters of the State Mining Authority. For the first time in history, the award went to a representative of the Mining Management.

“In recent years, a number of dangerous situations connected with natural hazards occurred at the Zofiówka mine, e.g. rock bursts and outflow of methane. Appropriate preventive measures, discipline and compliance with binding principles, as well as prompt and correct decisions of the mine’s management protected the staff and the mine against negative consequences”, said Jarosław Zagórowski, the President of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa in his comment about the application for granting the award to Grzegorz Płaczek.

One particular occasion on which Grzegorz Płaczek set a positive example of good management in a situation of crisis was on 2 June 2008. On that day, during drilling towards the fault zone of one of the prospect holes, there was an unexpected outflow of methane with a concentration of 98%. Within 41 hours, as much as 2,900 cubic metres of the gas was released to the pit. Preventive measures made it possible to avoid the outburst of methane and rocks.

Yet another occasion on which Grzegorz Płaczek’s behaviour was exemplary was on 10 February 2011 when he had to undertake measures in response to the rock burst. At first, thirty-seven people were withdrawn from raise H-2B in seam 409/3. Then, shock and mining blasting was conducted in the face of the raise, which kept the mine safe from a much more serious danger.

During the ceremony on Tuesday, Lesław Jarosz, the representative of KWB Turów S.A., was also given an honourable diploma. He was the one who received the Courageous Miner award in December (the fourth edition). He became known to the public after having rescued a few dozen people during flood events in 2010.

“We are still searching for new methods for effective protection of mine teams against hazards and accidents at the workplace. The most effective method is to set a good example and level oneself with the best, i.e. with the leaders of security in everyday situations. That is why we promote excellent attitudes by means of awarding diplomas of the Courageous Miner”, explained Piotr Litwa, the President of the State Mining Authority.