In his treatise “The First Foundations of Metallurgy or Ore Mining” (1763) M.V. Lomonosov laid the foundations for labor protection in mining.
He proposed a number of significant innovations, among them:
Ventilation of mines
- introduced the concept of system ventilation;
- developed 4 types of ventilation units - from wind to mechanisms with bellows and water wheels;
- insisted on planning ventilation paths before the start of development mine.
Workwear:
- black cloth robes with narrow cuffs;
- hoods similar to monastic ones;
- leather knee pads;
- birch bark boots to protect the legs. “As for the dress of mountain people, they wear black cloth, dyed or flannelette robes, which are made wide everywhere for greater ability to work, except that the sleeves at the cuffs (strings on the cuffs) are narrowly fastened so that wetness and dirt do not pass through, and are knee-length. A kukuli (something like a hood) is worn on the head under a hat to prevent dirt and earth from getting into the hair. On the back there is a leather backdrop, on which it sometimes rolls into shallow pits. Leather knee pads are also tied over the knees.”
Improved working conditions:
- proposed introducing a 7-hour working day;
- banning child labor;
- organizing rest areas in the mines;
- strengthening the mines with special structures.
Ideas of M.V. Lomonosov were used in the first law on labor protection in Russia (dated March 7, 1818).
