On June 10, Khabarovsk became a gathering point for true masters of one of the most «fiery» professions – flame-cutting torch operators. That day, the regional stage of the All-Russian Professional Skills Competition «Best in Profession» took place at the Khabarovsk Vtormet facility. The competition is a key event under the «Human Labor» Federal Project, which is part of the presidential national initiative «Personnel. »
The regional stage of the «Flame-Cutting Torch Operator» category was organized by the Committee on Labor and Employment of the Khabarovsk Territory Government and SGMK, with support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Khabarovsk Territory and the Self-Regulatory Organization Association of Scrap Processors «Union of Siberian and Far Eastern Scrap Processors».
Fifteen flame-cutting torch operators took part in the competition: 11 specialists represented the Khabarovsk Territory, while four came from the Zabaykalsky Territory and the Amur Region, thanks to the combined regional and interregional format. The participants work in the metallurgical and oil refining industries of the Russian Far East.
«Dear participants! You have chosen one of the most courageous, demanding, and respected professions. Whether in blazing summer heat or harsh winter cold, regardless of the weather, you carry out your work with quality and deliver the metal our country needs for its independence and confident forward momentum. I thank you for your dedication to the craft. I wish you optimism, good health, and outstanding results, » said Konstantin Vinogradov, Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment of the Khabarovsk Territory Government, at the opening ceremony.
A representative of the organizer – Oksana Telnova, Deputy CEO for Administrative Affairs at JSC SGMK – thanked the Khabarovsk Territory Government for its assistance in organizing the competition, as well as Khabarovsk Vtormet for its well-prepared venue and active participation, and the SRO ASP «Pro Lom Union, » which helped bring Far Eastern flame-cutting torch operators together in such a welcoming atmosphere.
«I am confident that there will be no losers here today, » said Oksana Telnova. «Of course, fortune will smile a bit more on some, and someone's cut will be a millimeter straighter. But the very fact of your presence here proves the main thing: each of you is a top-tier specialist. We have three interesting modules ahead. It's time to show what you're made of. Go for the win! »
Good luck was also wished to the competitors by Alexey Yanshin, CEO of Khabarovsk Vtormet LLC: «You are all true professionals at what you do. You prove it every day on the job – during the dismantling of complex buildings and structures, the scrapping of ships, and at a wide variety of industrial sites. Thanks to SGMK's initiative, this competition in the 'Flame-Cutting Torch Operator' category is being hosted on Khabarovsk soil for the first time. I hope you genuinely enjoy the event. Share your experience, network, and tell your colleagues back at your plants about the competition so that even more people will want to take part next year. May the best man win! »
The day turned into a true celebration of skill. After successfully completing the theoretical test and case studies on non-standard situations, competitors moved on to the practical round. The tasks were the same as those in Kuzbass: cutting a steel rail into five identical pieces and cutting an equilateral triangle out of a metal sheet.
«The practical stage in Khabarovsk clearly demonstrated excellent tool handling, steely nerves, and incredible precision, » noted Olga Letyaeva, chief expert of the competition jury and head of the personnel training center at JSC SGMK. «Cutting a massive steel rail into five perfectly equal fragments is an extremely challenging task that requires an unerringly steady hand. Even more difficult is cutting an equilateral triangle from sheet metal. The slightest mistake in marking or overheating the sheet instantly leads to deformation of the angles. Most of the competitors managed to distribute the heat load correctly and maintain the sharp internal angles with jeweler-like precision. »
At the awards ceremony, winners were greeted with thunderous applause. Awards for the best in the profession were presented by Alexey Abrosimov, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the Khabarovsk Territory.
The best flame-cutting torch operator of the regional stage was Dmitry Sanfirov of Khabarovsk Vtormet LLC. «I prepared for the competition and came only to win. I'm very happy with the result, » Dmitry shared.
Winners of the interregional stage were Sergey Kolobov of Chitinsky Vtormet LLC and Yury Bykov of Amursky Vtormet LLC.