Government urged to tackle safety problems
By Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-26 05:59

Up to last Sunday, 33 major accidents have killed 951 miners this year. The toll has more than doubled year-on-year, Li said.

Of the 29 tragedies which each killed at least 50 miners between 2002 and August 21 this year, 24 cases were blamed on gas blasts, making gas explosions the top killer in China's mines, he added.

"As shown by the experience of some collieries, gas explosions can be prevented by enhancing site management and implementing a production safety responsibility system," Li said.

According to Li, more money should be diverted to pay for new safety equipment and regimes in mines, where safety rules and regulations and a responsibility regime should be carried out to the letter, he said.

As smaller mines crank out one-third of China's coal production, but account for at least two-thirds of the country's mining deaths, Li said the State Council should completely reorganize the systems governing small mines.

No new small mines will be allowed to open before the standards are hammered out, he said.

The country should strike hard at the small, unsafe mines which try to reopen after being closed down, Li said. Almost every major accident was found to have been linked to corruption, so graft cases in relation to work safety must be severely handled, he said.

He said regulations regarding work injury insurance should be carried out as soon as possible. All high-risk sectors, including mining, must implement an insurance system by the end of next year.

In addition to having new recruits sign labour contracts with mine operators, enterprises should also strengthen training and reduce the stresses placed on workers, Li said.