China will list work safety as a top factor in evaluating the
performance of local governments, taking into account the mortality
rate for every 100 million yuan, or about US$12 million, worth of
GDP when assessing national economic and social development.
The director of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS),
Li Yizhong, outlined the new approach at a working conference
Wednesday in Beijing.
Li said relevant departments will continue to severely punish
those responsible for accidents caused by illegal production and
prosecute officials for breach and dereliction of duty.
He noted the SAWS will adopt further measures to rein in major
industrial accidents in mining and other sectors.
Meanwhile, up to?Tuesday the number of coal mine shafts
that were already or decided to be closed down within last year
reached 5,290, according to sources with the SAWS on Wednesday.
China has suspended production in a total of 12,990 coal mine
shafts so that consolidation can be carried out, according to the
SAWS.
Coal mine gas checks and monitoring have been undertaken in
2,296 gas-intensive shafts in 20 coal producing provinces
throughout the country.
Technological improvement projects valued at 55 billion yuan
(US$6.8 billion) have been submitted to the National Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC).
One day after the working conference, a coalmine accident
trapped 12 people in Huainan, a city in east China's Anhui
Province, according to local government sources.
The accident took place at 1:40 PM when 12?people were
working at Wangfenggang Coalmine, which was under construction.
Preliminary investigation shows the accident was caused by a
coal and gas explosion.?Rescue work is underway.
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2006)