China has increased health checks of construction projects to protect workers against occupational diseases.

The Ministry of Health on Wednesday issued a regulation on the classification of occupational disease risks at construction projects.

According to the regulation, construction projects must undergo an evaluation of occupational disease risks before projects can start.

Any construction projects failing to meet the requirements will be punished, the notice said.

The penalties will range from fines of 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) to a complete shutdown.

Health departments at all levels must strictly carry out the checkup procedure, the notice said.

More than 200 million Chinese people suffer from occupational diseases, including pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis, also called black lung disease, is a respiratory illness caused by inhaling mineral dust and is common amongst miners. It accounts for 80 percent of all occupational diseases in China with more than 20,000 new patients every year.

According to a report from the Health Ministry on occupational diseases, coal miners suffer most from work-related diseases, followed by workers from the chemical industry, metallurgical industry, power industry and building materials industry.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)