China's work safety record improved in the first five months of
this year, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) said
Thursday.
Figures released by the SAWS on its website show that the
country reported 269,132 work place accidents between January 1 and
May 21, resulting in 40,896 deaths. The two figures declined by 9.1
percent and 9.5 percent year on year, respectively.
Coal mining, one of the most dangerous industries, recorded a
13.1 percent decline in the number of accidents and a 29.8 percent
drop in fatalities in the same period.
Construction, another highly dangerous industry, saw a nine
percent reduction in the number of accident and a 1.2 percent
decrease in fatal accident in the first four months.
Liang Jiakun, deputy director of SAWS, attributed the
development to improved law enforcement by governments at all
levels.
He noted, however, that the situation is still grave,
particularly in construction, mining and other dangerous industries
which employ millions of workers.
Between April 26 and May 20, the country reported 19 major
accidents that killed 89 people.
He urged authorities to be tougher in enforcing work safety
rules, saying that by the end of March, 25,000 construction
contractors had not yet applied for their annual safety licenses.
Liang said contractors must not be allowed to work if they do not
have their safety licenses by June 30.
They should also deal with the root causes of accidents by
revising and drafting new work safety rules and improving the
training of migrant workers, who form the majority of the work
force in construction, mining and other dangerous industries.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)