A backlog of more 530 serious workplace accidents from the past
two years has prompted the government's work safety committee to
pressure regional authorities to step up their investigations.
The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) yesterday
released a circular, which revealed that 3,245 serious workplace
accidents, each involving 10 or more deaths, had occurred over the
two-year period. The document followed an order by the SAWS last
month that said all provincial and municipal officials must act on
findings of investigations on major workplace accidents before
January 15.
The latest circular said 10,657 individuals responsible for
accidents had been investigated or punished.
The safety committee said 2,707 cases had been closed.
Those responsible for the accidents received either criminal
penalties, Party disciplinary punishment, or administrative
penalties.
Bans have also been imposed on 152,985 of 178,473 known illegal
construction, production and business units.
There were more than 500,000 recorded work accidents in China
last year, resulting in 98,340 deaths.
The death rate was down almost 20 percent from the year before,
according to the administration.
The number of accidents was down almost 13 percent.
The administration said 3,770 people were killed in mining
disasters across the country last year.
Over the past three years, 10,412 coal mines have been closed,
exceeding the government's earlier goal to close about 10,000 small
mines between August 2005 and the middle of this year.
However, the nation's work safety situation remains "grave",
SAWS chief Li Yizhong warned earlier.
Tardy progress in accident investigations in certain regions has
prompted this latest push.
A 10-point document released in December by the Communist Party
of China's disciplinary committee has assisted efforts by imposing
stricter penalties on those who fail to maintain safety in the
workplace.
The document said officials could be demoted, sacked or expelled
from the Party if they take advantage of their posts to influence
purchases, public biddings or accident probes.
(China Daily January 10, 2008)