A total of 453 people were punished in north China's Hebei
Province last year for causing or failing to prevent coal mine
accidents, according to the Hebei Provincial Bureau for Supervising
Safety at Collieries.??
A source with the bureau said that 16 people were given
disciplinary punishment within the Party, 370 were given
disciplinary sanction, 26 will face lawsuits, and 41 face other
forms of punishment.
The bureau and its branches investigated and checked safety work
in 3,997 mines across the province, helping clear up 15,412 hidden
safety risks.
The bureau ordered nine collieries to suspend production and
urged local mines to strengthen worker training on safety awareness
and dealing with possible risks.
Three coal mines were closed due to accidents.
(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2005)