China has seen a rebound of serious accidents in March despite a
15 percent drop in death toll throughout the first quarter of
2007.
Statistics with the State Administration of Work Safety show the
number of accidents causing three to nine deaths has climbed by 21
percent from the same period of last year, and the total of dead or
missing in colliery accidents has more than doubled.
The administration said 82 percent of severe colliery accidents
took place in coalmines owned by townships, and forty percent of
the accidents occurred in illegal collieries.
Experts attribute the accidents to illegal production, loose
control over work place safety, and incompetent supervision by
regulatory departments.
A spokesman with the administration said last week the accidents
came at a time when collieries started to resume production after
the long Spring Festival holiday.
As gases quickly build up in a shaft when production is
suspended, mine owners should carefully execute proper production
procedures and stay on high alert before resuming operations.
Suspended coal mines must go through rigorous examinations
before going into operation again, said Li Yizhong, head of the
State Administration of Work Safety during Monday's video
conference.
He demanded departments at all levels work efficiently in
dealing with accidents and make the investigation results known to
the public as soon as possible, noting that people who give a
deceptive report will be punished seriously.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)