Exposing the cover-up

Why do industrial enterprises such as coalmines and steel plants always cover up workplace accidents? Why do they always try to dilute the seriousness of an accident by reporting a fewer number of deaths than a disaster has actually claimed?

In a gas leakage incident last week in a steel plant in North China's Hebei province, plant authorities initially tried to conceal the accident but then said only a dozen workers were poisoned when questioned by investigators from the local work safety and supervision department. Even on the second day when it was impossible for a cover-up, plant authorities said that only seven of the 16 poisoned workers had died. The death toll was, in fact, 21.

Now an investigation team has been organized by the local government to look into the accident. The local government is applauded for publicizing the names of the dead workers and providing a phone number for locals to report any information they may have about the accident or of dead workers the plant has failed to report.