Fatal workplace accidents on the rise
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-16 06:46

The situation with workplace safety is still grave in China as fatal accidents have been on the rise during the past 10 months claiming some 2,000 victims, said a senior cabinet official.

Wang Xianzheng, vice-minister of the State Administration, said 101 serious accidents, which left 2,166 dead, occurred from January to October. The safety department branded accidents in which at least 10 people were killed as "fatal and serious."

The death toll has risen by 10.4 per cent compared with the same period last year.

"Fatal and serious accidents have not been investigated effectively, and there's still a problem with safety," Wang said.

Wang made his remarks yesterday at the Beijing Special Equipment Safety International Forum, sponsored by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

However, AQSIQ Minister Li Changjiang said that accidents involving special equipment, such as boilers, elevators and industrial trucks, have been declining in recent years.

The average annual number of accidents for every 10,000 pieces of special equipment had dropped from 1.21 to 0.92 from 2001 to 2004.

The updated statistics indicated that China registered 133 major accidents involving special equipment during the first half of this year, leaving 111 people dead. Compared with the same period last year, the numbers have decreased by 19 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.

Li said the government should strengthen the licensing system for special equipment to ensure its safe operation.

The accident rate for every 10,000 pieces of special equipment should be less than 0.5 annually by 2010, according to the administration's goal.

(China Daily 11/16/2005 page2)