New rule to improve work safety at coal mines (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-12-26 14:22
Starting from Jan. 1 next year, all Chinese coal mines should deposit a
certain amount of money as safety guarantee and emergency funds in case of
accidents.
This is a new rule set by China's safety watchdog in the hope of improving
work safety at the country's accident-prone coal mines.
Mines with an annual production of 30,000 tons or less should deposit 600,000
to 1 million yuan (74,000 to 123,000 U.S. dollars), said sources with the State
Administration of Work Safety.
Those mines producing 30,000 to 90,000 tons of coal every year are asked to
put 1.5 million to 2 million yuan in their safety account, said the sources,
adding that the ceiling of such "safety deposits" is six million yuan (740,000
U.S. dollars).
The deposited money will be used to handle safety accidents, for purposes
like paying compensations to the victims' families incase the mine bosses fail
to take up the responsibility within a required duration, said the
administration.
For coal mines with no accidents in a whole year, the deposits would remain
in the account and the mine owners need not make new savings for the following
year.
All coal mines across the country are subject to this new measure, which aims
at strengthening the sense of safety at the mines, the administration added.
Coal is a major energy resource in China, covering 67 percent of the
country's total consumption of primary energy resources.
In recent years, the Chinese government has adopted a series of regulations
and measures to improve coal mine safety, but the situation remains grave.
Official statistics showed that from January to September this year, 4,228
people had been killed in 2,337 coal mine accidents.
|