Safety watchdog to increase scrutiny of workplace risk

China’s top safety administration has urged state-owned construction companies to eliminate safety risks and has warned of credit stains for those who fail to ensure work safety.

According to a statement from the State Work Safety Administration on Tuesday, it will soon carry out an inspection of state-owned construction companies that aims to phase out safety risks in places such as tunnels and where heavy machinery and scaffolding are being used.

The statement was released in response to the collapse of a tunnel in Foshan, Guangdong province, on Wednesday, which has left 11 dead, eight injured and one still missing.

Local safety watchdogs should organize thorough investigations if accidents occur and those companies violating safety rules will be put on a blacklist and face joint punishments from several departments, the statement said.

Companies should obey the rules concerning construction during bad weather or on complicated terrain and strengthen the management of heavy machinery, it said.

The administration also urged local authorities to strengthen road safety checks during the travel rush around Spring Festival, which started this month.

On Saturday, an overloaded van crashed into a truck in Huangshi, Hubei province, killing 10 and injuring one.