Ministry: 168,000 potential work safety issues rectified

Over 20,000 safety guidance groups across the country have inspected 223,000 enterprises and rectified 168,000 potential problems as of now to ensure the safety of the resumption of production and work, an official with the Ministry of Emergency Management said on Thursday.

The guidance groups mainly focus on high-risk industries such as hazardous chemicals and coal mining, said Pei Wentian, director of the ministry's safety production department.

Most companies have returned to work and production, but inefficient personnel and inconsistent production processes and untimely equipment maintenance could bring risks to work safety, Pei said.

The ministry would carry out a safety inspection of buildings used for isolation and observation in key industries. If there is any security risk, the ministry would remind the local government to stop using the building and replace the personnel, according to Pei.

The ministry would carry out inspections of hidden risks in renovation and expansion of buildings and old houses, and further rectify industries such as hazardous chemicals, road transportation and urban gas to prevent all kinds of accidents, he added.