Coal Mines To Face Safety Checks
By Jiang Zhuqing
China, 23 April 2001 -- Lack of safety awareness, problems in management and out-of-date production equipment not only hold back development of the nation's coal industry, but also threaten the lives of miners.
Coal mine accidents in the first quarter caused the death of 861 people, 180 more than in the same period last year, Zhang Baoming, head of the State Administration of Safety Supervision, said on Friday.
This year also witnessed a rise in the number of mine accidents, and in each case there were at least three deaths and a great loss of wealth, Zhang told a national meeting on coal production safety measures.
The situation has prompted the country to launch a nation-wide campaign of safety supervision in coal mines over the following several months, according to Zhang.
"Gas explosions are still the major killer in these accidents," Zhang said. Of the 14 most serious accidents, in each of which more than 10 people were killed, in the first quarter, 12 were caused by gas explosions.
Zhang also pointed out that the accidents mainly happened in collective or privately owned coal mines.
Statistics show that 55 per cent of all the cases in the first quarter occurred in township-run coal mines.
This grim situation calls for more work to strengthen safety measures in production and supervision, Zhang said.
To cut down the number of accidents, Zhang stressed that safety awareness among miners themselves must also be strengthened.
For the key coal mines, the supervision work by the administration will focus on ventilation systems and measures to prevent fires, the buildup of gas and floating coal particles, Zhang said.
"This bitter loss of lives and wealth is the result of poor management and inadequate supervision of safety precautions," Zhang said. "The coal mines with bad safety records must stop production and shall not be allowed to re-open until their safety measures meet required standards."
Over the past two years, the number of small coal mines has been decreased sharply, but the continued existence and even resurgence of some small mines pose an increasing risk of further disasters, Zhang said.
Source: China Daily.com.cn
Note: News is reproduced with the permission of China Daily
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