Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo Friday called on official at various levels to take tough measuresin tackling problems affecting workshop safety in order to prevent fatal accidents.
After listening to a report on the results of safety inspections of workshops across the country, Wu said more efforts are needed to rectify problems, close down small and accident-prone coal mines, and remove any hidden dangers in state-owned large and medium-sized coal mines.
According to an overall arrangement of the State Council, the State Economic and Trade Commission has sent 14 inspection groups to check on workshop safety in key industries across the country.
The vice-premier said China must improve its industrial safety standards, follow workshop safety regulations to the letter and see to it that officials responsible for fatal workshop accidents are punished.
He said workshop safety must be brought to the attention of thegeneral public and mass media, while more resources should be usedto improve the monitoring of workshop safety and inspection of accident prevention facilities.
Many workers have been killed this year in poorly-equipped small coal and gold mines due to floods and explosions.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2002)
