CRI听力: China's Production Safety Improves

The work safety watchdog says that China's production safety is improving, with a significant decrease in the number of incidents last year.

However, supervision efforts need to be strengthened amid the rapid economic development.

Chen Xi has more.

The conference highlighted the country's production safety situation last year, and set the goals for next year.

Luo Lin, Director of China's State Administration of Work Safety, pointed out production safety, in all sections, had made great step last year.

"We saw a huge decrease in the number of significant safety incidents, as well as casualties, compared with the previous numbers. Safety in the mining industry continues to improve. The security work in the transportation and firefighting industries was also effective."

Luo Lin said the country's work safety watchdog investigated a large number of illegal businesses and punished around 30-thousand people involved, contributing to the safety production improvement in the country.

Zhao Tiechui is the deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety and director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety.

He detailed the safety record of China's coal mining industry in 2009.

"Last year, the country's death rate in coal mining dropped to nearly 0.9, down by 24.5 percent year-on-year. It plunged to a record low. The casualties in China's major coal mines have reached the level of developed countries."

However, the official admitted that major coal mining incidents are not yet under sufficient control, claiming the administration should strengthen safety supervision and rigorously punish the deeds of illegal coal mining this year.

In addition, the country's work safety watchdog vowed to shut down small coal mines which do not meet safety requirements and industry policies, keeping the country's total number of coal mines under 10-thousand.

Luo Lin warned that safety work this year is still facing new challenges.(www.hxen.net)

"As the economic activities are burgeoning, it is much more difficult for law enforcement and governance. The increasing demand for energy material and transportation, as well as the expansion of coal mines, will add more burden. What's more, the workload of safety inspectors and supervisors is heavy, because lots of new projects are under construction."

He also stressed the country should further focus on prevention and supervision this year, in an effort to avoid incidents and reduce the number of casualties.

Chen Xi, CRI News.