Xinhua reported that coal mining remains a high risk industry in the country despite improvements over the past decade.

Mr Huang Yi of the State Administration of Work Safety said that 35 workers are currently killed in coal mines for every 100 million tonnes of coal output in the country about 10 times the death rate in the United States.

Mr Huang said that small coal mines, accounting for about 85% of the nation's 12,000 mines are the biggest source of danger due to poor safety provisions. They cause two thirds of the all deaths annually in the sector, even though their output makes up only one third of the nation's total.

The spokesman said that the nation aims to close another 625 small coal mines this year in an attempt to reduce the number of deadly accidents. In recent years, authorities have been pressing ahead in these efforts by setting timetables for mines to improve safety measures while ordering them to invest more to beef up facilities.

Mr Huang said that new rules released in April require that dangerous mining enterprises funnel at least CNY 30 for each tonne of production back into improving safety. We must stay clear headed all the time and be on alert for coal mine safety.

Source - Xinhua

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