National work safety situation generally stable, says Chinese Vice Premier

Chinese Vice-Premier Huang Ju said in Beijing Monday that the country's work safety situation has been generally stable in 2004, but the task of ensuring work safety remain heavy.

"Both the number of workplace accidents and the death toll this year are lower than those in 2003 despite the fact that the whole country is beefing up production to match surging demands in coal, electricity and oil," said Huang at a national conference on work safety.

Huang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said the frequent accidents in some industries have not yet been improved and sporadic serious accidents have caused heavy loses of life and property.

He urged efforts to speed up the establishment of the emergency work safety aid system and get rid of outdated technologies and equipment.

"We should control it from the source and do every job in a down-to-earth way," he said.

Huang also asked involved officials to pay attention to work safety during the Spring Festival holiday.

Source: Xinhua