KateYHuang
10-06-2004, 10:30 PM
Workplace Accidents Kill 350 in China Every Day
From January to July of this year, approximately 2,346 workplace accidents have occurred daily in China, averaging about 350 deaths per day. The number of fire accidents and casualties has escalated since last year.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a statistical report on workplace safety released by Chinese officials showed that, from January to July, there were 83 especially large accidents, each responsible for more than 10 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,301. Compared with the same time interval last year, although the number of deaths decreased by 168, the number of large accidents rose by three. In addition, there were 24,423 more fire accidents reported this year with the number of deaths increasing by 254. This demonstrates, for large accidents and those resulting from fire, 15.5 percent and 17.5 percent increases respectively in relation to last year. Additionally, although the number of traffic accidents appears to have decreased since last year, the number of deaths has actually increased by 910, a 1.6 percent increase.
The report stated that in April of this year alone, 13 serious accidents resulted from the emissions from and explosion of dangerous chemicals in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Beijing, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong, Chongqing and Jiangxi. These accidents caused 23 deaths with more than 300 people being injured or poisoned. In addition, officials were forced to relocate more than 150,000 local residents. This caused significant additional impacts on peopleˇ¦s lives and property, as well as creating environmental pollution. These statistics reveal the extent to which workplace accidents are affecting Chinese society.
From January to July of this year, approximately 2,346 workplace accidents have occurred daily in China, averaging about 350 deaths per day. The number of fire accidents and casualties has escalated since last year.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a statistical report on workplace safety released by Chinese officials showed that, from January to July, there were 83 especially large accidents, each responsible for more than 10 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,301. Compared with the same time interval last year, although the number of deaths decreased by 168, the number of large accidents rose by three. In addition, there were 24,423 more fire accidents reported this year with the number of deaths increasing by 254. This demonstrates, for large accidents and those resulting from fire, 15.5 percent and 17.5 percent increases respectively in relation to last year. Additionally, although the number of traffic accidents appears to have decreased since last year, the number of deaths has actually increased by 910, a 1.6 percent increase.
The report stated that in April of this year alone, 13 serious accidents resulted from the emissions from and explosion of dangerous chemicals in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Beijing, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong, Chongqing and Jiangxi. These accidents caused 23 deaths with more than 300 people being injured or poisoned. In addition, officials were forced to relocate more than 150,000 local residents. This caused significant additional impacts on peopleˇ¦s lives and property, as well as creating environmental pollution. These statistics reveal the extent to which workplace accidents are affecting Chinese society.