Deadly fire sparks work safety concerns(4)

WORK SAFETY CHALLENGES

Enterprises' willingness to flout work safety laws, as well as the negligence of local work safety supervisors, have led to frequent industrial accidents in China, particularly in the country's mining industry.

The government has taken stricter measures to improve safety at workplaces, lowering casualties over the years. However, heavy fatalities from accidents like the fire in Jilin indicate that the outlook for workplace safety remains bleak.

President Xi Jinping vowed last Friday to deepen a national safety campaign, adding that safety is a basic requirement for people's happiness and health, as well as for national development.

At a Friday conference for "Safe China," a national campaign to ensure civilian and national security, Xi called for more efforts to solve "deep-rooted" safety issues in a systematic, integrated and lawful manner to ensure people's livelihoods, social order and the country's long-term stability.

However, observers say China has a long way to go to ensure work safety.

The sprawling expansion of cities has brought more plants closer to the residential areas, posing safety hazards to the populace. In addition, the development of China's work safety measures has lagged behind the growth of its economy.

To avoid more tragedies, experts said safety rules must be followed strictly. In the meantime, workplace supervision must be fully carried out in order to protect workers' lives, experts said.