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Controlling mine accidents

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-14 08:21

Serious mine disasters in the first half of the 20th century led the US government to improve safety regulations, which ultimately reduced the number of accidents. China should learn from the US' successful experience in controlling mine accidents, says an article on The First. Excerpts:

The death toll in the April 5 mine disaster in West Virginia is 29, making it the worst mine disaster in the US since 1984. According to media reports, three fatal accidents had taken place there since 1998 and the operator, Massey Energy, had been fined several times.

It's unusual to hear about mine disasters in the US these days. Historically, however, they were a common occurrence; in the first 30 years of the 20th century, the death toll from mine disasters averaged more than 2,000 a year.

A history of mine disasters led the US government to intervene. Strict safety standards were enacted, and the number of accidents was sharply reduced. Currently coal mining in the US is no more dangerous than many other jobs.

In the US, every tragedy became an opportunity for the government to improve safety regulations. Our authorities should learn from the American experience in coal mine safety.

(China Daily 04/14/2010 page9)