TsinghuaTsinghua UniversityUniversitySchool of Public Policy and ManagementSchool of Public Policy and Management

Coal Mine Safety in ChinaCoal Mine Safety in ChinaByBy

ChournChourn ChamroeurnChamroeurnID: 2010280503ID: 2010280503

IntroductionIntroduction

China is first worldChina is first world’’s coal largest producers, s coal largest producers, 2482 Mt (2006), around 40 % of the world.2482 Mt (2006), around 40 % of the world.

Whereas the US, the second largest Whereas the US, the second largest producer, only 990 Mt (2006). producer, only 990 Mt (2006).

Focus on domestic market of 70 % of Focus on domestic market of 70 % of energy needs other than exportation which energy needs other than exportation which is estimated 63 Mt, around 2.5 % of its total is estimated 63 Mt, around 2.5 % of its total production (2006). production (2006).

ConsequencesConsequences

But: safety of coal mining in China isBut: safety of coal mining in China isworse than other largest producers:worse than other largest producers:the largest coalthe largest coal--mining fatalities in the mining fatalities in the world, account for about 80%.world, account for about 80%.

China is optimist with the declining of the China is optimist with the declining of the number of the death from between 2000number of the death from between 2000--20062006

Number of dead coal workersNumber of dead coal workersDeath of Coal Miners from 2000-2006

5798 5670

69956434

6027 5986

4746

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

dead

peo

ple

Death of Coal Miners from 2000-2006

Source: China Labor Bulletin

Number of death per Million TonsNumber of death per Million Tons

Coal Miners fatalities per Million tons

4.95

4.38

5.27

4.28

3.082.69

1.91

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

de

ath

pe

r M

t

Coal Miners fatalities

Source: China Labor Bulletin

Government PolicyGovernment PolicyThree ways to reduce fatality:Three ways to reduce fatality:

National Legislation (National PeopleNational Legislation (National People’’s s Congress)Congress) Draft and enacted Mining Safety Law in 1993 Draft and enacted Mining Safety Law in 1993

established:established: broad principles of mining safetybroad principles of mining safety Safety in mine construction, Safety in mine construction, mine exploitation, mine exploitation, Management of mine enterprises, Management of mine enterprises, ……

Coal Law of 1996 (safety at macro level): all Coal Law of 1996 (safety at macro level): all coal mines must be licensed by appropriate coal mines must be licensed by appropriate authoritiesauthorities

Government Policy (contGovernment Policy (cont’’)) Work Safety Law of 2002: enhancing the Work Safety Law of 2002: enhancing the

control on safety, preventing from accidentscontrol on safety, preventing from accidents

Administrative Action vested byAdministrative Action vested by Mining Safety Regulations of 1996: stepMining Safety Regulations of 1996: step--byby--

step standard setting outlined by Mining step standard setting outlined by Mining Safety LawSafety Law

State Administration of Work Safety 2001: State Administration of Work Safety 2001: responsible for industrial health and safety responsible for industrial health and safety policy and enforcement withpolicy and enforcement with

Ministry of Fuel Industry and Ministry of Coal Ministry of Fuel Industry and Ministry of Coal Industry which had conflicting responsibilities Industry which had conflicting responsibilities to set safety standardsto set safety standards……

Government Policy (contGovernment Policy (cont’’))Judicial interpretationJudicial interpretation (2007): Supreme People(2007): Supreme People’’s Court issued the s Court issued the

interpretation of Criminal law that supervisors interpretation of Criminal law that supervisors or operators are subject to threeor operators are subject to three--year year imprisonment in case of breaching mining or imprisonment in case of breaching mining or safety laws for death of one miner.safety laws for death of one miner.

77--year imprisonment for over 3 person deathyear imprisonment for over 3 person death

Term imprisonment for failing to report, Term imprisonment for failing to report, misreporting or delaying to report the case of misreporting or delaying to report the case of accidentsaccidents……

ConclusionConclusion

Coal Mining in China is the serious issue Coal Mining in China is the serious issue which killed over 40 000 people within 7 which killed over 40 000 people within 7 years. However, after setting policies by years. However, after setting policies by Chinese government, the number of Chinese government, the number of deaths has decreased sharply.deaths has decreased sharply.

References:References:Documents:Documents: Andrew W. Homer (2009), Coal Mine Safety Regulations in Andrew W. Homer (2009), Coal Mine Safety Regulations in

China and the USA, Tulane University Law School, New China and the USA, Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, LA, USAOrleans, LA, USA

UNDP, Strengthening Coal Mine Safety Capacity in ChinaUNDP, Strengthening Coal Mine Safety Capacity in China OECD (2009), Cleaner Mine Coal in China, International Energy OECD (2009), Cleaner Mine Coal in China, International Energy

AgencyAgency China Labor BulletinsChina Labor Bulletins

Websites:Websites: http://english.cctv.comhttp://english.cctv.com httphttp://www.welt.de/english://www.welt.de/english--news/article3251130/Chinanews/article3251130/China--coalcoal--

minemine--blastblast--killskills--7373--6565--stillstill--trapped.htmltrapped.html http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010--0404--

02/china/28117375_1_mine02/china/28117375_1_mine--accidentsaccidents--gasgas--explosionexplosion--chinachina--ss--heilongjiangheilongjiang--provinceprovince

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_accident#Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_accident#China

ThankThank you for your attention!you for your attention!