This document summarizes coal mine safety in China. It notes that China is the world's largest coal producer but also has the largest coal mining fatalities, accounting for around 80% of deaths globally. While the number of mining deaths has declined from 6,995 in 2000 to 4,746 in 2006, safety remains a serious issue. The Chinese government has implemented several policies to reduce fatalities, including passing mining safety laws in 1993 and 1996, enhancing safety regulations in 2002, and holding mine supervisors criminally liable for safety violations resulting in deaths in 2007. However, coal mining remains a dangerous industry in China that kills over 40,000 workers every 7 years.

1. Tsinghua University
School of Public Policy and Management
Coal Mine Safety in China
By
Chourn Chamroeurn
ID: 2010280503

2. Introduction
China is first world’s coal largest producers,
2482 Mt (2006), around 40 % of the world.
Whereas the US, the second largest
producer, only 990 Mt (2006).
Focus on domestic market of 70 % of
energy needs other than exportation which
is estimated 63 Mt, around 2.5 % of its total
production (2006).

3. Consequences
But: safety of coal mining in China is
worse than other largest producers:
the largest coal-mining fatalities in the
world, account for about 80%.
China is optimist with the declining of the
number of the death from between 2000-
2006

4. Number of dead coal workers
Death of Coal Miners from 2000-2006
8000
6995
7000 6434
Number of dead people
5798 6027 5986
6000 5670
4746
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Death of Coal Miners from 2000-2006
Source: China Labor Bulletin

5. Number of death per Million Tons
Coal Miners fatalities per Million tons
6
5.27
5 4.95
Number of death per Mt
4.38 4.28
4
3 3.08
2.69
2 1.91
1
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Coal Miners fatalities Year
Source: China Labor Bulletin

6. Government Policy
Three ways to reduce fatality:
National Legislation (National People’s
Congress)
 Draft and enacted Mining Safety Law in 1993
established:
 broad principles of mining safety
 Safety in mine construction,
 mine exploitation,
 Management of mine enterprises, …
 Coal Law of 1996 (safety at macro level): all
coal mines must be licensed by appropriate
authorities

7. Government Policy (cont’)
 Work Safety Law of 2002: enhancing the
control on safety, preventing from accidents
Administrative Action vested by
 Mining Safety Regulations of 1996: step-by-
step standard setting outlined by Mining
Safety Law
 State Administration of Work Safety 2001:
responsible for industrial health and safety
policy and enforcement with
 Ministry of Fuel Industry and Ministry of Coal
Industry which had conflicting responsibilities
to set safety standards…

8. Government Policy (cont’)
Judicial interpretation
 (2007): Supreme People’s Court issued the
interpretation of Criminal law that supervisors
or operators are subject to three-year
imprisonment in case of breaching mining or
safety laws for death of one miner.
 7-year imprisonment for over 3 person death
 Term imprisonment for failing to report,
misreporting or delaying to report the case of
accidents…

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

10. References:
Documents:
 Andrew W. Homer (2009), Coal Mine Safety Regulations in
China and the USA, Tulane University Law School, New
Orleans, LA, USA
 UNDP, Strengthening Coal Mine Safety Capacity in China
 OECD (2009), Cleaner Mine Coal in China, International Energy
Agency
 China Labor Bulletins
Websites:
 http://english.cctv.com
 http://www.welt.de/english-news/article3251130/China-coal-
mine-blast-kills-73-65-still-trapped.html
 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-
02/china/28117375_1_mine-accidents-gas-explosion-china-s-
heilongjiang-province
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_accident#China

11. Thank you for your attention!