On Friday, the National Mine Safety Administration announced that twenty-three individuals have been held responsible for a carbon dioxide asphyxiation incident at the Xing'an Coal Mine in Hegang, Heilongjiang province. The accident occurred on May 20, 2024.
The incident resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to four others. The economic losses directly attributable to the accident exceeded 9.5 million yuan, equivalent to approximately $1.3 million.
Investigations revealed that the accident stemmed from a failure to enforce fire prevention protocols and inadequate safety management practices within the mine. The report highlighted the unauthorized use of liquid carbon dioxide by workers to extinguish a fire in the collapsed mining area as a contributing factor.
Further examination indicated that the sealing rubber gaskets in the pipeline connections had deteriorated, leading to the leakage of high-concentration carbon dioxide gas. This gas leak caused suffocation among workers in the pre-closed track tunnel of the retreat working face.
As a consequence of the incident, the twenty-three responsible individuals and units have been subjected to various penalties. These include financial fines, disciplinary actions within the Party, and the revocation of relevant qualifications. The Xing'an Coal Mine itself was fined 1.85 million yuan and had its safety production license temporarily suspended.
4 Comments
Facilitator
The fines may seem insignificant, but they're a step towards making the industry safer.
Noir Black
Let's hope these penalties and the suspension serve as a deterrent to future safety violations.
Katchuka
While tragic, it's positive to see accountability being taken, unlike some other cases.
Loubianka
While any loss of life is devastating, at least an investigation was conducted, and action was taken.