China MEM to Formulate “Two Guiding Rules” on Risk Investigation of Chemical Parks and Hazardous Chemical Industry

On 13th June, 2019, The State Council Information Office, P.R.C. held a press conference and answered the questions on current  safe production in chemical parks and within the larger hazardous chemical industry.

Figure1. The press conference on related situations of current safe production and activities of safe production month. Picture Source: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-06/13/content_5399897.htm

According to Sun Huashan, the deputy director of the Administration of Work Safety of State Council and the vice-minister of China’s Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), the prevention of accidents must start with the prevention of risk. In line with this overriding principle, China’s MEM is formulating “Two Guiding Rules” on risk investigation of chemical parks and the hazardous chemical industry, and pushing forward the implementation of the strictest improvement and rectification of “One Park, One Policy” and “One Industry, One Policy” in local areas. Government is also standardizing investigation work and random inspections has convened an expert panel to offer guidance in key areas.

Figure 2. Sun Huashan, the deputy director of the Administration of Work Safety of State Council and the vice-minister of China’s Ministry of Emergency Management. Picture Source: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-06/13/content_5399897.htm

Sun Huashan indicated that despite the total number of accidents declining in 2019, certain sectors such as chemical, metal and non-metal mining industries still pose excessively high risk. Sun Huashan outlined a multitude of factors contributing to the high risks posed by these sectors such as lack of a cohesive plan during development of administrative and regulatory mechanisms, insufficient preventative measures, lack of surveillance and law enforcement capacities, etc. Sun Huashan went on to underline the importance of strengthening industry responsibilities in implementing safe production and developing more robust accident prevention and response mechanisms.

Figure 3. Sun Guangyu, director of Hazardous Chemical Safety Supervision and Administration Department of MEM. Picture Source: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-06/13/content_5399897.htm

According to Sun Guangyu, director of Hazardous Chemical Safety Supervision and Administration Department of MEM, the expert panel of the Administration of Work Safety of State Council was able to pinpoint a lot of hidden problems in safe production of hazardous chemicals in key counties. This success has led to the widespread implementation of an expert guidance service in key provinces and counties. Sun Guangyu also indicated that safe production open days in the hazardous chemical sector have been scheduled to proceed during this year’s safe production month, in order to improve public awareness of safety.