Industrial China is growing quickly.  So quickly in fact, that it has not had the time to slow down and take into consideration safety precautions  and environmental standards that could help save the lives of many workers.

The Chinese government says that an average of 187 workers die each day in industrial mishaps.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

“Beijing’s decadeslong emphasis on economic growth has overshadowed efforts to ensure safe workplaces and a clean environment. The Communist Party’s singular role in setting policy leaves little room for counterweights, such as corporate gadflies or an activist press, that might alter the equation. Corruption and collusion between, for example, factory owners and local inspectors limit the likelihood that laws protecting workers and the environment will be enforced.

“The largest factor, perhaps, is that for many in the world’s largest population, even dangerous jobs are enticing.”

China’s carelessness and neglect due to rapid industrial growth also spills over from safety to environmental issues.  A heavy rainy season has worsened environmental issues due to the flushing of chemicals into the Songhua River.

A gas explosion and chemical leak that occurred on Wednesday were the cherry on top of China’s slew of environmental and life-threatening disasters. The Journal reports:

“The 66-building compound involved of the Nanjing No. 4 Plastics Factory, where Wednesday’s blast occurred, sits in an industrial-residential area, near a furniture shop and doctor’s office, not far from provincial government offices downtown and the city’s major park.

“The midmorning blast sent as many as 300 people to area hospitals and clinics, filling the emergency rooms of five major downtown hospitals, which were running short of blood, the Xinhua news agency said. The death count may rise. China Central Television put the toll at 12 and said dozens remained critically injured.”

Time for China to clean up its act.

Read more here.

##

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 1:00 pm and is filed under China. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.