The Work Safety Committee of the State Council has decided to directly oversee the investigation of a chemical plant explosion that killed 13 and injured 35 others in Panjin, Liaoning province, according to a media release from the Ministry of Emergency Management on Friday.The blast occurred while workers were doing maintenance at an alkylation facility at Panjin Haoye Chemical on Jan 15.On Jan 19, the committee ordered Liaoning authorities to determine the cause of the explosion and identify those responsible as soon as possible. The provincial government should submit an investigation report to the committee for review and approval before making it public, the committee said.The committee's office is based in the ministry.The blast, which happened as the Spring Festival holiday approached, has had a significantly negative impact on society and has taught the nation a sobering lesson, the Friday release said.The festival - China's most important occasion, during which hundreds of millions typically return to their hometowns for family reunions - began on Jan 22.The release noted a series of problems that have been uncovered in the ongoing investigation. For example, to ensure profits, the company's leaders neglected safety management and failed to reconcile hazards for an extended period of time, it said.
It would be really interesting to know which incidents attracted the most government attention and why in China. I can't imagine this incident is too much different than incidents in the past - I'll have to pay attention to this more...
When I was an organic chem TA at a top 20 university ~15 years ago, the university/chem department did not have a requirement for lab coats in gen chem and organic. So all ~700-1000 organic students were running Grignard reactions, nitration of naphthalene (with con sulfuric and con nitric acids), and whatever other experiments I forgot we performed. Every week, I would shake my head in disappointment that we allowed such a practice.
ReplyDeleteWell, in defense of the university, 1,000 lab coats would have cost them nearly $40k. That's enough to pay for four courses taught by adjuncts. Or for two months of an administrator's salary. (And that's not counting the bill from Cintas!)
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