China prosecutors chart work on workplace safety violations

More than 16,000 people have been prosecuted in China over the last three years for workplace safety offenses, the country's Supreme People's Procuratorate revealed on Tuesday.

Between January 2023 and June 2026, 16,648 people were prosecuted for endangering workplace safety. Over the same period, 4,181 people were arrested regarding the crimes.

Although there has been a general improvement in workplace safety in China, risks persist in some industries, the SPP said.

Traditional high-risk sectors, including mining, hazardous chemicals, transportation and construction, remain prone to major accidents. Some companies continue to prioritize production over safety, while complex working conditions make risks difficult to control.

The February 2023 collapse at Xinjing Coal Mine in Alshaa League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, was caused by operations that violated the approved mining design. The mine improperly combined excavation levels, creating an excessively high and steep slope that eventually collapsed, killing 53 people and injuring six.

Inadequate oversight of equipment and safety facilities is another concern. Prosecutors have found expired equipment, missing protective devices and faulty safety systems in many cases.

At a Yellow River bridge construction site in Qinghai province, substandard materials and bolts were used in a supporting structure, while safety supervision was absent during high-risk work at night. Part of the project collapsed in August 2025, killing 13 people and leaving three missing.

Fire hazards are also common at small businesses and public venues, including restaurants, hotels, workshops and entertainment facilities. Such premises are numerous and often located in urban villages, old town areas and rural communities, making regulatory coverage difficult.

Unsafe wiring, indoor charging of electric bicycles, aging gas hoses and improper storage of gas cylinders are among the main risks. Many accidents occur at night, with toxic smoke inhalation a leading cause of death.

A gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, in June 2023 was caused by an employee improperly removing a pressure regulator, leading to a large liquefied petroleum gas leak. The blast killed 31 people and injured seven.

New risks are also emerging in sectors such as new energy, energy storage and urban gas, where rapid expansion has outpaced some safety standards and risk-control measures.

In one energy storage case in Henan province in May 2023, a project manager concealed the fact that a hazardous chemical that could cause an explosion was being used. Subsequently, heat from welding ignited material inside a storage tank, killing one person and injuring 13.

Prosecutors have maintained a tough stance on workplace safety crimes. The SPP has directly supervised several major cases, while local procuratorates have prosecuted those responsible.

During the reporting period, prosecutors supervised the filing of 791 cases by investigative bodies involving 881 people and pursued the arrest or prosecution of 534 suspects initially omitted from investigations. They also recommended that administrative agencies transfer 872 suspected criminal cases and filed 78 protests against judgments involving errors in conviction or sentencing.

Procuratorates have issued recommendations to address safety risks and regulatory gaps identified during investigations. They also aim to strengthen coordination between administrative and criminal enforcement, use public interest litigation and work with relevant authorities on targeted safety campaigns.

The SPP urged businesses to fulfill their primary responsibility for safety and closely monitor equipment, electrical wiring, hazardous chemicals, working environments and emergency exits.