The massive explosions in the Chinese port of Tianjin have not only jolted the country but also raised questions about the culture of industrial safety. Wednesday night proved to be catastrophic for Tianjin when a number of extremely powerful explosions in a warehouse ripped through the city, damaging buildings, burning down thousands of cars and sending shockwaves across kilometres. The strength of the blasts blew out windows of buildings within a three kilometre radius. The fireball following the explosion was big enough to be captured by a satellite in space.
Authorities have put the initial death toll at 50, including 12 firefighters. The explosions proved deadly for the firefighters, present as they were at the site to extinguish a blaze reported by locals. It was purportedly this fire in the chemicals warehouse that led to the explosions.
The incident has been characterised by the Chinese authorities’ reluctance to give details. Officials at a press briefing virtually scurried out of the room when pressed by mediapersons for the names of chemicals that triggered the blasts.
Social media websites in the country have been overflowing with comments and arguments. Many posts are scathing of the administration while others show sympathy for those killed and injured in the incident.
It is not only the deaths and injuries, but also the extent of damage — till now unassessed but likely to go into millions or a few billions — that is significant.
China’s industrial safety record has been unimpressive. Although the government run by the Communist Party cites figures that suggest the manufacturing giant has turned a corner in worker safety, recent industrial mishaps point to a lax enforcement of regulations. China, which supplies a bulk of goods — from toys to industrial fittings — to the world has a record of millions of workers slogging it out in sweatshops with low wages and hardly any safety provisions for preventing workplace accidents.
The Tianjin explosions have brought industrial safety in China in the glare. Given the scale of the devastation, it would be hard for Chinese authorities to brush the details under the carpet or try to give misleading figures of the dead and injured.
Last year, a huge explosion at a car parts factory in Kunshan near Shanghai killed 146 workers. In 2013, an explosion in a pipeline belonging to state-owned oil refiner Sinopec killed 62 people in Qingdao, while 120 were killed in a fire at a poultry processing plant in the province of Jilin.
China has shown the world its industrial might. It is time the government starts cracking down hard on workplace safety violations. Along with this, it needs to improve transparency and credibility in reporting accidents. These steps will help transform the manufacturing hub into a responsible industrial power.
The massive explosions in the Chinese port of Tianjin have not only jolted the country but also raised questions about the culture of industrial safety. Wednesday night proved to be catastrophic for Tianjin when a number of extremely powerful explosions in a warehouse ripped through the city, damaging buildings, burning down thousands of cars and sending shockwaves across kilometres. The strength of the blasts blew out windows of buildings within a three kilometre radius. The fireball following the explosion was big enough to be captured by a satellite in space.
Authorities have put the initial death toll at 50, including 12 firefighters. The explosions proved deadly for the firefighters, present as they were at the site to extinguish a blaze reported by locals. It was purportedly this fire in the chemicals warehouse that led to the explosions.
The incident has been characterised by the Chinese authorities’ reluctance to give details. Officials at a press briefing virtually scurried out of the room when pressed by mediapersons for the names of chemicals that triggered the blasts.
Social media websites in the country have been overflowing with comments and arguments. Many posts are scathing of the administration while others show sympathy for those killed and injured in the incident.
It is not only the deaths and injuries, but also the extent of damage — till now unassessed but likely to go into millions or a few billions — that is significant.
China’s industrial safety record has been unimpressive. Although the government run by the Communist Party cites figures that suggest the manufacturing giant has turned a corner in worker safety, recent industrial mishaps point to a lax enforcement of regulations. China, which supplies a bulk of goods — from toys to industrial fittings — to the world has a record of millions of workers slogging it out in sweatshops with low wages and hardly any safety provisions for preventing workplace accidents.
The Tianjin explosions have brought industrial safety in China in the glare. Given the scale of the devastation, it would be hard for Chinese authorities to brush the details under the carpet or try to give misleading figures of the dead and injured.
Last year, a huge explosion at a car parts factory in Kunshan near Shanghai killed 146 workers. In 2013, an explosion in a pipeline belonging to state-owned oil refiner Sinopec killed 62 people in Qingdao, while 120 were killed in a fire at a poultry processing plant in the province of Jilin.
China has shown the world its industrial might. It is time the government starts cracking down hard on workplace safety violations. Along with this, it needs to improve transparency and credibility in reporting accidents. These steps will help transform the manufacturing hub into a responsible industrial power.
