Outcome of the Jin mine accident in Qixia, Shandong: 45 people held accountable

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Recently, reporters learned from relevant departments in Shandong Province that the investigation report on the serious explosion that occurred on January 10 at the Hushan Gold Mine owned by Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd. in Qixia City has been reviewed and approved by the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government. According to the provincial accident investigation team, this accident was a serious production safety liability incident caused by the improper storage and use of civilian ** goods, as well as unauthorized welding operations at the wellhead. At around 13:13 on January 10, 2021, an explosion occurred in the return air shaft at the Hushan Gold Mine owned by Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd. in Qixia City, during the infrastructure construction phase, resulting in 22 people being trapped. Following the accident, senior central leaders attached great importance to it and issued important directives. The Ministry of Emergency Management sent a working team to provide on-site guidance, while the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and provincial authorities established an integrated command structure at the provincial, municipal, and county levels. Adhering to the principle that the well-being of the people and their lives come first, they spared no effort and used every available means to carry out emergency rescue operations as swiftly as possible. Thanks to intensive rescue efforts, 11 people were saved, 10 died, and 1 is missing; the direct economic loss amounted to 68.4733 million yuan. At the same time, the provincial party committee and the provincial **established an accident investigation team, inviting authoritative experts from within the country to participate in carrying out the investigation work simultaneously. The investigation found that the main causes of the accident were the illegal mixing of detonator tubes*, detonating cords, and ** underground, illegal welding operations at the wellhead, poor management of civilian ** products and outsourcing of construction projects, as well as the failure of the involved enterprises to fulfill their responsibilities regarding safe production ； The relevant departments fail to fulfill their responsibilities for safety supervision, while local party committees fail to carry out their duties related to local management properly. The investigation also found that both Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd. and Qixia City were guilty of delayed reporting and concealment of information. Based on the investigation into the causes of the accident and the determination of responsibilities, 45 individuals held accountable for their roles in the incident were subjected to disciplinary action in accordance with relevant regulations, rules, and laws. Legal responsibility was pursued in accordance with the law against 15 individuals associated with these companies, including Jia Qiaoyu, the legal representative of Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd.; Wu Zongxing, the manager of the Qixia project department of Zhejiang Qifeng Mining Engineering Co., Ltd., which was responsible for the blasting work and engaged in serious violations by storing ** substances together; and Li Dong, the actual controller of Yantai Xindongsheng Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., who was responsible for the installation of underground equipment and carried out illegal welding operations at the mine entrance. One supervisor from the Qixia project team of Zhejiang Qifeng Mining Engineering Co., Ltd. died in the accident, and criminal liability was waived for them. Meanwhile, Jia Qiaoyu, the legal representative of Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd., along with Yao Xiuxia, then Secretary of the Qixia Municipal Party Committee, and Zhu Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Mayor of Qixia, are under investigation by the public security authorities for their failure to report the accident in a timely manner or to conceal information about it. Party discipline and administrative sanctions, as well as organizational actions, were imposed on 28 public officials, including the main leaders of the Yantai Municipal Party Committee and the municipal **. The companies responsible for the accidents, including Shandong Wucailong Investment Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Qifeng Mining Engineering Co., Ltd., Qixia Xingda Blasting Engineering Co., Ltd., Qixia Anda Civil Explosives Co., Ltd., and Yantai Xindongsheng Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., were subjected to the maximum possible administrative penalties, and were added to the \"blacklist\" for joint disciplinary action against those who breach safety regulations” ； Administrative penalties were imposed in accordance with the law on Yantai Beihai Civil Explosives Sales Co., Ltd ； Actions were taken against Beijing Kangdi Construction Supervision and Consulting Co., Ltd. in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Administrative penalties were imposed on 7 responsible persons; Jia Qiaoyu and Li Dong are prohibited from serving as the main executives of any production or business entity for 5 years starting from the date completion of their sentences, and they are barred from holding such positions in any entity in related industries for life. The Yantai Municipal Party Committee and Government, as well as the Qixia Municipal Party Committee and Government, have been ordered to submit in-depth self-critiques to their respective higher-level party committees (Source: People’s Daily App, Shandong Channel)