The State Council, China’s cabinet, demanded that efforts be made to improve the country’s capability to deal with safety management and emergencies related to dangerous chemicals.

A work safety committee of the State Council held a plenary meeting on Aug 22 and discussed problems exposed in recent major work safety accidents.

Members emphasized supervision over the implementation of major tasks concerning work safety and required good preparation for future work, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The warehouse explosions in north China’s Tianjin municipality revealed the problems and severe situation related to work safety, the statement said, asking relevant parties to take more powerful measures to strengthen safety at work to prevent major accidents.

Those at the meeting also demanded a major work safety inspection across the country, with the focus on the management of dangerous chemicals, flammables and explosives to remove hidden dangers.

All governments, departments and institutions are asked to identify the key areas of their own inspection and improve safety management mechanisms.

They should also improve their technology and capacity to ensure work safety and set up systems to prevent and control possible problems, those at the meeting said.

Vice-Premier Ma Kai, who is head of the work safety committee, attended the meeting. State Councilor Guo Shengkun made a speech at the meeting, which was led by State Councilor Wang Yong.