1st Ld-Writethru: Chinese leaders seek better work safety mechanism

Chinese leaders on Monday called for an improved work safety mechanism that would be more effective in preventing accidents.

In a message to a meeting honoring outstanding safety work, President Xi Jinping asked authorities to keep in mind that "development should not come at the cost of safety".

Regulators should focus on containing and preventing major accidents, resolve existing problems and eliminate the root causes of issues. Proper implementation of the work safety responsibility mechanism would protect the interests of the people, the message said.

With China's work safety conditions complicated, in another message Premier Li Keqiang asked regulators and supervisors to keep up their good work.

China should reform the work safety sector and do more to create a work safety risk control system, Li said.

Despite regular calls for better safety, frequent tragedies still occur due to lack of safety awareness, poor regulation and lax implementation of safety measures. On Monday morning, an explosion in a coal mine in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality trapped 33 miners underground.

The State Administration of Work Safety has sent a team to help with the rescue and demanded a thorough investigation. Endi