Beginning next month, Chinese businesses and factories that violate occupational hazard regulations will be shut down and face a maximum penalty of 300,000 yuan (US$44,000).

"If an employee's health has been affected by dust, toxic substances and other harmful factors during occupational activities, those harms can be defined as occupational hazards," according to a temporary provision released recently by China's work safety watchdog.

The provisions were formulated by the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS). SAWS is in charge of monitoring and inspecting work safety practices, halting work hazards, issuing licenses, investigating accidents and stopping illegal work practices.

Businesses and factories should faithfully inform employees about possible occupational hazards and their consequences, and provide occupational hazards prevention knowledge training. Also, employers are required to give their workers necessary health checkups.

They also should buy protective gear for employees working around hazards and ensure that equipment remains safe and in good repair.

Businesses that violate the provision will receive a warning from SAWS, ordering them to correct the practice within a time limit. Enterprises that do not correct the problem within the time limit will be fined 20,000 yuan.

Businesses that seriously violate a relevant law, regulation, or industry standard, causing grave damage to employees' life and health, will be closed and required to pay a fine of between 100,000 and 300,000 yuan.

Moreover, companies are obliged to report any occupational hazards in construction projects to their local work safety department. They also must periodically monitor work safety procedures and make reports to the department. Occupational hazards should be monitored at least once a year, and be evaluated at least once every three years.

The provision was formulated on the basis of the country's Law on Prevention and Control of Occupational Disease (2001), and Law of Production Safety (2002).

(China Daily August 14, 2009)