Serious workplace accidents decrease during 1st Q of 2014

The number of serious workplace accidents in the first quarter of this year has dropped by 38.9 percent compared with the same period last year, the State Administration of Work Safety said on Tuesday.

Yang Dongliang, head of the administration, said during a news conference on Monday that all serious workplace accidents should be investigated.

A total of 153 people died in work accidents during the first quarter, a decrease of 42.9 percent compared with the same period last year, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The death toll from coal mine accidents from January to March dropped 37.9 percent compared with the first quarter of last year, said the administration.

According to a regulation issued by the State Council, China's Cabinet, serious workplace accidents involve incidents in which at least 10 people are killed.

Last year, a total of 49 serious workplace accidents occurred and 314 people were prosecuted for violating workplace safety laws.