MOHURD Launches Special Action to Clean Up Projects with Greater Risks

From this day to the end of the year, a special action on implementing the construction plan of sub-projects with greater risks (hereinafter referred to as “projects with greater risks”) of municipal housing projects will be launched nationwide to effectively curb and prevent the occurrence of mass injuries caused by construction crane, formwork support system and deep foundation pit. The Safety Production Management Committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (the “MOHURD”) has recently issued a circular to deploy the action.

This special action is divided into four stages, namely, initiation of deployment, self-inspection and self-correction, inspection and supervision, and summary and analysis. And priority is given to the regulation of five categories of projects with greater risks: foundation pit support, earthwork (tunnel) excavation, scaffolding, formwork support system and crane machinery installation, lifting and dismounting. The specific regulation measures cover the preparation and implementation of special construction plan for safety production, qualification of employed workers and contract performance of the owner and supervision unit. The MOHURD will render supervision on the implementation of such special action in selected area in good time based on the local inspection.

The local authorities are required to strengthen law enforcement and conduct severe investigation. For problems and hidden hazards found in the construction site, competent authorities should order the enterprises involved to make proper rectification one by one within a certain time limit, and for major hidden hazards such as the lack of special construction plan for safety of projects with greater risks or construction incompliant with construction plan and operation procedures, the enterprise shall be suspended for remediation. Further, for the responsible enterprise resulting in safety accidents due to ineffective control and remediation, the safety production license will be withheld or revoked as required by law; for the enterprise suffering large or above production safety accidents, such enterprise will be ordered to suspend business for rectification or get its qualification degraded till the revocation of qualification certificate, and the responsible person will be strictly held accountable for the accidents. Moreover, regular analysis, summary and evaluation of the implementation of the above work are required. The local areas or enterprises representing remarkable achievements are encouraged to conscientiously sum up their experience and good practices for nationwide spreading, while those putting up poor performance will be faced to public criticism. Finally, typical cases are to be made public to actively give proper guidance for all parties involved for better performance and achievements. (China Construction News)