State Councilor Wang Yong has called for workplace safety measures to be stepped up during the Spring Festival Holiday period.

Wang made the call while inspecting work sites in Shanxi province from Feb 12 to Feb 13. In the capital, Taiyuan, he inspected factories and coal mines and said workplace safety measures are steadily improving. However, the Lunar New Year is a particularly risky time for industrial accidents, he said.

All regions and government departments should improve safety management procedures, particularly in crowded areas, in places where fireworks are stored, and with transport, he said. Among other things, this would help prevent fires and stampedes.

The holiday period requires stricter management of roads, he said.

Wang also called for closer inspection of vehicles and pipelines carrying petroleum products, and of places in which the products are stored. Accident emergency plans should also be upgraded, he said.