Officials says mining fatalities are down but others have risen

Accidents in mines and factories killed 11,449 people in the first nine months of 2003, despite a nationwide safety crackdown.

Fatalities were down slightly in China's coal mines, but the number of deaths in non-mining industries rose by 19.1 percent, to 5,203.

Workers are working longer hours since state owned industries were privatised and they have no knowledge of health and safety Han Dongfang Chinese labour activist

China launched the safety campaign last year in its mines and factories, which are among the world's deadliest.

Authorities announced stiffer penalties for violations and the country's first national force of workplace inspectors.

Some analysts blame the rise in accidents on China's shift to a market-style economy.

"Workers are working longer hours since state owned industries were privatised, and they have no knowledge of health and safety issues," said Han Dongfang, director of the China Labour Bulletin, based in Hong Kong.

THE OFFICIAL FIGURES Coal mining 4,620 fatalities Other mining 1,626 fatalities Non-mining industries 5,203 fatalities

Mr Han told BBC News Online that the real number of deaths was much higher than the official figure, because some operators paid local officials and victims' families not to report fatalities.

Mr Han said it was impossible for anyone to ascertain the real number of fatal accidents in mining and other industries.

But he did acknowledge that the central government wanted to establish the true figure, but was thwarted by the system.

In the deadliest reported accident this year, an explosion in March killed 72 coal miners in the northern city of Mengnanzhuang.