Call for inspections of chemical storage sites

Immediate inspections of China's hazardous chemical storage sites are needed in the wake of last week's explosion in Beirut, according to a video conference on production safety held on Wednesday.

The meeting was jointly held by the Office of the Work Safety Commission of the State Council and the Ministry of Emergency Management.

A news release published on the ministry's website said the meeting emphasized that the inspections should focus on ports, piers, logistics warehouses and chemical industrial parks.

It also required a system to register information concerning the sale, purchasing license approval and flow of civil-use explosives.

The meeting noted that lessons from each accident were learned with lives and blood, but recommended rectification measures raised in the investigation reports of some major accidents had often been ignored.

The ministry said it had already carried out special checks on more than 7,600 hazardous chemical companies and 22,000 major hazard sources.

Free vocational training for Yangtze fishermen

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has called for tailored vocational training for fishermen affected by a 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River Basin that came into force this year.

At least one vocational training course will be offered, free of charge, to fishermen who request it, along with training subsidies for the duration of the course, according to a notice issued by the ministry on Aug 4.

Training in aquaculture and aquatic products processing will be provided for older fishermen whose skillsets are limited. They may also obtain training in areas such as household management, elderly care, and security guard work, the notice said.

Middle-aged and young fishermen, meanwhile, will receive training in online retailing, auto repair and electrical work, it said.

The ministry also advised that full play be given to new occupations such as livestreaming salesperson and e-commerce and express delivery.