On 10 March 2003, a massive explosion took place in the Nanchuan Chemical Plant in the city of Nanhai, Guangdong Province. Although the total figures are not known, it is believed that at least 5 workers died and another 23 workers were injured. The explosion reportedly created a pit approximately 60 metres wide and 4 metres deep.
It is believed that all the workers involved were migrants.
Nanhai City hit the headlines in 2000 when the widespread use of low-quality benzene and formaldehyde resin in factories, along with hopelessly inadequate or non-existent protective measures, led to the biggest reported outbreak of industrial disease in China since 1949. The outbreak swept through the Pingzhou industrial district of the city. An official inquiry was undertaken and over 30 factories were investigated. However, according to reports in the Chinese media at the time, many employers refused entry to the inspectors and in some cases took their workers for hospital tests themselves and allowed only those with a clean bill of health to take part in the official tests. In the inquiry, health and safety officers discovered 200 workers with abnormal blood analysis, over 60 of who have been hospitalized. The full results of the survey are unknown.
It is believed that all the workers involved were migrants.
Nanhai City hit the headlines in 2000 when the widespread use of low-quality benzene and formaldehyde resin in factories, along with hopelessly inadequate or non-existent protective measures, led to the biggest reported outbreak of industrial disease in China since 1949. The outbreak swept through the Pingzhou industrial district of the city. An official inquiry was undertaken and over 30 factories were investigated. However, according to reports in the Chinese media at the time, many employers refused entry to the inspectors and in some cases took their workers for hospital tests themselves and allowed only those with a clean bill of health to take part in the official tests. In the inquiry, health and safety officers discovered 200 workers with abnormal blood analysis, over 60 of who have been hospitalized. The full results of the survey are unknown.