Guangzhou quality inspection authorities recently released The Safety Standardization Management Code for Commercial and Trading Enterprises, which are expected to enhance the safety standard of businesses engaged in commerce and trade in Guangzhou.
The Code is mostly applicable to department stores, shopping centers, and hotels. Under the Code, commercial and trading enterprises are required to set up a safety committee which shall meet at least once a year, and each enterprise's safety manager is required to take regular steps to resolve major safety issues and submit a safety report at least on an annual basis to the Employees Representative Conference or the Employee Meeting.
Each enterprise's safety supervisors are required to provide safety risk assessment at least once a month as required by state regulations, and the assessment should include identifying post job safety risks and comprehensive safety risks.
Moreover, commercial and trading enterprises are required to build a system to assure sufficient funding for safety and improve safety conditions. Safety funds should be drawn in accordance with the regulations and be devoted exclusively to the improvement of safety conditions; furthermore, accounts for safety expenses should be created.
Safety funds are to be incorporated into the enterprise's annual financial budget, and spent on the purchase of personal protection equipment and supplies conforming to national standards. Adequate funding should be provide for fire protection and emergency assistance equipment and their maintenance, for measures aimed at minimizing worksite injuries and eliminating safety hazards, and as well as for the purchase of insurance against job-related injuries.
(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)
