Stellar economic development can exact a price in industrial accidents, as China found in its very high-growth years. Since then, one of its less noticed achievements – alongside lifting hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty – is to have also made mines and factories safer for those who work in them.

As a result, reports of deaths and injuries in major workplace accidents are no longer so commonplace. Sadly, they continue to happen – everywhere, including Hong Kong. Reminders can still be shocking.

A case in point is the devastating explosion at a fireworks factory on Monday in Liuyang, Hunan province, that killed at least 26 people and injured more than 60. Our first thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones. Workplace safety quickly came into focus.

Within hours, President Xi Jinping demanded proper handling of the aftermath. He has called for a prompt investigation, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable, profound lessons learned and responsibility for workplace safety reinforced. Premier Li Qiang also has urged efforts to strengthen safety in key industries and sectors. Beijing has sent Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing to supervise the aftermath of the blast.

The explosion happened less than three months after a blaze in a shop selling firecrackers in Hubei province, which killed 12 people. Nonetheless, the mainland’s industrial safety record has improved significantly over the past 20-30 years, with fewer accidents and stronger regulatory frameworks, though challenges remain in enforcement and transparency. Official data shows a steady decline in workplace accidents and fatalities, supported by national safety campaigns and stricter laws, but concerns persist about under-reporting and uneven compliance across regions and industries.

Explosions related to firecrackers are not uncommon in China, where they are widely used during festive seasons such as the Chinese New Year. Some cities in China have banned fireworks due to safety concerns and air pollution. But the measures have faced resistance because fireworks remain central to festivities as the loud bangs scare off evil spirits, according to Chinese tradition.