Chinese safety below standard

As a Canadian mining engineer with more than 40 years in the global mining industry, including China, it is obvious that China has no effective mine safety program (T.N.M., Jan. 13-19, 2006). Basics such as hard hats, hard toe boots and safety glasses were not compulsory in Chinese mines in 2004.

Illegal miners seem to outnumber legal miners, and generally corrupt government officials turn a blind eye in exchange for cash.

Bill Glover

Kirkland Lake, Ont.