I was stunned. I didn't expect that he wanted me to report this work. Because I was not prepared, I started with my usual accumulation.
I was keenly aware that this was the fundamental reason why Zhang Xiaodong chose Tongxiang Town as the first stop for the survey. Because at the beginning of the 2005 New Year, the 2.14 mining disaster occurred in China. This gas explosion accident caused by safety production responsibility caused a total of 214 deaths, more than 30 injuries, and direct economic losses of nearly 50 million yuan.
On the 23rd of the same month, the State Council issued the “Decision on Further Strengthening Work Safety”, which clearly upgraded the State Administration of Work Safety (State Coal Mine Safety Supervision Bureau) to the State Administration of Work Safety, which is directly under the State Council.
These two events mark the launch of a series of major policies and measures on coal mine safety production.
These measures built the basic framework for China's coal mine safety governance in the 21st century, but they also exposed problems such as protectionism and hidden production in small coal mines in policy implementation, laying the groundwork for subsequent in-depth rectification.
I said, "County Mayor Zhang, the safety production situation of non-mining enterprises in Tongxiang Town is relatively optimistic. The main risks in the mechanical processing, welding, painting, assembly and other production processes involved in the Tongxiang plant of Daxun Company, where we are heading, are concentrated in several aspects such as hazardous processes, equipment safety, hazardous materials management and safety awareness. The company attaches great importance to safe production work, starting with organizational construction, system construction, and team construction, focusing on process risk control, dynamic risk management, and personnel behavior supervision. It also actively carries out technical upgrades, management innovation, and cultural cultivation."
Zhang Xiaodong waved his hand to signal me to stop and asked, "Let's get to the point. What is the level of safety production in this company?"
I answered: "According to the 'Safety and Quality Standards and Evaluation Standards for Machinery Manufacturing Enterprises' issued in January this year, the evaluation scores of this enterprise in the three parts of basic management, equipment and facilities, working environment and occupational health are all in the excellent stage, and it is in a leading position among similar enterprises in the county."
Zhang Xiaodong's eyebrows relaxed and he nodded with satisfaction. Then he asked, "Now to the main point, how is the safety production work in the coal mine going?"
I looked at Tian Zhenyu and Zhang Weiguo, considering how to respond.
Zhang Xiaodong frowned and said sternly, "Why are you looking around? Tell the truth."
I swallowed my saliva, my palms soaked with sweat, and I felt as nervous as a primary school student who failed an exam and was waiting to be beaten by his teacher.
Zhang Weiguo hurried to smooth things over, saying, "In recent months, Mayor Guan has been busy with the implementation of the Daxun Company project, and has paid less attention to the coal mine."
Zhang Xiaodong looked unhappy and asked, "As the mayor, have you ever taken action on this matter? Have you ever been to a mine to conduct a field investigation?"
Zhang Weiguo was speechless for a moment, and stammered to explain: "I just arrived not long ago, and I don't quite understand the situation yet."
Zhang Xiaodong turned around and asked Tian Zhenyu: "You are the mayor, do you understand?"
Tian Zhenyu pretended to be calm and replied: "The coal mines in Tongxiang Town have been working hard to ensure safe production. After many efforts, they have basically reached the national standards. The death rate per million tons should be less than 0.3."
Zhang Xiaodong kept asking, "What is the gas extraction rate?"
Tian Zhenyu's forehead was covered with sweat, and he answered without any confidence: "It should be no less than 50%."
Zhang Xiaodong's voice was full of anger, his eyes swept through the three of us like a sharp knife, and he sneered: "What nonsense! The data I got from the Coal Bureau and the Safety Supervision Bureau are completely opposite, and the data is undoubtedly fake. Among the three of you, one is the top leader, one is the leader in charge, and one is the leader in charge. You are unclear about the safety production work of the coal mine, the hidden dangers, and the responsibilities. You are careless about the work and treat safety production as a joke."
His face turned pale and he shouted to the driver, "Xiao Chen, turn around! Go back to the town government."
There was total silence in the car, and except for Zhang Xiaodong, no one dared to leave.
This is the first time I've seen Zhang Xiaodong so angry since I met him. His temper increases with his promotion.
Back in the town, Zhang Xiaodong asked Tian Zhenyu to convene an impromptu meeting of the class members and workers related to safety production.
The topic of the meeting was the issue of safe production in coal mines. He ordered the newly appointed director of the Safety Supervision Bureau, Wang Fusheng, to stay in Tongxiang and form a coal mine safety production inspection and supervision team with the town to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all coal mines in the jurisdiction. Only those that passed the inspection would resume production.
Unexpectedly, he specifically asked Zhang Weiguo to cooperate with the Work Safety Supervision Bureau to carry out the work, rather than me, the deputy mayor in charge of this work.
Before the meeting ended, he said to Tian Zhenyu: "Secretary Tian, the county is going to hold a special seminar on the auto parts industry in the next few days. Deputy Mayor Guan is more familiar with this area, so the county will second him for a few days. Please coordinate and arrange the work he is responsible for."
Tian Zhenyu smiled and replied quickly, "Don't worry, Mayor. I will make sure it's arranged."
So I followed Zhang Xiaodong back to the county town. It was inconvenient to talk in the car, so we hardly talked much.
When we arrived at his office and his secretary showed us the door, he immediately became a different person. He punched my shoulder and said jokingly, "You're quite good at acting. The expression of being almost scolded by me and crying was just right."
I breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "County Governor Zhang, you are a first-rate actor. You are intimidating. I was really nervous for a moment."
He motioned me to sit down and said, "I was half-joking. Safety in production can be a big deal if you're not careful. They are really careless. I didn't yell at them, but they really didn't take it seriously."
I said, "What County Mayor Zhang said is absolutely true. Not to mention them, I don't know much about them either."
He nodded and said with emotion: "In order to strengthen the responsibility for safe production, the provincial and municipal governments have made accidents related to safe production a priority for the "one-vote veto" in the evaluation of officials. Therefore, I want to transfer you to my side and leave the crater of Tongxiang."
I hesitated. It would be safe and comfortable to work next to Zhang Xiaodong, but I didn't really like accompanying my leader every day. I would rather take care of some specific work.
Seeing that I was hesitant, he said, "The county government is planning to set up a policy research office, and I want you to be the director. This is a section-level position, and you will be promoted directly once you have been a deputy section-level official for two years. This way, your promotion will be seamless and you won't have to take many detours."
I was very grateful for the path he had paved for me, but I had little interest in the work of doing research, working on projects, and writing articles in the Policy Research Office. So I replied, "Brother, I am not interested in this, and my ability is limited. You should choose someone else."
He didn't force me to do anything, but reminded me: "Once you leave this village, you will never see this store again. Don't regret it."
I nodded, and a suitable candidate suddenly popped up in my mind. I blurted out: "Is there someone suitable for this position? Can I recommend him?"
He laughed and scolded me: "You are playing dirty tricks on me again. Brothers should speak freely and stop hiding things. Tell me who it is."
I recommended him, "It's Xu Shaojia, the executive vice president of the county party school. He has a thorough understanding of policies and a solid theoretical foundation, and he is at the department level. More importantly, he has unique insights into the development layout and planning of the auto parts industry in our county. I have seen a feasibility report he wrote, which is clear and powerful."
Zhang Xiaodong narrowed his eyes and snorted, "Tell me, what is your relationship with this Principal Xu?"
I laughed foolishly and told him the truth: "I used to work in the Telecommunications Bureau. He is the husband of my old director Wang Yanshu, and he is also an elder brother to me."
He uttered an "eh" and asked me, "Is that Wang Yanshu from the Economic Development Zone?"