On June 4, 2025, the National Mine Safety Administration issued the Notice on Issuing the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Mine Safety Culture in the New Era (hereinafter referred to as the Guiding Opinions). To help all regions further deepen their understanding and grasp of mine safety culture construction and effectively promote its orderly development, Pei Wentian, Vice Minister of the National Mine Safety Administration, gave an exclusive interview to reporters.

1. Q: Recently, the National Mine Safety Administration issued the Guiding Opinions. Compared with previous work on safety culture construction, what innovative ideas and measures does the Guiding Opinions contain?

Fourth, strengthening goal orientation. To ensure the scientific, reasonable, appropriate, and effective implementation of the Guiding Opinions, based on extensive research and demonstration, we put forward short-term goals for 2027 and medium-term goals for 2030. The achievements of the "Four Batches" are highly consistent with the actual needs of mines, which can form a virtuous cycle of safety culture construction in mining enterprises. Furthermore, strengthening mine safety culture construction will play a leading, supporting, and guaranteeing role in realizing the virtuous interaction between high-quality mine development and high-level safety.

2. Q: What are the weak links in the current construction of mine safety culture? What practical considerations underlie the issuance of the Guiding Opinions?

The Guiding Opinions issued this time thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee. It promotes the deepening and transformation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on work safety in the mine safety field, scientifically cultivates mine safety culture adapted to the requirements of the new era, uses culture to shape thinking, gather strength, guide behavior, and cultivate habits. It clarifies the top-level design and construction standards for safety culture construction in the mine sector, and provides targeted guidance and systematic requirements for mining enterprises to cultivate safety culture. It proposes to scientifically build a "four-in-one" mine safety culture system led by safety concept culture, guaranteed by safety system culture, supported by safety environment culture, and demonstrated by safety behavior culture中国政府网. This is of practical and far-reaching significance for improving the quality and level of safe development of mining enterprises, promoting the transformation of the safety governance model to pre-prevention, and ensuring high-quality development with high-quality safety services.

3. Q: The Guiding Opinions propose that by 2027, the transformation from "I am required to be safe" to "I want to be safe" will be basically realized. In specific practice, how to ensure that this concept truly penetrates all levels of mining enterprises, including the decision-making, management, and frontline employees, and is transformed into daily safety decisions and behavioral norms? How to avoid... (The original text is incomplete here)

Answer: The "Guiding Opinions" consistently uphold the principle of "coordinating development and safety", embracing the "two supremes" as the fundamental value guiding safe development. It prioritizes the protection of miners' lives as the prerequisite for all work activities. The requirement to prevent and mitigate major safety risks permeates every aspect of the entire development process of mining enterprises. It advocates for eliminating all disturbances at any cost, ensuring that problems are addressed at the budding stage and before they escalate into disasters. The "Guiding Opinions" clarify that mining enterprises must adhere to the concept of "coordinating development and safety", uphold red lines and bottom lines, persist in the "two supremes", and always regard safety as a prerequisite for development. They are encouraged to systematically summarize, refine, actively create, and innovate a core safety concept that aligns with the actual situation of mining enterprises, is supported by cultural heritage, is recognized by all employees, and is easy to understand, remember, and promote. This core safety concept should guide the safety management work of mining enterprises and serve as the safety premise and basic condition for all production and operation activities. It is imperative to closely revolve around the core safety concept to establish enterprise safety values, safety visions, safety goals, and safety missions that embody the characteristics of the new era, facilitating employees' understanding and implementation of the core safety concept. The management and technical departments, as well as various positions within the mining enterprise, should closely establish their own specialized safety concepts centered around the core safety concept. They should integrate these concepts closely with departmental work content, construction goals, and development plans, scientifically and systematically establish and improve specialized safety concepts, and strive to build a multi-angle, multi-level, and comprehensive safety concept system. This will systematically and specifically enhance the overall safety management level of the enterprise. All employees of the enterprise should not only fully understand and actively identify with the core safety concept of the enterprise, but also create or choose safety maxims, aphorisms, slogans, and mottos that align with their individual job responsibilities and safety thoughts based on the core safety concept. They should publicly make safety commitments, remind and supervise each other, ensuring that everyone commits to and fulfills their promises.

4. Question: Employees are the mainstay of safety culture construction. What methods do mining enterprises use to mobilize employees' enthusiasm for participating in safety culture construction?

Answer: The key to building a culture of mine safety lies in stimulating employees' subjective consciousness, achieving a shift from "passive compliance" to "active creation" and from "being told to be safe" to "wanting to be safe" through diversified participation mechanisms and innovative means. Firstly, we should focus on strengthening positive incentives. Regularly carry out selection activities such as "safety pacesetter" and "exemplary individual in safe production", commend and reward exemplary individuals, publicize their exemplary deeds on internal bulletin boards, websites, official accounts, and other platforms, and fully leverage the exemplary role of advanced models. Secondly, we should establish and improve a safety performance evaluation system. The construction of a mine safety culture is not only a guarantee for safe production but also an important force in promoting the sustainable development of enterprises and building a harmonious society. Through continuous innovation and improvement, we should perfect the safety performance evaluation system, conduct regular safety performance assessments, continuously improve and refine deficiencies in safety culture construction and safety management, positively motivate employees to actively participate in safety management and improvement work, form a good safety culture atmosphere, and cultivate good safety behavior habits. Thirdly, we should spread the positive energy of mine safety culture. Produce short videos, microfilms, etc. that can showcase the positive achievements of mining enterprises in safety management, employee care, and other aspects, create a good safety public opinion atmosphere, encourage employees to propose innovations and ideas related to enterprise safety culture construction, and commend and reward them, continuously enhancing employees' sense of belonging and responsibility. Fourthly, we should create a family-friendly "home" culture. Regularly organize various team-building activities for employees to enhance mutual understanding and trust, cultivate team spirit; establish and improve communication channels between enterprises and employees' families, actively carry out "safety letters" activities, leverage the role of employees' families in ensuring safety, and enhance employees' safety awareness.

5. Question: The construction of mine safety culture cannot be separated from institutional guarantees. How can mining enterprises ensure the effective implementation of safety management systems in grassroots mine operations? What are the supervision and feedback mechanisms in place?

Answer: The safety system serves as a guideline for coordinating various relationships related to safe production in enterprises and regulating the safe production behaviors of employees. It is a thinking and behavioral habit that all members of the enterprise should adhere to, and it is the inherent guarantee for transforming safety concept culture into safety behavior culture. Firstly, it is essential to improve and optimize the safety system. Mining enterprises should establish a scientific, reasonable, practical, concise, and clear safety system based on the relevant national policies, laws, regulations, and standards related to safe production, while taking into account their own actual situations. This ensures that all aspects of safe production have clear rules to follow and are well-coordinated. Secondly, clarify and enforce the responsibility system for safe production. The main responsible persons of mining enterprises, especially the actual controllers, should take the lead in setting an example, carefully align with the relevant provisions of the "Production Safety Law of the People's Republic of China", systematically study, holistically consider, and comprehensively plan. They should strictly fulfill their duties on site, accurately grasp the situation of mine safety production, increase safety investment, and promote the resolution of practical problems in safe production. Thirdly, strictly implement the full-staff responsibility system for safe production positions. Mining enterprises should actively establish a responsibility system that covers all levels and positions, clarify specific responsibilities, and effectively implement responsibility measures down to the grassroots, scenarios, and personnel positions. This ensures that all employees of mining enterprises have a clear guide for safe operation in their positions, guiding their safe production behaviors in their respective roles.

Through institutionalized management and supervisory assessment, we ensure that safety regulations are truly implemented, enhance employees' consciousness of complying with safety rules, and strengthen the binding force of the safety management system. Firstly, we strictly enforce safety regulations to ensure their effective implementation, rather than making them a mere formality. Secondly, we establish clear and specific assessment criteria and reward and punishment mechanisms to ensure the thorough implementation of safety regulations. Thirdly, leaders at all levels of mining enterprises should take the lead in fulfilling their responsibilities, establish the authority of safety regulations through strengthening warning education and positive incentives, and enable employees to shift from "passive compliance" to "active compliance". Ultimately, employees will actively comply with the regulations and form conscious safety behavior habits.

6. Question: The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote the transformation of public safety governance mode towards pre-emptive prevention. How can we ensure the implementation of the measures proposed in the "Guiding Opinions" and effectively advance the transformation of mine safety governance mode?

Answer: The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote the transformation of public safety governance mode towards pre-emptive prevention. The "Guiding Opinions" suggest that to strengthen the construction of mine safety culture in the new era, we must adhere to the leadership of the Party, firmly uphold the "four self-confidences", achieve the "two maintenances", and integrate the strengthening of Party building throughout the entire process of enterprise safety culture construction. It is necessary to correctly understand the subjective position and value significance of people in the process of high-quality development, deeply comprehend the inherent relationship between people-oriented approach and high-quality development, and empower and enhance high-quality development. We should adhere to industry guidance and mine self-construction. Relevant units should actively coordinate and strive for relevant policies and financial support, incorporate the construction of mine safety culture into supervision, inspection, guidance, and assistance, scientifically plan and systematically guide mine enterprises to carry out safety culture construction work. Mine enterprises should adhere to the principle of "self-centered" and "self-improvement", fully integrate safety management experience, actively mobilize subjective initiative, and lead mine safety management work to continuously reach new heights with high-level safety culture construction achievements. Relevant departments should adhere to overall planning, step-by-step implementation, scientific deployment and promotion, strictly follow time nodes and task requirements, and coordinate and promote the construction of mine safety culture work. Mine enterprises should fully consider the current situation of enterprise safety development, benchmark and implement in an orderly manner, solidly carry out safety culture cultivation work, effectively improve the level of safety culture construction, strengthen and promote the transformation of mine safety governance mode towards pre-emptive prevention, and achieve a virtuous cycle and continuous improvement of mine safety management.

7. Question: The "Guiding Opinions" mention that a good safety culture atmosphere of "everyone emphasizing safety and everyone being capable of emergency response" should be actively created through various new technologies, new means, and new methods. How will the "Guiding Opinions" promote the application of AI, big data, and other technologies in the construction of mine safety culture?

Answer: Safety environmental culture is one of the important components of the "four-in-one" mine safety culture system and an essential support for the construction of mine safety culture. It encompasses both the hard environment, consisting of safety protection equipment and facilities, and the soft environment, formed by personnel, venues, and activities, which constitutes the safety culture atmosphere. The creation of a safety culture atmosphere characterized by "everyone emphasizing safety and everyone being capable of emergency response" involves a variety of contents and forms. Mining enterprises can adopt various new technologies, means, and methods to create a strong safety atmosphere based on actual needs and economic development levels, but they should pay more attention to the effectiveness of the safety atmosphere. In recent years, with the application of technologies such as AI and big data, the efficiency and management level of mine safety have been continuously improved. The "Guiding Opinions" point out that it is necessary to achieve visualization of safety education, safety management, personnel information, and safety performance. It encourages the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to carry out safety training. Based on different job risk scenarios, it simulates accident scenes, teaches emergency escape and handling procedures, presents 3D dynamic safety operation demonstrations, risk point annotations, and explanatory videos. A digital safety management dashboard is established to display safety inspection results, hidden danger rectification progress, and safety system implementation data in real time through electronic screens. Personnel information and safety performance are visualized by establishing a personnel safety information database, which inputs employees' safety training records, violation times, emergency drill performance, and other information into the system. A comprehensive safety information management system should be established. A safety risk early warning system should be established to collect equipment operation data, environmental monitoring data, historical accident data, etc., and use big data analysis and machine learning algorithms to build a risk prediction model. Actively build a safety information management platform to scientifically integrate all aspects of safety management. Employees can report detailed information about hidden dangers through the platform in a timely manner, and management personnel can approve and allocate hidden danger rectification tasks on the platform, track the rectification process, and inspect the rectification results. Regular comprehensive psychological assessments should be conducted. Regular professional assessments of all employees' psychological conditions should be carried out to generate personalized psychological assessment reports, grasp employees' mental health status, stress levels, and risk warnings. For employees who show psychological risks in the assessments, a focused attention and intervention plan should be formulated.

8. Question: The "Guiding Opinions" proposes to "create a harmonious and safe human-machine environment". In the digital and intelligent era, how to understand the harmonious and safe human-machine environment? How to promote the construction of a harmonious and safe human-machine environment in the digital and intelligent era?

Answer: Creating a harmonious and safe environment between humans and machines involves ensuring the intrinsic safety of equipment, facilities, process systems, and the working environment in mining enterprises. Firstly, we must strengthen the safety of facilities and equipment. This involves ensuring proper human-machine isolation, individual safety protection, and interlock and lockout protection. Equipment and facilities should be visually identified, process systems optimized, risk pre-control mechanisms strengthened, and system parameter monitoring enhanced. In the event of abnormal data, the system automatically adjusts process parameters and sends warning messages to management personnel. Secondly, we need to strengthen on-site fine management. This involves developing standardized operation instructions, refining the operational steps and quality standards for each position, implementing strict approval management for production areas, clarifying the safety responsibilities, potential safety risks, and response measures for each position, enhancing employees' awareness of safety responsibilities, improving their understanding of safety risks, and enhancing their emergency response capabilities in case of emergencies. Thirdly, we must improve the safety of the working environment. This involves establishing and effectively implementing a workplace safety fixed location management mechanism, reasonably matching and clarifying the interrelationships between people, objects, and locations on site, drawing a fixed location management plan, dividing functional areas, implementing safe color zoning management, and practicing "check-in" management. Fourthly, we need to enhance the level of safety technical defense. This involves equipping manual operation positions with auxiliary safety tools, regularly organizing safety operation training, and improving employees' emergency response capabilities through emergency drills. We should establish a regular equipment inspection system to detect equipment failure hazards in advance, conduct regular software upgrades and vulnerability scanning for automated control systems to prevent system failures from leading to system loss of control. We should utilize artificial intelligence technology to analyze and predict equipment operation data, provide early warnings of potential risks, encourage the establishment of intelligent safety monitoring platforms, achieve remote centralized control, and improve safety management efficiency.

In the digital and intelligent era, a harmonious and safe human-machine environment should not only involve mutual cooperation between humans and machines to ensure production safety, but also encompass the communication and matching of data information between humans and machines. This requires mining enterprises to strengthen the collection, analysis, and application of psychological and physical data of individuals, based on the digitization and informatization of equipment and facilities. For instance, before employees start their work, equipment data and the physiological data of operators should be analyzed and compared to see if they match and if safety is ensured. If they cannot match temporarily, and still cannot do so after learning, the employee should not be assigned to that job. To build such a human-machine environment, the main focus lies in introducing talents and providing subsequent education and training, striving to enhance human quality and ability, and adapting to the modernization of equipment and facilities through the modernization of personnel.

9. Q: China has diverse types of mines with uneven safety foundations. The Guiding Opinions require classified guidance. For small mines with weak foundations, what more targeted and practical guidance and support plans will the National Mine Safety Administration provide to help them break through the bottleneck of safety culture construction?

Third, implement paired support and assistance. Select mines with good safety culture construction achievements within regions or industries to form "pairs" with small mines with weak foundations for safety culture construction. We will achieve mutual learning, mutual assistance, and mutual reference in safety culture cultivation, use advanced models to lead mine safety culture construction, and help improve the safety culture construction level of small mines with weak foundations.

10. Q: The Guiding Opinions is the first standardized and guiding document on safety culture construction officially issued in the field of mine work safety. What deployment and arrangements has the National Mine Safety Administration made for studying, publicizing, and implementing the Guiding Opinions?