This is a video of an accident at a Chinese factory where a man had both arms trapped in a press machine. Please exercise caution before watching, as the footage is disturbing enough to make me hesitate about sharing it. It looks like his left foot might have accidentally hit the foot pedal.
Video
Statistical improvements and repeated footage of accidents
According to the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management, the number of workplace accidents and fatalities in 2025 both declined compared to the previous year, suggesting an improving trend in workplace safety. However, while there were zero “extraordinarily serious accidents” (resulting in 30 or more deaths), nine “serious accidents” occurred, claiming 129 lives; thus, large-scale accidents have not been eradicated.
A typical cause of accidents involving workers getting caught in press machines is the worker inserting their hands into the mold while the machine remains in a state where it can be activated—for instance, via a foot pedal. This is an area where measures to physically separate the worker from the machine’s activation zone—such as light curtains or two-hand control switches—are essential. Meanwhile, there have been past reports of authorities removing footage of industrial accidents from social media, and experts point out a tendency to prioritize punishing officials over establishing mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of safety measures. A gap appears to remain between the statistical improvements and the reality of such footage repeatedly circulating.
Comments