Shanxi Lingshanyu Coal Mine has been exposed for not installing gas sensors on the dark side. Inspectors have found excessive gas levels but were criticized by leaders for being too timid.

At 19:29 on May 22, a gas explosion occurred underground at the Shanxi Tongzhou Group's Liushen Yumen Coal Mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, resulting in significant casualties. Liu Qiang has been engaged in mine safety inspection work for more than 30 years, and around 2012, he served as a gas detector in the No. 3 shaft of the Liushen Yumen coal mine. He told reporters that according to safety regulations, real-time monitoring, mandatory ventilation, and shutdown for dilution are the core means of preventing and controlling gas risks. However, as a mine with a serious "high gas" hazard that is clearly under supervision by the state, the Liushen Yumen coal mine deliberately did not install monitoring equipment and engaged in extensive and illegal construction in order to maintain "hidden" mining activities, resulting in high-risk gas hazards. "The mine management does not install gas sensors in the 'hidden' areas mainly to avoid supervision. As long as that is not installed, regulatory departments cannot remotely monitor the existence of the 'hidden' areas," Liu Qiang said. He also admitted that when he was working at the mine, there was a time when he detected excess gas in the "visible" areas and reported it to the authorities, but was criticized for being "too timid." "Others come down and nothing happens, but as soon as you come down, it's one thing after another, and you can't even sleep well." He remembers being complained about at that time.