There have been 264 lethal accidents during production in the city in the first eight months of the year, killing 274 people, the city government announced at a conference on safety yesterday.
Deaths and accidents have fallen by 5.42 percent and 3.86 percent compared with the same period last year.
Vice Mayor Zhou Taitong attributed stronger local government supervisions for the improvement.
However, in the first eight months, 136 died in private companies, 20 percent more than the same period last year, while 91 died from falls, an increase of 11 percent, according to the government.
Though no major production accidents had happened in the city this year, Zhou said there were still areas for improvement, such as limiting the number of toxic spills and improving education on industrial safety.
On July 18, a ship carrying 190 tons of sulphuric acid sank following a collision with another ship, polluting the upper reach of the Huangpu River.
In another accident, four workers died from gas poisoning after entering a sewage well in Qingpu District on May 21. Later investigations showed the victims, all migrant workers, did not take proper protective measures.
Zhou revealed a citywide inspection of safety will be conducted before the National Day holiday, to ensure local scenic spots and amusements have completed maintenance on their facilities.
Officials will also check railway stations, wharves and ports.
"Inspections on construction sites will be focused on large construction equipment, especially derrick and scaffold," the vice mayor said.