China's work safety watchdog will step up checks and supervision in the energy sector, including coal mines, and oil and gas production and transportation, as rising energy prices drive up the motivation for illegal production.

The country saw five major work safety incidents, including four involving coal mines, in the past three months, with at least 179 people losing their lives, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

In the wake of the incidents, the authority said at a work conference on Monday that it will crack down on illegal coal mine production and activities that exceed designated mine capacity, and step up the phasing out of small coal mines to prevent major accidents, according to a statement released on Wednesday.