A STAFF member at the Qianwan Container Harbor Co. Ltd., Xu Zhenchao, 62, is also a member of the Chinese association of science and technology, national federation of trade union and guest lecturers at 19 vocational schools and polytechnics.

    “I am not a model worker. I just represent all the workers at the harbor and in the modern industry. I have to work hard because my roots are at the harbor,” he said.

    Besides communicating with colleagues to ensure safe production, Xu also works hard in creating a better working environment and improving efficiency. The old portal crane used diesel, which was expansive and pollutive. “Sometimes, the smoke made colleagues feel very uncomfortable and it was very dangerous,” said he.

    Xu had worried about this for more than 10 years and finally established a special team to work on the issue in 2004. After three years of research, his team finally developed a new technology so that the portal crane could use electricity.

    Xu’s team now has more than 800 members. With his help, 59 members have reached the status of senior workers.

    “The Central Government also set up a studio for me and it has become a platform for us to exchange our thoughts and share our skills. I will also get more advanced equipment here for us to learn and practice,” he said.(Wang Yuanyuan, Zhang Xudong)