Ashaka Cement Company of Nigeria (PLC) in Gombe State yesterday celebrated "500 days of industrial accident -free operations".

Speaking at the occasion, the company’s Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammad Daggash, urged the employees to continue adhering to safety rules. He said it was he was happy that the company attained that feat after series of trials. "We made series of efforts and at a time, we attained 410 days but an accident occurred, so we had to start all over again", he said.

Daggash said that his company scored 63 percent during an audit on Health and Safety Standards in African Companies conducted in December 2007. According to him, the African Plants scores were ranged between 30 and 70 per cent. The Managing Director explained that they were able to attain this feat because almost every staff abided by the company’s safety rules. "The gradual implementation of safety standards and the adherence to safety rules by our employees enabled us to reach this stage", he said.

In his remarks, the Plant Manager, Mrs Maria Voina said the safety standard could no have been achieved without the cooperation of the employees.