Workers at a Bradford gas centre are playing a major role in cutting down on industrial accidents in the north.

BOC Bradford Gas and Gear Centre, in Duncombe Road, aims to improve safety this year through national firm BOC Gases Safety 2000 campaign.

"It is staggering to think that in the year 2000 around 2,000 people in our region will be hurt in a variety of welding and cutting related accidents," says manager Gordon Barber.

His estimate is based on recent statistics from Health and Safety Executive and the Boilermakers' Union who say many more cases go unreported.

"There are more than half a million oxy-acetylene work stations in almost daily use throughout the UK," said Mr Barber.

"Probably 200,000 of those are in the North, and a good proportion are in the Bradford area which is heavily industrialised," he added.

Safety 2000 is a BOC Gases initiative aimed at encouraging many thousands of businesses throughout northern England to work more safely.

"We want people who employ welders and cutters to ensure their employees are as safe as possible," Mr Barber said.

"Saving is not just about money but resources, health and well-being. However, we believe that caring employers deserve an incentive so we are discouraging much of our gas safety equipment by up to ten per cent during March and April 2000 to encourage them to raise standards and safety levels."

BOC is also offering all small and medium-sized businesses free safety checks of any gas welding and cutting gear which they currently have in use.

Staff at the BOC Gas and Gear Centre in the city, which has been in business for more than 10 years, are also giving free welding and cutting demonstrations and distributing free safety leaflets. Videos of safe gas welding and cutting procedures are also available for customers to take home or to use for safety training of employees.

BOC Gases is a member of The BOC Group which operates in 50 countries, serves some two million customers and had sales of nearly £3.31 billion last year.

For further information on the campaign phone BOC Gas on (01274) 480293.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.