Major displays warned against ignoring safety procedures

More than 1,000 people are injured every year by fireworks. We are constantly warned to ditch the garden shows and chose one of major displays where professionals deal with the danger.

It seems that these displays this could be just as hazardous as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is concerned that event organizers are reducing their costs by ignoring safety procedures.

The huge Fireworks Fiesta on the Bristol Downs run by the Clifton Rotary Club and Bristol Round Table has been cancelled this year due to costs.

These major events cost thousands of pounds just for the fireworks before any other event management costs.

HSE inspectors want to make sure that events pass of safely and have issued new guidelines.

Allen Webb, Principal Inspector in HSE’s Explosives Inspectorate, said: “Firework displays should be enjoyable and spectacular occasions, but they obviously need some responsible planning. We provide simple and clear advice to help displays go off both safely, and with a bang!

“If you’re holding a local firework display in your community, you won’t need to plan it in the same level of detail as a major display. But you still need to plan it responsibly, without cutting corners over safety.

“That means thinking about who will light the display, whether the site is large enough and free from overhead obstructions, and what you’d do if something went wrong. It may be common sense, but accidents often happen if people don’t think enough in advance about the risks.”

Fireworks in Categories 1 – 3 can be used for most organised displays, but Category 4 fireworks should only be used by professional firework display operators.

For displays using Category 4 fireworks, areas should be marked to keep spectators a safe distance back, clear routes should be provided onto and off the site, and a suitable number of trained stewards should be on duty at the event.

The HSE released five safety tips for the day of a fireworks display.

Recheck the site, weather conditions and wind direction
Don’t let the public into the firing zone or the area where the fireworks will fall
Discourage spectators from bringing alcohol onto the site
Don’t let spectators bring their own fireworks onto the site
Never attempt to relight fireworks that have failed to go off

HSE is also advising organisers to consider obtaining public liability insurance, although it is not required by law.

More information on firework safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks