Giving your own firework display

Transcription

1 Health ad Safety Givig your ow firework display How to ru ad fire it safely This is a free-to-dowload, web-friedly versio of HSG124 (Secod editio, published 2005). This versio has bee adapted for olie use from HSE s curret prited versio. You ca buy the book at ad most good bookshops. ISBN Price 7.95 This book is for people ruig firework displays that set off the fireworks themselves but have o specialist kowledge. It icludes the mai poits to cosider, such as: selectig a site; provisio of site facilities; storig fireworks safely; crowd cotrol; bofire safety; firig the display; ad clearig up after the display This ew editio takes accout of the sigificat chages i the law over the past te years. These relate to the supply, possessio, trasport, keepig ad use of fireworks which may have a effect o the way you orgaise ad fire your display. These iclude: The Maufacture ad Storaghe of explosives Regulatios 2005; The Carriage of Dagerous Goods ad Use of trasportable Pressure Equipmet Regulatios 2004; The firework Regulatios 2004 ad The Firework (Safety)(Amedmet) Regulatios HSE Books Page 1 of 31

2 Health ad Safety Crow copyright 1995 First published 1995 Secod editio 2005 ISBN All rights reserved. No part of this publicatio may be reproduced, stored i a retrieval system, or trasmitted i ay form or by ay meas (electroic, mechaical, photocopyig, recordig or otherwise) without the prior writte permissio of the copyright ower. Applicatios for reproductio should be made i writig to: The Office of Public Sector Iformatio, Iformatio Policy Team, Kew, Richmod, Surrey TW9 4DU or licesig@opsi.gov.uk This guidace is issued by the Health ad Safety. Followig the guidace is ot compulsory ad you are free to take other actio. But if you do follow the guidace you will ormally be doig eough to comply with the law. Health ad safety ispectors seek to secure compliace with the law ad may refer to this guidace as illustratig good practice. Page 2 of 31

3 Health ad Safety Cotets Itroductio 6 Orgaisatio 7 Defiig the mai features of the display 7 Selectig a site for the display 7 Who to cotact 10 Provisio of site facilities 12 Lookig after the fireworks before the display 13 Crowd safety 13 What will you do if somethig goes wrog? 14 Bofires 15 Settig up the fireworks 16 Firig the display 19 Clearig up after the display 20 Legal requiremets 21 Appedix 1: Examples of some of the more commo types of display fireworks ad ways of lightig them 23 Appedix 2: Sources of iformatio o firework maufacturers, suppliers ad display operators 25 Appedix 3: Other legislatio which may apply to firework displays 26 Ackowledgemets 28 Refereces 29 Further readig 30 Further iformatio 31 Givig your ow firework display Page 3 of 31

4 Health ad Safety Foreword to Secod editio Sice the publicatio of Givig your ow firework display i 1995 there have bee sigificat chages i the statutory cotrols relatig to the supply, possessio, trasport, keepig ad use of fireworks which may have a effect o the way you orgaise ad fire your display. The Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios These wide-sweepig regulatios replace a sigificat portio of the Explosives Act 1875 as well as revokig ad amedig a rage of regulatios. They impose duties o the maufacture ad storage of explosives, icludig fireworks, as well as placig requiremets for the prevetio of fire ad explosio. They are supported by guidace ad a approved code of practice. 2 The Carriage of Dagerous Goods ad Use of Trasportable Pressure Equipmet Regulatios These regulatios replace a large umber of statutory istrumets relatig to differet trasport modes. They implemet the Europea agreemets relatig to road ad rail trasport (ADR ad RID) providig a sigle, cosolidated, set of regulatory measures. The Firework (Safety) Regulatios The Firework (Safety)(Amedmet) Regulatios These regulatios primarily address the supply of fireworks ad iclude provisios relatig to: the prohibitio of the sale to the geeral public of a variety of types of fireworks* such as: - category 4 fireworks; - aerial shells ad maroos; - shells-i-mortar ad maroos-i-mortar; - bagers, icludig batteries cotaiig bagers ad Chiese crackers; - fireworks with erratic flight; - mii-rockets; - air bombs; limits o the sizes of certai category 2 ad 3 fireworks that ca be supplied to the geeral public; a requiremet that fireworks of category 1, 2 ad 3 coform with British Stadard BS7114: 1988; 6 a icrease i the limit o the age of purchase to 18. * Some of these fireworks may still be supplied to certai people such as those i busiess as professioal firework display orgaisers ad operators. The Firework Regulatios These regulatios iclude provisios relatig to: the prohibitio of the possessio of fireworks i public places by those uder 18; limitatios o the times i the year durig which fireworks may be supplied by ulicesed suppliers; Givig your ow firework display Page 4 of 31

5 Health ad Safety the cotrol of the supply of certai types of excessively loud fireworks; limitatio o the use of fireworks durig ight hours. You ca get more iformatio o these regulatios o the Departmet of Trade ad Idustry website: You ca dowload copies of the regulatios from Her Majesty s Statioary Office website: Givig your ow firework display Page 5 of 31

6 Health ad Safety Itroductio Who is this publicatio for? 1 Firework displays, whether private or public, should be ejoyable occasios. If orgaisers take the ecessary precautios, they should also be safe occasios. This publicatio gives advice o how to ru a outdoor firework display safely. Examples of the type of display covered are those put o by orgaisatios like sports clubs ad school paret/teacher associatios, by parish coucils, ad by public houses for their customers, which typically attract about 100 spectators upwards. If you ited oly to have a firework party for your family, frieds or eighbours, all you will geerally eed to do is follow the istructios supplied with the fireworks. However, you may still fid the advice which follows useful, particularly if your party is outside the 5 November firework seaso, as out-ofseaso displays may cause more disturbace to the public. 2 The advice i this publicatio covers oly those firework displays where the orgaisers set off the fireworks themselves ad have o specialist kowledge. It is possible to cotract a specialist display operator, usually from a firework compay, to set off your fireworks. Advice o those displays is give i Workig together o firework displays: A guide to safety for firework display orgaisers ad operators. 8 Are all fireworks suitable for use by people without specialist kowledge? 3 Defiitely ot! The recogised stadard for fireworks i the Uited Kigdom is British Stadard BS 7114: 1988, which classifies fireworks for sale to the geeral public ito three categories: 1, 2 ad 3. Ay firework fallig ito oe of these categories will be marked as complyig with the Stadard, ad will also be marked as follows: Idoor Firework (for category 1, eg party poppers); or Garde Firework (for category 2, eg may of the fireworks which make up the small selectio boxes o sale before 5 November); or Display Firework (for category 3, the largest fireworks o retail sale). Some of the more commo types of display fireworks are show i Appedix 1. Note: The Firework (Safety) Regulatios 1997 have limited the types of fireworks that ca be supplied to the public. 4 There is also a category 4 of BS 7114: This classifies fireworks which are icomplete ad/or which are ot iteded for sale to the geeral public. BS 7114 recommeds that category 4 fireworks are marked with the warig This device must ot be sold to, or used by, a member of the geeral public. It also recommeds that a referece to ay part of BS 7114 should ot be marked o, or made i relatio to, a category 4 firework. This booklet does ot cover displays usig category 4 fireworks. Shall we set off the fireworks ourselves or get a display operator to do it? 5 Cosider this questio at a early stage. There is o reaso why you should ot light a display yourselves provided it oly cotais fireworks i categories 1, 2 ad 3, ie ot i category 4. It is advisable to obtai the fireworks from a reputable supplier. Uless you have cosiderable experiece ad expertise i settig off display fireworks, it is recommeded that you purchase a complete display kit rather tha sigle fireworks, as this will iclude a istructio leaflet. Givig your ow firework display Page 6 of 31

7 Health ad Safety 6 You are strogly advised to use a display operator if i ay doubt about settig up ad firig the display safely yourselves. 7 Further safety advice o the purchase of fireworks or selectio of a display operator may be obtaied from the orgaisatios listed i Appedix 2. Orgaisatio 8 Useful guidace o orgaisig of a display ca be obtaied from The evet safety guide: A guide to health, safety ad welfare at music ad similar evets. 9 9 Start orgaisig your firework display as early as possible. Oe perso eeds to be i overall cotrol ad have fial resposibility for health ad safety, but it will ofte be easiest if a committee (o matter how iformal) is formed to share the work. For example, oe perso could be resposible for orderig, storig ad settig off the fireworks, ad liaisig with the local authority, fire brigade etc; aother perso for site facilities ad crowd safety; ad so o. Defiig the mai features of the display 10 First of all, you eed to decide o a few basic details, for example: What is the expected size of the audiece? Is there to be a bofire? (It is preferable ot to light the bofire before settig off the fireworks, as stray sparks may accidetally set them off.) Selectig a site for the display Defiitios used i the text ad Figures 1a ad 1b 11 The display site is the whole site used for the display, ad is made up of: the spectator area - from which the spectators watch the display; the safety area - a clear area betwee the spectators ad the firig area to esure that spectators are at a safe distace from the fireworks durig the display; the firig area - from which the fireworks are set off; the fall-out area (or droppig zoe) - a area kept clear of people, where the debris from spet aerial fireworks lads; ad the bofire area - the area provided for the bofire (if there is to be oe). Site layout 12 Figures 1a ad 1b show how these areas should be located i relatio to each other ad to the prevailig wid directio. Givig your ow firework display Page 7 of 31

8 Health ad Safety Size of layout 13 Make your display site as large as possible, esurig that all the above areas are large eough for: the types of fireworks to be used (this will determie whether or ot a fallout area is required); the expected umber of spectators. 14 The tables i Figures 1a ad 1b summarise the miimum dimesios recommeded for display sites. The distaces give for B, D ad H assume that the fireworks are set up properly i accordace with their istructios ad with the advice i paragraphs of this publicatio. Other thigs to cosider 15 Esure that the site is free of dry, cut grass ad other easily combustible materials. 16 It is importat that you ispect the site i daylight to check for obstructios, for example trees, adjoiig buildigs, ad overhead electric power lies. Apart from obstructig the flight of aerial fireworks, overhead power lies pose other potetial dagers. For example: scaffoldig poles, metal ladders ad similar items used i the costructio of temporary stagig, or log wires such as those sometimes used i firig circuits for electrically fired fireworks, ca cause a dagerous discharge of electricity from overhead electric power lies, if they touch, or eve come ear to them. This is kow as a flashover ; smoke or debris comig from fireworks or a bofire burig uder or ear overhead electric power lies could also cause a flashover; overhead electric power lies ear to firig wires attached to electrically fired fireworks ca iduce a electric curret i wires, causig the premature firig of the fireworks. If you are i ay doubt about overhead electric power lies, cotact the local regioal electricity compay for advice. If it is impossible to arrage the site so that the firig ad bofire areas are well away from obstructios, you may eed to look for aother site. Givig your ow firework display Page 8 of 31

9 Health ad Safety D A D A B C D E Prevailig wid directio (see paragraphs 46-47) B C D E Fall-out area (Droppig zoe) Firig area Safety area Spectator area Miimum distace (metres) Bofire area As required, to prevet overcrowdig Locate this aywhere, provided it is: at least 15 m from other areas, buildigs, roads, railways ad public rights of way a safe distace from flammable or otherwise dagerous materials (eg petrol, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas) ad overhead electric power lies, ad dowwid of spectators Figure 1a Site layout for displays icludig aerial fireworks (ie icludig rockets, mies or Roma cadles) H F H Prevailig wid directio (see paragraphs 46-47) H G H I Firig area Spectator area Miimum distace (metres) Bofire area F G H I As required, to prevet overcrowdig Locate this aywhere, provided it is: at least 15 m from other areas, buildigs, roads, railways ad public rights of way a safe distace from flammable or otherwise dagerous materials (eg petrol, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas) ad overhead electric power lies, ad dowwid of spectators Figure 1b Site layout for displays without aerial fireworks (ie without rockets, mies or Roma cadles) Givig your ow firework display Page 9 of 31

10 Health ad Safety Who to cotact 17 It is advisable to cotact the followig people well before the display ad keep i touch with them, if ecessary, as your plas proceed (see Figure 2). Police 18 Cotact the police as soo as possible, iformig them of the locatio of the site ad its layout, icludig all etraces ad exits. 19 The police s mai iterests are crowd cotrol, public order, emergecy access, ad local traffic maagemet ad parkig. It is advisable to act o ay recommedatios they may make. Fire service 20 Cotact the fire service at least 28 days before the evet. They will maily be iterested i: how the emergecy services will be called; access for emergecy vehicles; marshallig crowds ad traffic i emergecy coditios; arragemet of spectators eclosures; local fire-fightig arragemets; ad buildigs ad other features earby which could be affected by a fire. Local authority 21 You may eed to cotact your local authority uder etertaimets legislatio (see Appedix 3). I ay case thik about cotactig: local authority eforcemet officers, for advice o complyig with health ad safety legislatio ad other matters such as miimisig oise uisace, avoidig ay problems that may have occurred i the past, complyig with local byelaws; the tradig stadards departmet, or i some areas the fire service, if you are i ay doubt about arragemets for storig fireworks before the display. The place of keepig may eed to be liceced or registered uder The Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios Neighbourig ladowers or users 22 Advace warig to eighbourig ladowers or users will eable them to move livestock (cattle, horses etc) where ecessary. Local istitutios 23 It is wise, i the iterests of good public relatios, to iform ay local hospitals, old people s homes etc of the evet. Coastguard 24 If the display is to be held ear the sea it is importat to iform the local coastguard i advace. Aerial fireworks could be mistake for distress sigals. Givig your ow firework display Page 10 of 31

11 Health ad Safety Aerodromes 25 If the display is to be held ear a aerodrome, iform the airport authority at least seve days i advace. Alteratively, cotact the Civil Aviatio Authority (CAA), Safety Regulatio Group, Aviatio House, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex RH6 0YR Tel: , particularly if you are usure whether there are aerodromes ear the display site. Adhere to height restrictios for aerial fireworks stipulated by the airport authority or CAA. The Civil Aviatio Authority has issued detailed guidace o the operatio of lasers, searchlight ad fireworks i UK Airspace20 (CAP 736). This documet ca be dowloaded from the CAA web site ( or requested from the address give i the refereces. 26 If you are usure whether to get i touch with ayoe, do so. Local authority Fire service Ladowers Coastguard Police Local istitutios Aerodromes Figure 2 It is advisable to cotact these people Givig your ow firework display Page 11 of 31

12 Health ad Safety Provisio of site facilities 27 Prevet access of spectators to the safety, fall-out, bofire ad firig areas by some suitable form of physical barrier. 28 Check that the fire-fightig facilities at the site are adequate ad cosider askig the fire service or a fire-fightig specialist for advice. The followig provisios are advised as a miimum: equipmet for puttig out small fires (eg fire extiguishers, buckets of water, fire blakets) available throughout the display site; ad a adequate umber of stewards istructed i how to use this equipmet. Tell the stewards ot to attempt to fight major fires. 29 Provide at least two spectator exits from the site which are large eough, spaced well apart, clearly marked, kept free from obstructios ad well lit. 30 Keep the agreed emergecy service routes ito the site clear of obstructio ad readily accessible at all times. 31 A small public address system or loudspeaker will esure that aoucemets ad istructios ca be clearly heard by all spectators at larger displays. 32 Provide at least oe suitably equipped first-aid poit, maed by a qualified first-aider. Sigpost it clearly ad make it easily accessible to a ambulace. 33 Provide suitable litter receptacles throughout the spectator area. 34 Ay car-parkig area ought preferably to be well away from the display site ad upwid of it (ie with the wid blowig from the car park towards the site). Do ot allow parkig aywhere else. The parkig area eeds to be clearly sigposted, with vehicle ad pedestria access routes to ad from the parkig area totally segregated from each other. Where appropriate, supervise parkig to prevet obstructio of emergecy access routes. 35 Locate ay bar sellig alcohol well away from the display site ad do ot allow drik to be take away from the bar. No oe ivolved i ruig the display should be uder the ifluece of itoxicatig substaces. Givig your ow firework display Page 12 of 31

13 Health ad Safety Lookig after the fireworks before the display 36 Keep the fireworks i the packagig i which they were bought, i a secure, cool, dry place where there are o aked flames or other sources of igitio ad o highly flammable substaces. Always replace the fireworks correctly i the packagig after ispectig them. 37 It is strogly advised that the fireworks are oly take to the display site o the day of the display. Provide a safe place at the display site to store them before use, for example i a buildig or a closed metal or woode cotaier located i a area of the site ot accessible to the public. 38 The fireworks may be trasported i a private car or goods vehicle. Trasport them i their origial packagig. Do ot trasport highly flammable liquids, except fuel i the tak of the vehicle, with the fireworks. Do ot smoke i or ear the vehicle while it is loaded with fireworks. Crowd safety 39 Provide a adequate umber of stewards resposible solely for crowd safety. Make them easily idetifiable, for example they could all wear fluorescet jackets (Figure 3). Istruct them to be o costat watch for emergecies. 40 Pay particular attetio to keepig spectators out of the safety, firig ad fallout areas. Cotrol etry to the spectator area to avoid overcrowdig. 41 Do ot admit spectators to the display with their ow fireworks. Publish proper otice of this i advace ad post otices at all the etraces. No fireworks should be o sale at the site. Figure 3 Steward wearig a fluorescet jacket 42 Make every effort to start the display o time, as crowd cotrol becomes more difficult, the loger people are kept waitig. If a delay is uavoidable tell the spectators ad ask for their co-operatio at a early stage. 43 Some importat poits o crowd safety will be foud i Maagig crowds safely: A guide for orgaisers at evets ad veues. 10 Givig your ow firework display Page 13 of 31

14 Health ad Safety What will you do if somethig goes wrog? Pla i advace! 44 Well before the day of the display, you will eed to cosider what could go wrog o the day. Draw up a pla to deal with each emergecy or cotigecy, aswerig the questios What actio will be take? ad Who will take that actio? 45 Paragraphs highlight some of the problems which could arise, ad actios which could be take. The list is ot exhaustive, but should help you pla ahead for emergecies. Stoppig the display early or cacellig it due to adverse wid coditios 46 You will have based the layout of the display site o the prevailig wid directio (see Figures 1a ad 1b). If the wid directio is differet o the day of the display, cosider alterig the site layout if ecessary, to esure safety. If this is impossible or iadvisable for other reasos, for example because this would iterfere with exits, cosider the actios described for high wids i paragraph I high wids it may be ecessary to modify the display (for example elimiate aerial fireworks) or, i extreme coditios, cacel it or fiish it early. Those people settig off the fireworks (the firers) should be ivolved i these decisios ad, if they wish to stop or cacel the display, should ot be overruled by the other orgaisers. Accidet to someoe from a firework 48 Have a procedure to esure that first-aiders have clear access to a ijured perso as soo as possible. I the case of serious ijury, have a ambulace called immediately by a desigated orgaiser ad susped firig of the display. Bofire out of cotrol or fire started by firework debris 49 If you caot deal with the fire immediately, usig first-aid fire-fightig equipmet, call the fire service without delay. Susped firig of the display util the fire is extiguished or util the fire service advises you that it is uder cotrol. If fire threates fireworks move them oly if it is safe to do so. You may eed to move spectators to a safe place away from the site of the fire, but esure that uimpeded access for the fire appliace is maitaied at all times. Disorderly behaviour by spectators 50 If trouble seems to be developig thik about callig the police before attemptig to deal with the matter yourselves. Spectators i the safety, firig or fall-out areas 51 If spectators break through the barrier ito the safety, firig or fall-out areas, iform the firers straightaway ad esure that firig of fireworks stops as soo as is practicable. Givig your ow firework display Page 14 of 31

15 Health ad Safety Aoucemets to spectators 52 Prepare aoucemets i advace which ca be made to the spectators i the evet of a emergecy, tellig them what has happeed ad what they are required to do. Commuicatios 53 It is advisable to have a two-way radio lik betwee the firers ad other people with key resposibilities for emergecy actio. Bofires 54 Make oe perso resposible for the bofire, ad allow oly that perso ad desigated helpers ito the bofire area. Do ot use petrol or paraffi to light the fire. A safer way to light it is to use paper ad solid firelighters i two or three places to esure a eve bur. Do ot bur dagerous rubbish such as foam-filled furiture, rubber, aerosols, tis of pait, pressurised gas cyliders, tyres ad bottles. Materials producig light ash which could blow about, such as corrugated cardboard, are usuitable for burig. 55 Before lightig the fire, check its costructio carefully to make sure that it is stable, ad that there are o childre or aimals iside (Figure 4). 56 The people lookig after the bofire are advised ot to wear lightweight clothig which could igite relatively easily. They are recommeded to wear a substatial outer garmet of wool or other material of low flammability ad strog boots or shoes. They eed to kow what to do i the evet of a bur ijury or a perso s clothig catchig fire, ad also have a fire blaket ready i the bofire area. Figure 4 Checkig the bofire before lightig Givig your ow firework display Page 15 of 31

16 Health ad Safety Settig up the fireworks 57 Fireworks come with detailed istructios from the maufacturer or supplier o how to set them up. These istructios are supplied o the firework labels, ad i istructio leaflets eclosed i firework packs. Sometimes they are supplied separately whe customers order their fireworks. It is strogly recommeded that firers read the istructios ad examie the fireworks i advace, to make sure that they are cofidet to proceed with the display safely. This is best doe i daylight a few days before the display (Figure 5). If ay iformatio appears to be icomplete or missig, or you eed more advice, get it from the firework supplier before proceedig. 58 Where there are two or more firers, they should have a clear idea of what each will do durig the display. The best way to approach this is to prepare a firig pla. 59 Some materials for settig up the fireworks, eg timber, may ot be supplied with them ad will have to be obtaied i advace. 60 Oly set up fireworks i the firig area. It is recommeded that the various types of fireworks are located withi the firig area as show i Figures 6a ad 6b. 61 The rest of this sectio deals with some basic safety poits for settig up fireworks. These poits are ot to be take as a substitute for the detailed istructios supplied with ay specific firework. 62 Do ot smoke while hadlig fireworks, or i the firig area, oce fireworks are preset. 63 Try to set up the fireworks i daylight, allowig plety of time so that this ca be doe carefully, without rushig. Oce they are set up, do ot leave the firig area uatteded. 64 No firework should be tampered with or modified i ay way. This will ever be ecessary for the fireworks covered by this booklet, ie of categories 1, 2 ad If ot ready-assembled, fireworks o frames eed to be carefully assembled ad securely mouted as directed i their istructios. Adhere strictly to the separatio distaces betwee these items specified i the istructios. Hadle fireworks o frames delicately to avoid looseig or damagig their fusig. 66 Fix Roma cadles securely i a upright positio or bury them as specified i the istructios, otherwise they may fall over ad shoot burig solid material at people. They should ever be secured to trees. Place supportig stakes o the spectators side of the firework. The use of support tubes 67 The use of support tubes is ot a preferred method of support ad i ay case may oly be suitable for static fireworks such as roma cadles, foutais, mies ad shot tubes. 68 Where the fireworks cocered are i category 2 or 3 always follow the firig istructios provided. Tubes should ot be used to support these categories of fireworks uless they have bee supplied for specific use with the firework, for example rocket lauch tubes. Givig your ow firework display Page 16 of 31

17 Health ad Safety 69 If support tubes must be used, please take the followig simple precautios: a) Do ot use metal tubes. Cosider usig oly plastic tubes which, should the firework explode uexpectedly, will ot burst, sheddig high-eergy fragmets. Choose tubig which is made of o-brittle plastics ad desiged to withstad iteral pressure, for example pipe made for water or gas supplies from highdesity polyethylee (HDPE); Figure 5 Readig the istructios ad examiig the fireworks a few days before the display Givig your ow firework display Page 17 of 31

18 Health ad Safety b) Do use a tube with a diameter which will provide the required support to the firework without holdig it too sugly. A sug tube may damage the firework whe it is iserted ad also icrease the severity of a misfire; c) Where ay support tube is attached to a stake or frame, attach it o the side away from the spectators. I this way, should a explosio occur, the effects will ted to be projected away from the spectators; d) Always remember to positio fireworks as far as possible from spectators ad at least the maufacturer s recommeded miimum distace. Where specific safety distaces are ot provided, you should refer to iformatio o the miimum recommeded safety distaces i Figures 6a ad 6b. 70 Place all aerial fireworks towards the back of the firig area i a locatio free from overhead obstructios so that ay debris will lad i the fall-out area. Pay particular attetio to avoidig ijury to spectators from rocket debris. 71 Never use bottles as lauch tubes for ay firework. 72 Protect fireworks from damp prior to firig them. Fall-out area (droppig zoe) 5 m Rockets ad mies 5 m Roma cadles Safety area 15 m Lacework, set pieces, coes ad foutais Lacework, set pieces, coes ad foutais 15 m Safety area Safety area Figure 6a Firig area layout for displays icludig aerial fireworks Figure 6b Firig area layout for displays without aerial fireworks Givig your ow firework display Page 18 of 31

19 Health ad Safety Firig the display Firers 73 Oly allow firers i the firig area ad restrict their umber to the miimum ecessary to esure the cotiuity of the display. For most displays two will be sufficiet. If there is o radio lik, appoit oe perso to relay messages betwee the firers ad the perso i overall charge of the display. 74 Firers are advised to wear suitable clothig. This could cosist of stout footwear ad outer clothig of wool or other fire-resistat material. A protective hat, goggles ad gloves are advisable. It is also advisable to tuck sleeves uder gloves to protect the wrists. Lightweight, flammable outer clothig is to be avoided. It is strogly recommeded that firers wear suitable hearig protectio. Each firer ought to have a electric torch ad a whistle to attract attetio i the evet of difficulty. 75 At least oe of the firers ought to have some previous experiece of firig large fireworks. It is recommeded that all firers are familiar with the basic safety priciples (some idustry orgaisatios ad firework compaies produce traiig material). Settig off the fireworks 76 Always set off fireworks as recommeded i the istructios. This will usually be by a slow-burig wick or, for larger fireworks, a slow-burig lighter kow as a portfire. Do ot use matches except to light the wick or portfire. Always hold the wick or portfire at arm s legth to light the firework. Never lea over a firework. 77 Fireworks to be fired electrically will be supplied fitted with electric leads ready for coectio to a suitable low-voltage source. Do ot attempt to covert a firework desiged for flame igitio to electric igitio, or vice-versa. Fireworks which fail to go off (misfires) 78 Leave a firework which fails to go off for at least 30 miutes before placig it i a bucket of water. Givig your ow firework display Page 19 of 31

20 Health ad Safety Clearig up after the display 79 The followig procedure is recommeded for clearig up the site: keep the firig, safety ad fall-out areas free of spectators util the firers have had time to clear up, ad locate ad deal with ay fireworks that have misfired; extiguish the bofire properly ad cool it dow before you leave the site, keepig spectators out of the bofire area util this has bee doe; retur to the site at first light to make sure that it is clear of partly spet fireworks ad other hazardous remais (Figure 7). 80 Never put fireworks, eve those which are fully spet, o the bofire or dispose of them by buryig. Recommeded disposal methods are as follows: put fully spet fireworks (but ot misfired or partly spet fireworks) i refuse receptacles; soak misfired or partly spet fireworks i a cotaier of water i a area where they caot be tampered with (preferably away from the display site) ad cotact the maufacturer or supplier for advice o disposal. Figure 7 Makig sure that the site is clear of partly spet fireworks ad other hazardous remais Givig your ow firework display Page 20 of 31

21 Health ad Safety Legal requiremets 81 The Health ad Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) 11 ad subsidiary legislatio may apply to certai displays. I geeral, this legislatio will apply whe the display ivolves a work activity, for example whe you are ruig the display as a employer or as a self-employed perso coductig your ow busiess, or holdig it o o-domestic premises such as commercial or local authority premises. 82 Where the HSW Act applies, it will impose duties o employers i relatio to the health ad safety of their employees ad the public (spectators ad other people at the display site as well as the geeral public i the viciity of the site). Selfemployed people have the same duties i relatio to their ow health ad safety ad that of the public. I additio, the perso who is providig the premises for the evet may have duties uder Sectio 4 of the HSW Act. 83 The local authority eforcemet officer will be able to advise o the applicatio of the HSW Act to the proposed display. 84 The Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios 2005 require that the maufacture of fireworks (which icludes dismatlig them) shall oly take place i a licesed factory. The regulatios allow the preparatio, assembly, disassembly ad fusig of firework displays at the place of iteded use without a factory licese. The regulatios also allow the preparatio, assembly ad fusig of fireworks, i quatities of o more tha 10 kilograms at a time, at a site i relatio to which a perso holds a licece or registratio for the storage of explosives, for the purposes of a firework display to be put o by that perso. The destructio of fireworks i a safe maer does ot require a factory licece. 85 Uder The Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios 2005 a ulimited quatity of hazard type 3 ad 4 fireworks may be kept for up to 24 hours without licesig or registerig the place of storage. Specified amouts may be held for loger periods without licesig or registratio as show i the table. Your firework suppliers should be able to provide you with iformatio o the hazard type of your fireworks. You ca also obtai iformatio o hazard types from the Maufacture ad storage of explosives guidace. 86 The trasport of fireworks ad other explosives by road is subject to the requiremets of the: Classificatio ad Labellig of Explosives Regulatios 1983, 12 as ameded by The Carriage of Dagerous Goods ad Use of Trasportable Pressure Equipmet Regulatios 2004; The Carriage of Dagerous Goods ad Use of Trasportable Pressure Equipmet Regulatios Some guidace o the carriage of dagerous goods by road is give i Workig with ADR: a itroductio to the carriage of dagerous goods by road Iformatio o legislatio other tha the HSW Act which may apply to firework displays is give i Appedix 3. Givig your ow firework display Page 21 of 31

22 Health ad Safety Type of fireworks Maximum amout (kg) Maximum storage Coditio period (days) Hazard type I place of iteded use Hazard type I place of iteded use Hazard type Not for sale or use at work Givig your ow firework display Page 22 of 31

23 Health ad Safety Appedix 1: Examples of some of the more commo types of display fireworks ad ways of lightig them Figure 8 Portfire (left) ad slowburig wick (right), used to light fireworks Roma cadle pots (rear) ad Roma cadle bouquet (frot) Wheel Mies Coes (rear) ad foutais (frot) Rockets Roma cadle batteries - ofte kow as Chiese cakes Givig your ow firework display Page 23 of 31

24 Health ad Safety Figure 9 Lacework Givig your ow firework display Page 24 of 31

25 Health ad Safety Appedix 2: Sources of iformatio o firework maufacturers, suppliers ad display operators The British Pyrotechists Associatio (BPA), 8 Arago Place, Kimbolto, Hutigdo, Cambridgeshire PE28 0JD Tel: The Cofederatio of British Idustry, Explosives Idustry Group (CBI/EIG), Cetre Poit, 103 New Oxford Street, Lodo WC1A 1DU Tel: The Istitute of Explosives Egieers (IExpE), Crafield Uiversity, RMCS Shriveham, Swido, Wiltshire SN6 8LA Tel: The Evet Servicers Associatio (TESA), 1 Picto House, Lower Church Street, Chepstow, Momouthshire NP16 5XT Tel: Local Authorities Coordiators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), 10 Albert Embakmet, Lodo SE1 7SP Tel: The Chief Fire Officers Associatio, 9-11 Pebble Close, Amigto, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 4RD Tel: www-old.cfoa.org.uk The British Fireworks Associatio (BFA) Mr J Woodhead, Cosmic Fireworks Ltd, Fauld Idustrial Estate, Tutbury, Burto o Tret, DE13 9HS Givig your ow firework display Page 25 of 31

26 Health ad Safety Appedix 3: Other legislatio which may apply to firework displays (The requiremets i this appedix are ot requiremets uder health ad safety legislatio). 1 The iformatio which follows has bee supplied by represetatives of orgaisatios resposible for eforcemet ad is oly a brief guide to some of the mai provisios, other tha health ad safety legislatio, which firework display orgaisers will eed to cosider. The appropriate orgaisatio will be able to advise o how these ad other related provisios apply to a idividual case. Etertaimets licesig ad statutory cotrols o oise uisace Eglad ad Wales 2 I Eglad ad Wales, the public etertaimets provisios of the Local Govermet (Miscellaeous Provisios) Act allow local authorities to cotrol evets such as pop festivals ad ope-air etertaimets of which music forms a substatial part. 3 Public etertaimet licesig is carried out by the district coucil or metropolita coucil. Equiries must be made at least 28 days before the evet i order to comply with the otificatio procedures. To allow a public etertaimet to be carried out without a licece is a offece which ca carry severe pealties. 4 I licesig evets, the eforcig authority ca impose coditios for securig the safety of performers ad ayoe else preset at the etertaimet, ad for prevetig people i the eighbourhood from beig ureasoably disturbed by oise. It will be a coditio of the licece that ay recommedatios made to the eforcig authority by the police ad fire brigade are complied with. 5 If the local authority has adopted the Private Places of Etertaimet (Licesig) Act 1967, 15 similar coditios may be imposed o similar types of etertaimet held o private premises, icludig those i the ope air. This is to cover private clubs etc where admissio is restricted to members (ie the geeral public are ot admitted). The licesig fuctio is dealt with i exactly the same way as for public etertaimet, but exteds the cotrols to private etertaimet provided for private gai. 6 Displays which are ot subject to licesig uder the above legislatio will still be subject to the Noise at Work Regulatios 1989, 16 eforced by the evirometal health departmet of the district coucil or metropolita coucil. Scotlad 7 I Scotlad, public etertaimets licesig is carried out by the district coucil or regioal coucil. 8 Where a firework display ivolves the use of premises as a place of public etertaimet, some coucils will require applicatio to be made for a Public Etertaimet Licece uder Sectio 41 of the Civic Govermet (Scotlad) Act Givig your ow firework display Page 26 of 31

27 Health ad Safety ad, as a coditio of licece, may require the orgaisers to cosult with the local fire authority ad the police. I the Act, the term place of public etertaimet is defied (subject to certai exclusios) as ay place where, o paymet of moey or goods to the same value, members of the public are admitted or may use ay facilities for the purposes of etertaimet or recreatio. 9 Some coucils require charitable orgaisatios which hold public firework displays to seek permissio for the display irrespective of whether a etrace fee is to be levied or ot. 10 Commets o oise uisace are as for Eglad ad Wales i paragraph 6 above. Firework displays ear aerodromes 11 The Civil Aviatio Authority has issued detailed guidace o the operatio of lasers, searchlight ad fireworks i UK Airspace 18 (CAP 736). This documet ca be dowloaded from the CAA web site ( or attaied usig the details give i the refereces. Givig your ow firework display Page 27 of 31

28 Health ad Safety Ackowledgemets HSE gratefully ackowledges the participatio of the followig i the draftig of this booklet: The British Pyrotechists Associatio The Cofederatio of British Idustry, Explosives Idustry Group Stadard Fireworks Limited Kimbolto Fireworks Limited Le Maitre Fireworks Limited The Cosumer Safety Uit of the Departmet of Trade ad Idustry ad help give by the followig: Civil Aviatio Authority HM Coastguard Marie Directorate, Departmet of Trasport City ad District of St Albas District Coucil North Yorkshire Fire ad Rescue Service Lothia ad Borders Fire Brigade Solar Pyrotechics Givig your ow firework display Page 28 of 31

29 Health ad Safety Refereces 1 Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios 2005 SI 2005/1082 The Statioery Office 2005 ISBN Maufacture ad storage of explosives: Maufacture ad Storage of Explosives Regulatios 2005 L139 HSE Books 2005 ISBN The Carriage of Dagerous Goods ad Use of Trasportable Pressure Equipmet Regulatios 2004 SI 2004/568 The Statioery Office 2004 ISBN Firework (Safety) Regulatios 1997 SI 1997/2294 The Statioery Office 1997 ISBN Firework (Safety)(Amedmet) Regulatios 2004 SI 2004/1372 The Statioery Office 2004 ISBN X 6 BS 7114: 1988 Fireworks British Stadards Istitutio Part 1: Classificatio of fireworks ISBN Part 2: Specificatio of fireworks ISBN Part 3: Methods of test for fireworks ISBN Firework Regulatios 2004 SI 2004/1836 The Statioery Office X 8 Workig together o firework displays: A guide to safety for firework display orgaisers ad operators HSG123 HSE Books 1999 ISBN Evet safety guide: A guide to health, safety ad welfare at music ad similar evets HSG195 (Secod editio) HSE Books 1999 ISBN Maagig crowds safely: A guide for orgaisers at evets ad veues HSG154 (Secod editio) HSE Books 2000 ISBN X 11 Health ad Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Ch37 The Statioery Office 1974 ISBN Classificatio ad Labellig of Explosives Regulatios 1983 SI 1983/1140 The Statioery Office Workig with ADR: a itroductio to the carriage of dagerous goods by road 2004 Departmet for Trasport 2004 ISBN Local Govermet (Miscellaeous Provisios) Act 1982 C10 The Statioery Office Private Places of Etertaimet (Licesig) Act 1967 C19 The Statioery Office Noise at Work Regulatios 1989 SI 1989/1790 The Statioery Office 1989 ISBN Civic Govermet (Scotlad) Act 1982 C45 The Statioery Office 1982 Givig your ow firework display Page 29 of 31

30 Health ad Safety 18 Civil Aviatio Authority CAP 736 Guide for the Operatio of Lasers, Searchlights ad Fireworks i Uited Kigdom Airspace Versio 1 The Statioery Office 2003 ISBN Further readig Cotrol of Explosives Regulatios 1991 SI 1991/1531 The Statioery Office 1991 ISBN Dagerous Substaces i Harbour Areas Regulatios 1987 SI 1987/37 The Statioery Office 1987 ISBN Disposal of explosives waste Chemical Safety Guidace Note CS23 HSE Books 1999 ISBN X Essetials of health ad safety at work HSE Books 1994 ISBN X Fireworks ad the law: A guide to those who maufacture, store, trasport or use fireworks 1994, available from CBI Explosives Idustry Group, 103 New Oxford Street, Lodo WC1A 1DU. Tel: Five steps to risk assessmet Leaflet INDG163(rev1) HSE Books 1998 (sigle copy free or priced packs of 10 ISBN ) Maagemet of Health ad Safety at Work Regulatios 1999 SI 1999/3242 The Statioery Office 1999 ISBN Reportig of Ijuries, Diseases ad Dagerous Occurreces Regulatios 1995 SI 1995/3163 The Statioery Office 1995 ISBN Givig your ow firework display Page 30 of 31

31 Health ad Safety Further iformatio For iformatio about health ad safety rig HSE s Ifolie Tel: Fax: Textphoe: hse.ifolie@atbrit.com or write to HSE Iformatio Services, Caerphilly Busiess Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG. HSE priced ad free publicatios ca be viewed olie or ordered from or cotact HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA Tel: Fax: HSE priced publicatios are also available from bookshops. British Stadards ca be obtaied i PDF or hard copy formats from the BSI olie shop: or by cotactig BSI Customer Services for hard copies oly Tel: cservices@bsigroup.com. The Statioery Office publicatios are available from The Statioery Office, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN Tel: Fax: customer.services@tso.co.uk Website: (They are also available from bookshops.) Statutory Istrumets ca be viewed free of charge at Published by HSE 10/09 Page 31 of 31