New firework display guidelines have been issued by the HSE. The new edition is for those without specialist knowledge. These new guidelines include many significant changes in the law since 1995, primarily associating the supply, possession, transport, keeping and use of fireworks, and how these may affect the organisation and performance of your firework display.
Examples of the type of display imagined are those put on by Organisations such as sports clubs and school parent/teacher associations, parish councils, and public houses typically attracting around 100 customers/spectators.
The police, fire brigade and local authorities should be consulted at least fourteen days before the event take place and all their recommendations have been complied with.
The Firework Safety Code2 must be practised and all additional special advice provided by the fireworks manufacturer should be complied with.
Displays coordinated by the Company/institution or organization should only contain and have the fireworks in categories 1, 2 & 3.
Category 4 fireworks may additionally only be utilized by expert fireworks show operators.
All fireworks material & items must be supplied by a well-known, trusted, approved or governmental licensed and reputable manufacturer and should not be modified or altered by the internal or external third-party organizer or appointed fireworks contractor.
An event risk assessment must be carried out by the organizer or appointed fireworks contractor.
The fireworks display and bonfires should be kept, stored and start at least one hundred meters from any facility or vehicle, (cars& vans, buses, trucks etc.) and you should select an area or location away from trees.
Always make sure that there are no roads, railways, overhead cables, woodland, bracken or similar combustible materials in the selected vicinity and or area.
At the Event
Viewers, gatherings, crowed or spectators need to be kept at least 25 meters from the display/bonfire and the display area needs to be roped off.
There must be at least one administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward in attendance for every 250 viewers, gatherings, crowd or spectators.
Every administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward should have full instructions about their duties and suitable communications equipment (e.g., mobile phones, walkie-talkies). They should require full awareness and knowledge of what to do and who to report any unwanted incident.
One member of the committee organizing the display needs to be in direct charge of safety matters and not engaged in any other duties or activities which would prevent them from exercising general supervision.
Smoking should now not be permitted everywhere near the fireworks.
No petrol or paraffin should be used to light any bonfire.
There needs to be an adequate drop zone for the fall-out of rockets and debris downwind of the administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward of at least 50 meters.
Any man igniting fireworks ought to retire to a secure distance right away once the fuse is lit.
Any person igniting fireworks should never return to fireworks which do not light the first time (30 minutes should be allowed to elapse before approaching and carefully dousing with water).
The other categories or types of fireworks “Shooting” such as rockets or roman candles should be kept inside a metal-sided box of proper adjustable size to contain the device should it topple over.
A full inspection of the site needs to be carried out 30 minutes after the end of the display by the organizer and/ or contractor to ensure all fireworks are extinguished.
The site wishes to be inspected the next day in sunlight hours to make certain no fireworks had been left.
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| HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIREWORK DISPLAY |
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