We’ve all seen the health and safety adverts when it comes to buying your own fireworks from a shop, to then let off
in your back garden. But what about safety when organising your own public event, of which you are having a ‘professional firework display’?
There are over 400 firework companies in the UK currently, and the number is still growing. But unfortunately every year we see people getting rushed to hospital due to a firework related injury, whether that’s consumer fireworks or professionally fired displays.
So if you are holding your own public event with fireworks, is the company you’re using safe? Do you know the correct checks/questions to ask them? Below I have stated a couple of the main points to cover, with your current firework company.
- Make sure they are trained to the highest standard:
- There is only one official recognised qualification available within the firework industry, which is endorsed by City and Guilds, but still a couple of ‘bodies’ out there are recognised for their consciousness towards the health and safety of performing with fireworks.
- The main one to look out for is the ‘BPA’ (British Pyrotechnic Association), which all the reputable firework companies in the UK are registered with and the only one endorsed by the city and guilds.
- For a company to be part of the BPA, they must show their competence and safety of knowledge of fireworks, which they are then trained to the standards of the association.
- Once training is complete, exams passed etc. The company can then run their own training course to bring the standards of their crew/company up to the most recognised in the country, ensuring safety throughout the industry.
2. Site Risk Assessments/Insurance Cover
- Every firework company should complete a full, in depth, site risk assessment before intending to perform at any venue.
- This helps the company understand exactly what material can be used at that certain site, if at all, and ensuring the audience and surrounding area is safe for the size of the display.
- Again, the BPA hold their own Risk Assessment Courses annually, ensuring all their registered members are performing to the highest, safest standards.
- Make sure, before you have your display, you request a copy of the current risk assessment and insurance documents to make sure you’re happy with what they will deliver.
- When it comes to insurance, you need to be covered for everything! Although most firework companies work to the safest standards to prevent accidents happen, there is always the slight possibility something may malfunction.
- Not only do you want to be insured if a person was injured, but property too.
- We recommend a minimum insurance cover of £5m, no matter what the event!
Here at Skyburst, we have run for over 30 years without causing any major damage or injury to any property/persons. We pride ourselves on health and safety, from equipment testing and maintenance; regular employee training to thorough and in depth risk assessments. We would never dream of increasing the impact of our display, should it compromise the safe of the general public!
If you would like more info on how Skyburst The Firework Co. operate to the highest standards and safety, our ‘Experts Guide To Safety With Fireworks’ is now available as a free download! Please click HERE to download, or send us a message with your address and we’ll get a glossy copy through your door within a week.
Our guide also includes a handy checklist for you to follow and question your current, Professional Firework Supplier. Don’t forget, if they can’t tick all the boxes, then they aren’t the safest company to use!
Don’t have time to read through it all, but you’re unsure your company is suitable? Drop us an email, or give us a call for a quick chat and we can talk you through what you should expect to be delivered to your event!
Blog written by
Luke Christie
