What could be more autumnal than wrapping up warm to enjoy bonfires, fireworks and evening funfairs? As Bonfire Night approaches, events are being organised around the UK to celebrate the Gunpowder Plot with exciting pyrotechnics and lots of noise.
But it’s not just on the 5 November that people hold firework displays. They are increasingly popular at Christmas and New Year, as well as to celebrate weddings, religious festivals and at concerts and parties.
Fireworks are enjoyable, but they also present a serious hazard. Each year fireworks make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, causing injury, often as a result of preventable accidents.
Firework injuries
The last time statistics were collated by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS - formerly the DTI) was in 2005. It recorded a total of 991 firework-related injuries in the UK. Forty-five percent of the injuries were to children aged 5-17 and a massive 48% occurred at a family or private party.
In 2007, one ambulance service alone received over 40,000 calls over the autumn firework period.
The organisers of firework displays should put health and safety first, says Martin Linfield, underwriting manager at Hiscox Event Insurance. “It’s seriously important because of the number of people who get injured every year.”
One of the conditions for providing cover for fireworks events is that organisers adhere to a code published by the BIS.
‘Fireworks – Be Safe Not Sorry’ provides risk management advice for event organisers. This includes using fireworks that are compliant with British Standards, arranging for fireworks to be stored safely and keeping spectators at a safe distance.
“The guidelines were written to help people properly organise firework displays, and such events are growing in popularity because they are safer and more fun,” Linfield says.
Experience counts. Mistakes are more likely to be made by novices at smaller displays, whereas big events will often hire specialist contractors to handle the fireworks.
“There could be injuries at an organised firework display,” says Linfield. “But really not as many as if you’re letting them off in your back garden – it’s a totally different risk.”
“We look at the quality of the insured, for example, if they can show they have taken proper safety measures and have a good track record of employing the best contractors to come in and let off the fireworks for them.”
Recession fizzles fireworks
The economic climate is making it difficult for some event organisers to put on firework displays this year. Bristol organisers have cancelled their annual Bonfire Night fireworks fiesta as a result of the high costs involved.
But one area organisers should not be scrimping on is taking out adequate cover. “As an absolute minimum they should be buying public liability and employers’ liability for any people they pay or who volunteer to help them at firework displays, such as stewarding,” advises Linfield. “They may also want to consider cancellation insurance as well, as displays do get cancelled due to the weather.”
Firework code
- Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114
- Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
- Keep fireworks in a closed box
- Follow the instructions on each firework
- Light at arm’s length, using a taper
- Stand well back
- Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode
- Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
- Always supervise children around fireworks
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
- Never give sparklers to a child under five
- Keep pets indoors
