Firework displays run by staff/governors, members of the PTA etc. and action you should take

Risk can be minimised by making a risk assessment for this activity in the following way:

Identify all hazards involved (i.e. the potential to cause harm):

• Airborne missiles

• Flames from a bonfire

• Large numbers of people often in an excited state

• Electrical hazards

• Slip, trip and fall hazards from poor lighting, cables etc

Identifying the risks arising from these hazards: (i.e. the probability of the harm being realised:

• Impact with people

• Fire spreading to a building

• Persons collapsing if tightly packed together

Identifying the probable outcome:

• Injury from minor to fatal

• Destruction of buildings

• The number of people who are likely to be affected

Control the risk by ensuring:

• Adequate separation between the display and onlookers

• Adequate separation between the bonfire and onlookers

• Competent persons (operators) to set off the display

• Adequate personal protective equipment is provided for the firers

• Adequate separation between the display, the buildings area and the audience

• Good crowd control

• Adequate means of raising the alarm

• Adequate fire fighting equipment etc

Full details of this can be found in the Explosive Industry Group (EIG) publications “Working Together on Fireworks Displays” and “Giving Your Own Fireworks Display”.