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Our view is that Hazard
(Category) 4 Fireworks should not be available to
members of the public without licensing and a
certificate of display training.
Every year the professionals say to the NCFS,
"We need to raise the level of technical
expertise, both in the firework industry and
display enthusiasts."
Call for enquiry into deaths of 41 Chinese
children assembling fireworks
Last month I reported that 41 children
were killed whilst making fireworks at their
primary School in Jiangxi Province on 6 March.
I wrote first to the Health & Safety
Executive, they are after all supposed to be in
charge of the importation and manufacture of
fireworks to the UK. I asked them on behalf
of NCFS to ask the Chinese Authorities for an
investigation into this tragic event, given that
it was not a one off but 50 people possibly
including children had been killed last year, as
well.
The H&S Executive response was typical, the
manufacture of goods outside the UK was not a
matter for them, they said, but the DTI. We
have written to Dr Kim Howells the Minister for
Consumer Affairs, who has responsibility for
fireworks, asking him to take charge and call for
an enquiry into these events. We have asked
him to go and visit the area concerned with his
officials and see for himself the quality control
(if any) on the manufacture of the Chinese
Fireworks.
We have also written to Mr Romano Prodi,
president of the European Commission asking for a
similar enquiry. Fireworks can, and do,
come into the UK by the back door. So any
regulations should be European wide.
Publication of Review of the Explosives Act
1875
The Health & Safety Executive
reported they intend to publish a consultative
document on their proposals for new firework
regulations as they are getting rid of the 1875
Explosives Act. Two years ago there was a
review of the whole act, and all interested
organisations including NCFS were asked to
comment.
"Following the response to the consultative
document,", they wrote, " we propose to
keep a system of licensing and registration for
the manufacture and storage of explosives
including fireworks. We propose to
introduce powers for local authorities to refuse
or revoke a license or registration.
This could be on two grounds. The first
would be where the licensing authority considers
that the site is not a suitable place to
manufacture or store explosives. The second
would be where the licensing authority considers
that the licensee or registrant is not a fit
person to hold a license or registration.
This is intended to cover a situation where there
has been persistent breaches of the license or
registration conditions or health and safety
regulations, or a deliberate disregard for safety.
"Another proposal is to change the current
law which allows the keeping of an unlimited
quantity of fireworks for up to 14 days without a
license or registration. Our intention is
to allow the keeping of no more than 50 kg net
mass of Hazard Type 4 fireworks (i.e. only those
which may be sold to the public), for up to 21
days, they are not being kept for sale for use at
work.."
The increase in the time for which the fireworks
could be held (from 2 weeks to 3 weeks) is to
bring into line the current practise of
distributing fireworks for use on November 5 up
to 3 weeks before that date.
As these measures go forward for consultation all
those interested can ask to be consulted by
writing to HSE. Our view is that Hazard 4
Fireworks for displays should not be available to
members of the public without licensing and a
certificate of display training. This
cannot be too much ask. pyrotechnists
enthusiasts in the US have very strong
regulations and would not be able to do with
anything less. A man was killed last year
using Hazard 4 Fireworks, and several have been
killed over the years. We remain of the
view that professional fireworks are for the
professionals, not for amateurs with a leaflet.
Every year the professionals say to the NCFS,
"We need to raise the level of technical
expertise, both in the firework industry and
display enthusiasts."
More petitions for new legislation
More signatures from people seeking
urgent new firework controls continue to pour in.
Three new petitions in the past four weeks.
Firework displays are still being put on in areas
where there are animal sanctuaries as well as
domestic pets. We continue to make
representations to the Local Authorities as well
as the organisers.
Millions of animals slaughtered because of
Foot And Mouth Disease
This plague is the most terrible thing
that has happened to animals in the countryside
since the BSE crisis. Intensive farming is
the real reason for this. Perfectly healthy
animals have been slaughtered so that this
industry can continue. Now is the time to
put a stop to intensive farming and to
concentrate instead on organic farming. We
cannot ever justify the killing of so many
animals ever again. People up and down the
country must put pressure on this Government so
that we never have this situation because of
greed again.
While we are about it as a mark of respect to the
slaughtered animals, lets have less explosives
going off in less firework displays and certainly
not in the countryside this year. People
are so shook up already it is going to take them
a hell of time to get over Foot and Mouth Disease
without further disruption with explosives going
off. If you agree with me call the website
and we will take it further
With best wishes,
Noel
6 April 2001
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