Fireworks Safety

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and with it comes a unique form of holiday hazard; the fireworks show.

First things first: if fireworks are illegal in your area, do not use them. Legality varies across the states, and each safety standard is there for a reason. For example, aerial fireworks are completely illegal in California because of the danger of wildfires, and consumer fireworks are illegal in many states to ensure that only professionals are handling explosives.

The safest way to see fireworks is to visit a local show put on by professionals rather than to try to light them yourself. This ensures you get a good show without any risk of injury; but if you simply must put on your own fireworks show, and it is legal for you to do so, here’s what you need to know.

How to Stay Safe around Fireworks

First, you must understand the dangers that fireworks pose. More than 31,000 reported fires are started by fireworks every year, and burns make up 38% of the 7,400 injuries treated in emergency rooms during the month surrounding July 4th. Most of these injuries are to hands, fingers, legs, eyes, and other parts of the head. Fireworks burn extremely hot, and move at fast speeds. Handling them should come with the same amount of caution one would use for a gun or any other type of explosive.

With this in mind, if you are using consumer fireworks, do not allow young children to handle them. If you intend to allow teenagers to use them, ensure that they are doing so only under adult supervision.

An important reminder on any holiday; be careful to keep in mind what you are planning on doing when you are drinking. You should never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Anyone using fireworks or standing near where they will be lit and/or launched should wear protective eyewear, and be careful never to hold fireworks in their hands or light them indoors. When using them, ensure you are well away from houses or flammable material. Never point or throw fireworks at any other person or group of people.

Only light one firework at a time, and once it is lit, maintain a safe distance. A “safe” distance differs depending on the size and kind of firework you are lighting, so research them well before purchasing or lighting to ensure you are able to do so. Never ignite devices inside of a container or try to relight or pick up fireworks that have malfunctioned. You never know when these fireworks could spontaneously go off.

After you are done with your show, be sure to soak both the spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before throwing them away. You can also keep a bucket of water nearby to extinguish fireworks that malfunction fully, or to put out any fires that may occur.

A side note on sparklers: they’re generally considered less dangerous than fireworks and are legal in most places. Unfortunately, the lack of concern surrounding sparklers can make them incredibly dangerous for small children. 29% of fireworks injuries to children under the age of five on the fourth of July are from sparklers, which burn at about 2,000 degrees.

If you want to hand any child a sparkler, do not hand them a lit sparkler without telling them what it is. Many children let go when they see fire, leading to burns on children’s feet and legs. Make sure to provide supervision and appropriate preparation when allowing children to handle burning items of any kind.

Go Beyond Firework Safety

Beyond the holidays, many of the hazards we face daily can be overlooked as much as the hazards we create on the Fourth of July. If your workplace ever feels like playing with fire, we’re here to help.

Here at System Improvements Inc., we aim to help you and your company create safe and working systems without having to face disaster to reach them. If you’re interested in learning how to improve the system at your workplace, you can contact us for a free briefing about TapRooT® RCA here.

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