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Shooter's Personal Protection Equipment
(If you don't have these minimum basic safety
items, you might as well go home.)
Safety glasses or goggles (shatter proof).
A long sleeve cotton shirt (fire proofed). Preferably white or any other light color. We use light colored shirts just so we can easily spot each other during outdoor shoots.
Cotton jeans (no shorts). You can wear what you want during setup, but while shooting, jeans are required. Nomex jumpsuits work very well.
Ear protection. Any form of ear plugs or shooters muffs. You still must be able to hear directions from the Crew Lead.
Work or hiking boots. (Should be made out of leather or suede)
Leather or suede work gloves.
Cotton ball cap or any other cotton based headwear or hard hat. We use Nomex hoods.
A good flashlight or headlight.
A Little Safety History
Fireworks have always been dangerous.
The pyrotechnicians were considered to have a dangerous job, as do those who
handle and work with fireworks today. In America, the fourth of July has
always been a noisy holiday with guns, drums and cannons. In the 1890's
the "Society for Suppression of Unnecessary Noise" was formed. It tried
to get people to stop using fireworks near certain areas of town, but to no
avail. It was the first group to attempt to make fireworks illegal.
Later, between 1903 and 1907, the American Medical Association kept records of the number of injuries which took place
during the fourth of July celebrations. During those years 1,153 people were killed and 21,520 were injured.
The first city to outlaw fireworks was Springfield, Massachusetts. Other states and cities began following Springfield's example.
Today fireworks are illegal in 35 out of the 50 United States and there are many restrictions placed on their use.
In present day, the United States Treasury Department Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is in charge of reinforcing the bans and laws
regarding firework safety. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)
and the DOT (Department of Transportation) have also taken a very active role
in developing and implementing codes for the safe use and transportation of
Class B and C explosives.
WE FOLLOW NFPA CODE 1123, DOT, STATE, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.
Responsibilities of the Crew Lead
The
term Crew Lead, Operator, or Display Operator is used to refer to the
pyrotechnician in charge of the fireworks display. The
most important responsibility of the Crew Lead is public and display crew
safety.
The Crew Lead is responsible for overseeing all aspects of
the display. The Lead's duties normally include, but are not limited to:
Checking the truck before transportation
Making sure the correct amount of mortars and the correct shells are loaded on the truck, and stowed in a safe manner.
Insure that the crew has all supplies that are needed to conduct the show.
Insure that all safety equipment, crew and personal, are loaded on the truck.
Establish the layout of the entire firing site including mortar placement.
Inspection of all devices prior to show time.
To maintain safe conditions before, during, and after the show.
The Lead also has the responsibility of making sure the the crew and any trainees are properly trained in the performance of their assigned tasks and safety. The Lead is responsible for the safe completion of the entire display. If there is any doubt, or an incident occurs during the show, the Lead has full authority to stop the show.
More Safety Tips
Often, the local Fire Services will be at the site of the display with fire equipment and/or ambulance. However, it is always appropriate for the crew to bring with them the minimal fire protection equipment available in order to fight any small fires in the shooting/fallout area. Equipment should include at least a water-based pressurized fire extinguisher and a shovel.
You must consider wind velocity before shooting a fireworks show. Primarily, you don't want the wind speed to be up so that it carries the fallout of your shells out of the designated fallout area and onto the spectators, vehicles, or buildings. Serious injuries could result from this. Even moderate winds may require the crew to re-aim the mortars to ensure that the spectators, private property, and crew remain safe from fallout. The Crew Lead has the right to cancel/postpone a show do to high winds.
There is no single recommended maximum wind velocity at which the safe firing of a show may take place. This depends entirely on the site and the hazards in the area. The authority having jurisdiction normally has the say in this matter. As a general rule of thumb, the following rules are followed:
Winds of about 5 mph may be a concern for some displays, depending on your surroundings.
Winds of about 10 mph will always be a concern. However, most displays can be shot in these wind speeds, once again, depending on your surroundings.
Winds of 15 mph or greater can generally cause problems. When winds reach this velocity, it may cause the postponement or cancellation of the show.
When it comes to rain, it's generally the Crew Lead's call on whether or not to cancel the show. The Lead should discuss this with the sponsor of the show prior to canceling the show. Make sure all your racks, mortars, and shells are covered with plastic during inclement weather. If your shells get wet, they may not fire properly. Once the rain has stopped, remove the plastic before firing the show.
When planning an outdoor fireworks display, the most important thing to consider is the distance between the discharge area and the audience (your salesperson should have taken this into account already). It is required that the size of your secured display area meets the requirements of 70' radius per shell inch of your largest shell fired in the display. In other words, if your show consists of 3", 4", 6", and 8" shells, then your minimum distance between the fireworks display and the audience should be 560 ft. (8x70'=560 ft.). If your largest shell has a diameter of 6", then your safe distance would be 420 ft. A 12" shell would call for spectator clearance of 840 ft., etc.
Ground displays and non-moving set pieces should be no closer than 75' to the spectators. Lance work and pyrotechnically driven moving parts such as wheels, large elaborate set pieces, and large cracker strings should be separated from the audience by a minimum of 125'. Low level aerial fireworks such as mines, comet barrages, multiple tube devices, and roman candle batteries should be kept at a minimum distance of 200' from the audience.
Under no circumstances should there ever be any alcohol (open or unopened) at the display site. There should be no alcohol consumption at the site, prior, or during the show. Smoking is prohibited within 25' of the display area. No one under the age of 18 is allowed into the display site at any time. This includes, but is not limited to; crew, sponsor, authorities, family, and friends. Only the crew and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (Local Authorities) may be inside the display area at any time.
When loading shells into their mortars, the loader should never carry the shell by its leader (fuse). This may cause the fuse to dislodge from the lift charge or break. It is always best to carry a shell by its body. Never use a fusee (flare) for illumination. Always use a flashlight or headlight. When lowering shells into their mortars, it is imparitive that no part of your body is placed over the muzzle (mouth or opening) of the mortar. Basic rule; Whatever you want to keep, don't put it over the mortar. The loader should check to make sure that the shell has dropped all the way to the bottom of the mortar. To accomplish this without sticking your head over the mortar, simply pull the shell up by the fuse gently about one inch and then let it settle back down to the bottom. Under no circumstances should the loader permanently remove the fuse safety cap. This should only be done by the shooter just before he/she is ready to light that individual shell. (All shells over 6" in diameter must be fired electronically).
Disclaimer
The below listed sources and the designer of this web site disclaim any and
all liability resulting from compliance or non-compliance with the above safety
procedures described or for the completeness of the coverage in the text.
Source:
NFPA Code 1123, 1995
Pyrotechnics Guild International
American Pyrotechnics Association
Roth J. "Fireworks" The World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 7 (1981)