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Posted By Chris Knagg
My brother was setting off fireworks for the family on Friday night. He is a responsible person and was following the instructions on the packet. He lit the fuse on a large rocket at arms length just as he had done minutes previously with the same type and it exploded instantly causing injuries requiring hospital treatment.
For all reading, he was very fortunate suffering a burnt hand, cuts to his face and hearing impairment which we hope will be temporary. He received first class treatment at our local A&E and is recovering.
My question is:
What action/recourse could be taken and who needs to know about the incident?
Supplier - Already contacted
Manufacturer
Trading standards?
HSE?
Environmental Health?
Surely if one rocket is faulty there could be more and there is a duty to pass on this information?
I don't have the details of the rocket or manufacturer at this moment in time, I am waiting for that information.
How do you prove a firework was faulty when the evidence is destroyed?
We have had the injuries photographed;We have kept the packaging; We have witnesses and there is a record of medical treatment. Have I missed anything?
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Posted By Saracen11
Hi Chris, first off, let me wish your brother a speedy recovery.
I think as with any alleged faulty product, your first stop should be with who you purchased it from; to tell them of the fault - they may want to withhold sales until they can be sure what they are selling is safe. Secondly, I'd contact the manufacturer and tell them the same. Then, contact your local TS and tell them. As you say, the evidence is now gone, but there are witnesses that can give an account of the events to whomever might be interested.
You've said your brother is a responsible person, that is not in question - where the fireworks suitable for a garden i.e. where they garden fireworks, not display? Not that it matters in terms of the injuries your brother suffered but it will be one of the first questions asked by the people mentioned above...
Regards
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Posted By Chris Knagg
As with all accident investigations it takes a while to gather all the facts. The first concern was to get medical treatment so the evidence, packaging etc. was saved by a third party and will be retrieved on Monday. Will be able to look at standards, type, manufacturer information then.
The supplier was contacted immediately following the incident by phone to warn them of the problem.
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Posted By Tony Brunskill
Chris,
The advice above is good. Sadly the local EHO or HSE will not get involved in this from a HSWA viewpoint as no one appears to have been at work. You appear to have done all the right things. There must be an enforcing regime and my guess is it is trading standards.
Good luck.
Tony
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Posted By Saracen11
Hi Chris, Tony... it is TS.
Chris, how is your brother?
Regards.
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Posted By Chris Knagg
Spoke to my brother last night he is OK his left hand is in a plastic bag which contains potions and lotions to treat the burn and his hearing is returning. He is still quite shocked about the incident. This could have had a more serious outcome and we are all thankful it didn't.
I am meeting with trading Standards today on another matter and will be discussing it with them.
Thanks for your concern.
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Posted By Tommy Cooper
I am very sorry to hear of your problems Chris. Please wish your brother a speedy recovery.
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Posted By BeSafe
Hi Chris,
I hope your brother makes a speedy recovery. I was also letting off garden and display fireworks for a domestic event on Friday night and had a large rocket malfunction although thankfully no injuries. I was following the instructions and wearing PPE as I don't particularly trust fireworks. The device was manufactured by a well known reputable company. I would contact the suppliers directly as your local retailer may or may not be particularly efficient when dealing with such matters. Also let Trading Standards know as they may have knowledge of a faulty batch. With New Years Eve and the potential for more displays only a matter of weeks away, it may help avert more injuries.
By the way, I'm guessing the same Chris Knagg from Cable 7 days?!
Cheers
Steve
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
HI I hope your brother is recovering well. My thoughts are the HSE/EHO may like to get involved from a section 3 point of view especially if the manufacturer has some record against him of shoddy practice. It's only a phone call.
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Posted By Kenny McGillivray
Hi Chris
Make as much fuss as you possibly can about the incident and maybe someone somewhere will finally get the message and BAN!! the damn things, except possibly when used by professionals at a display.Even then I worry!
I noticed an advert in our local paper where a small corner shop was selling these hand grenades, bombs and rockets at a Fiver a box!!yes a Fiver. What are we all thinking about??
I spent several years in the fire service and spent many nights on and around 5 November chasing around in a fire engine from bonfire to bonfire at great expense and danger!
I realise there probably has been many campaigns to get a ban on firework sales to the public but if anyone knows of such a campaign running now please let me know so I can lend my support.
hope injured party recovers well.
Regards
Kenny
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Posted By Chris Knagg
Steve,
There is only one Chris Knagg!!!
Steve who?
Thansk for all comments received so far. Will definitely be pursuing this one.
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Posted By Chris Knagg
Update.
I now know the manufacturer and the display pack name from which the offending firework came from.
Would it it be right and proper to publish the details on this forum?
I have notified both the retailer and manufacturer/supplier about the problem. More about that later!
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Chris,
I'm not going to answer your question directly, but please be aware that AUG 3 may well apply. Briefly, it states:
Users must not use the forums to make complaints against any individual or organisation.
The Moderators will contact you directly with their decision once the situation has been discussed.
Regards
Jonathan Breeze
Forum Moderator
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Posted By Chris Knagg
Thats why I asked first. Thanks for the comment. I will await decision.
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Posted By TONY
Just read through this trend this is a prime example to how easy things can go wrong and the effect it can have on the whole family.
I think its about time for a total ban on fireworks and more organised displays.
In Ireland anyone letting off fireworks outside of displays could be fined upto 2000 euro.
I doubt if this will ever happen here due to the revenue made from fireworks sales but theres always a tragedy somewhere and thats without the injury to pets or damage caused by fireworks that land on combustible materials.
Hope your brother gets better very soon.
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Posted By Neil Baker
has anyone thought about the danger the sticks pose when falling from the sky, as a responsible person i would only go to an organised display where considerations like this have been taken into account.
I would not attend an ameteur display for the resons in your original posting.
Some one will get seriously hurt one of these days.
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Posted By TBC
A colleague of mine was at an organised display and something came down and hit a small boy in and near the eye as he was looking upwards. No one is sure where it came from - others could have been letting off fireworks at the same time. He will not lose sight, but some damage was caused to the cornea. I live near the sea and set mine off on the beach and pointed my rockets out that way - just it case. I had to delay the launch of one when all of a sudden I smelt strong petrol fumes - yes, you've guessed it a guy next to me dousing some bits of wooden pallets and cardboard with petrol. Had I lit my rocket I don't know what might have happened. My response and comments caused some embarrassment to him and his assembled watchers.
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