ANYONE who buys fireworks over the internet is taking a risk because the same safety standards do not apply and the products may be fake.
That is the straight-talking warning issued this weekend by the Isle of Man Fire Service and the police in their annual campaign to highlight safety to the Manx public close to Bonfire Night.
Instead of taking the risk of buying poor quality fireworks via the internet, the advice is to look for “established brands” which carry the British Standard (BS) 7114 mark or on some fireworks (BS) EN 14035.
“Better still, buy your fireworks locally from licensed shops which have been inspected by our Trading Standards staff,” said John Peet, Chief Inspector of Trading Standards at the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading.
He added, “Fireworks bought over the internet can be a problem. They may not meet safety codes or can even be counterfeit. If you want to buy on the internet look for established brands carrying the BS marks.”
To be totally safe, the advice from the OFT is to buy established brands from local authorised suppliers.
Fire officers and police say the key message to young people and parents in the Isle of Man is “Be Safe Not Sorry - Always Follow The Code”. They are keen to get the message out to the public that children and fireworks are “a dangerous mix.”
The OFT said in a statement this weekend, “No-one under 18 can buy fireworks legally and yet, consistently in the UK, past statistics show over half those suffering injuries each year are under 18. Young people on the Island have fared better over the years but the agencies are determined that we should not become complacent.”
The Office of Fair Trading is responsible for ensuring the safe storage of fireworks at retailers’ premises and the prevention of the sale of banned fireworks on the Island. The Fire Service lead the fireworks safety campaign and the police deal with public nuisance behaviour, as well as working with the Office of Fair Trading to reinforce the message to retailers and young people that fireworks can only be sold to those over 18.
Chief Officer of the Office of Fair Trading Paul Gelling said, “The Office of Fair Trading has worked successfully with the Police and the Fire Service for a number of years to ensure that problems with fireworks are kept to a minimum.
“OFT staff take their licensing responsibilities very seriously and are pleased to acknowledge the support of the other agencies. I hope that this year’s fireworks safety campaign helps to ensure another safe bonfire night for all Island residents.”
Schools are always keen to promote the safety message and the Office of Fair Trading has supplied them with fireworks safety material. In addition the police and Fire Service will be going into the schools to talk to targeted groups about the dangers. The Department of Education and Children Youth Service is also promoting the safety messages through its youth clubs.
During the period October 28 to midnight on November 6 firework displays can be held without notifying the Department of Home Affairs, but anyone planning a display outside of that period must notify the Department at least 21 days in advance of the display date.
Further Quotes
Peter Killey of the Isle of Man Fire Service said, “It is essential that people follow the fireworks code to ensure that they stay safe. Fireworks are explosives and burn at high temperatures, so they need careful handling and storage.”
He said there were some rules to follow:- Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks; Light fireworks at arm's length with a taper; Stand well back and keep others back; Never go back to a firework after it has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off it could still explode; Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them; Always supervise children; Store fireworks in a metal box, kept closed between use; Keep pets indoors; and Never give sparklers to children under 5.
Mike Radcliffe, police Crime Prevention Officer, added, “I am very pleased that the number of incidents over the ‘fireworks week’ has been diminishing during the past few years. In general fireworks seem to be being used sensibly and it is not the intention of the police to prevent people enjoying themselves.
“It is important to remember though that it is an offence for anyone to set off a firework in public causing annoyance, distress or harassment to other persons or domestic animals so anyone letting off fireworks should do so with care and consideration”.
Further information on fireworks in the Isle of Man can be found at www.gov.im/oft and www.gov.im/dha/ceo/fireworks.xml
