RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
September 27, 2002
RoSPA REMINDER: NO LICENCE - NO FIREWORKS!
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today issued an urgent reminder about the tight new firework regulations in Northern Ireland. Anyone letting off fireworks now has to have a licence - fines of up to £5000 can be imposed for breaking the law.
The only exceptions are indoor fireworks and sparklers, but even these still need to be handled with care. The safest thing to do is to attend a public display.
People wanting to apply for a £30 firework licence will have to specify who is going to fire them and how qualified or experienced they are.
Shopkeepers can only sell to licence holders. Retailers and wholesalers will be expected to check licence details and keep records of sales.
Bangers, mini-rockets, air bombs and fireworks of erratic flight are banned.
RoSPA chairs the Northern Ireland Firework Safety Group and is concerned that many people may still be unclear about the new rules as preparations are made for Hallowe'en celebrations.
Janice Bisp, RoSPA Home Safety Manager for Northern Ireland, said: "Apart from indoor fireworks and sparklers, it is now illegal to possess, purchase, sell, handle or use any other fireworks except under licence. The safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a properly organised public display.
"Great care needs to be taken even with sparklers. They should not be given to anyone under the age of five because the heat can be equivalent to that from a welding torch."
Safety rules for sparklers
- Never give them to young children under five;
- Always wear gloves with sparklers, preferably leather ones;
- Hold the sparkler at arms length while an adult lights it for you;
- Never wave it about near someone else as you could burn them;
- Never hold a baby in your arms when you are holding a sparkler
- When the sparkler has finished, put it into a bucket of cold water straight away and leave it there.
Safety posters and advice are available from RoSPA, Nella House, Dargan Crescent, Belfast BT3 9JP. Tel: 02890 501160.
