Pyrotechnics Industry

Fireworks Display

Fireworks Safety Poster - Display Operators. OSHA and American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Alliance Publication 3248, (2005). Also available as a Pocket Card.
Evacuation Plans and Procedures. OSHA eTool. Helps help retail businesses implement an emergency action plan and comply with OSHA's emergency standards.
Safety Guidelines for Display Fireworks Sites. OSHA, (June 2004).

OSHA Guidance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has compiled the following list of safety guidelines designed to advise display fireworks operators and other affected employers of some procedures that may be followed to help ensure that display fireworks are used safely. It is important to understand that due to their sensitivity, display fireworks can present hazards when improperly handled or used. During the peak season encompassing the 2003 Independence Day holiday, ten fatalities occurred nation-wide involving personnel setting up and conducting fireworks displays. Employers are encouraged to follow these or other more protective safety guidelines when using display fireworks. The following safety guidelines do not supersede any regulatory requirements adopted at the Federal, State, or local levels.

Pre-Display Approval Checklist

Obtain required Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) licenses and permits.
Obtain U.S. Coast Guard approval for displays fired from harbors or navigable waterways.
Obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval if close to an airport or heliport.
Ensure pilots are warned through issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
Submit required applications to the State and/or local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and obtain necessary approval, licenses and permits. Minimum items to address include:
- Qualified operator in charge
- Properly trained assistants
- Site layout with proper separation distances
- Event description
- Firing procedures
- Termination procedures
- Emergency procedures
Arrange for inspections required by State/local AHJ or Federal authorities.
Obtain approval from appropriate authorities to close roads or restrict access.
Arrange for fire service and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to be available for the display.
Obtain the required or appropriate insurance.

Pre-Display Site Checklist

Establish site security prior to arrival of pyrotechnic materials.
Protect all fireworks, pyrotechnic materials, and launching equipment from inclement weather and keep them dry at all times.
Prohibit smoking material, matches, lighters or open flames within 50 feet of fireworks or pyrotechnic material.
Only necessary personnel required to perform the display set up and show shall be allowed at the display site.
Prohibit persons in the display site who are under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or medication that could adversely affect judgment, mobility, or stability.
No cell phones or radio frequency (RF) generating devices are permitted within the immediate discharge area while electrically ignited fireworks or pyrotechnic devices are prepared, loaded, or set up.
Wear all personal protective equipment appropriate for setup duties.
Verify that all mortars and racks are made of approved materials, and are of sufficient strength, length and durability to allow shells to be propelled to safe deflagration heights.
Make sure all mortars, mortar racks, bundles, pre-loaded box items, cakes, candles, and ground displays have been thoroughly inspected and deemed inherently stable.
Avoid placing any portion of your body over mortars during loading, wiring, or igniting, and immediately after the display has been fired.
Use safe handling and loading procedures for all pyrotechnic devices.
Pre-load larger shells as required.
Check proper fit of shells in mortars.
Designate spotter(s).

Display Checklist

Verify fire service and EMS units are available and ready to respond.
Establish good communications between crew, event sponsor, AHJ, and fire service/EMS units.
Maintain crowd control, utilizing monitors and/or barriers.
Use all required personal protective equipment especially protection for: head, eye, hearing, and foot.
Wear long sleeved and long legged clothing made of cotton, wool or similar flame resistant cloth.
Avoid placing any portion of your body over mortars when manually igniting them.
Monitor weather and crowd conditions to maintain safety.
Comply with directions given by the AHJ, spotter(s), or fire/EMS units.
Use only flashlights or other nonincendive lighting in firing and ready box areas.

Post-Display Checklist

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for cleanup duties.
Disable any electric firing switches and disconnect all electric cables.
After at least 15 minutes, conduct search of the display and fallout areas.
Follow proper marking and warning procedures for unexploded shells.
Ensure that all unused live product and duds are accounted for, properly handled, repackaged and secured according to Federal, State and local regulations.
Conduct a second site search at first light.

For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:

Standards

Fireworks display is addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry, maritime, and construction. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to fireworks display.

OSHA Standards

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)		Related Information
1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning	1910.33, Table of contents.	Related Information
	1910.34, Coverage and definitions.	Related Information
	1910.35, Compliance with alternate exit-route codes.	Related Information
	1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes.	Related Information
	1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes.	Related Information
	1910.38, Emergency action plans.	Related Information
	1910.39, Fire prevention plans.	Related Information
1910 Subpart G - Occupational health and environmental control	1910.95, Occupational noise exposure.	Related Information
1910 Subpart H - Hazardous materials	1910.101, Fire prevention plans.	Related Information
	1910.102, Acetylene.	Related Information
	1910.106, Flammable liquids.	Related Information
	1910.109, Explosives and blasting agents.	Related Information
1910 Subpart I - Personal protective equipment	1910.132, General requirements.	Related Information
	1910.133, Eye and face protection.	Related Information
	1910.136, Foot protection.	Related Information
	1910.138, Hand protection.	Related Information
1910 Subpart K - Medical and first aid	1910.151, Medical services and first aid.	Related Information
1910 Subpart L - Fire protection	1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers.	Related Information
1910 Subpart S - Electrical	Covers general requirements for the practical safeguarding of employees in their workplaces from electrical hazards. Special attention should be given to 29 CFR 1910.307, Hazardous (classified), this section covers the requirements for electric equipment and wiring in locations which are classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapors, liquids, or gases, or combustible dusts or fibers which may be present therein and the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present.
	1910.301, Introduction.	Related Information
	1910.302, Electric utilization systems.	Related Information
	1910.303, General.	Related Information
	1910.304, Wiring design and protection.	Related Information
	1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use.	Related Information
	1910.306, Specific purpose equipment and installations.	Related Information
	1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations.	Related Information
	1910.308, Special systems.	Related Information
	1910.332, Training.	Related Information
	1910.333, Selection and use of work practices.	Related Information
	1910.334, Use of equipment.	Related Information
	1910.335, Safeguards for personnel protection.	Related Information
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and hazardous substances	1910.1200, Hazard communication.	Related Information
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and hazardous substances	1910.1201, Retention of DOT markings, placards and labels.	Related Information

Maritime (29 CFR 1915, 1917, 1918)		Related Information
1915
1917
1918	Maritime activities, such as the launching aerial displays from barges, must comply with the maritime standards.

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)		Related Information
1926	Construction activities, such as the building and removal of the display structures, must comply with the construction standards.

State Plan Standards

State Plans are OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories. Most State Plans cover both private sector and state and local government workers throughout the state, while several cover only state and local government workers. See a complete listing of all State Plans. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements. Explore specific State Plan safety and health standards and regulations.

Consensus Standards and the General Duty Clause

Using Consensus standards to support a 5(a)(1) Citation:

A consensus standard can be used to show "industry recognition" of a hazard. However, the hazard must be recognized in the employers' industry, not an industry other than the employers' industry.

Section 5(a)(1):

is not used to enforce "should" standards.
is not used to require abatement methods not required by a specific standard.
is not normally used to cover categories of hazards exempted by an OSHA standard.

Background

Section 5(a)(1):

Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employee;
The general duty provisions can only be used where there is no standard that applies to the particular hazard involved.

Evaluation of Potential 5(a)(1) situations:

Employer failed to keep workplace free of hazards to which employees of that employer were exposed.
- Must involve a serious hazard and employee exposure
- Does not specify a particular abatement method - only that the employer keeps the workplace free of serious hazards by any feasible and effective means.
- The hazard must be reasonably foreseeable.
The hazard was recognized.
- Industry recognition
- Employer recognition
- Common-sense recognition
The hazard caused or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Feasible means to correct the hazard were available.

Directives

Compliance Policy for Manufacture, Storage, Sale, Handling, Use and Display of Pyrotechnics. CPL 02-01-053, (October 27, 2011).

Letters of Interpretation

1910.119 does not apply to public displays of flame effects. (May 16, 1997). The process safety management standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, does not apply to the public display of flame effect systems. However, if the flame-effect-systems operation takes place within a close proximity to a covered process under 29 CFR 1910.119, then the flame-effects-system operation would also be covered by 29 CFR 1910.119.

Other Federal Standards

Other federal agencies have adopted regulations which may impact occupational hazards from pyrotechnics. These include the following:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)