“Oooh! Ahhh! Weeeee! Oohhh!”
We’re all familiar with those sounds at this time of year – yes, fireworks!
Bonfires and fireworks are always exciting and they can be plenty of fun for all ages but they can also be very dangerous if the event is not organised and run properly and safely. As the 5th of November comes around, you should ‘remember remember’ a few things to ensure everyone stays safe and to make sure that your insurance policy is covering you.
You should always advise us of your event if you plan to host a firework display, with or without a bonfire. Your policy may not automatically extend to cover your display so if you don’t notify us, it will not be able to respond to any claims you might need to make after the event.
It is also important to understand that ifyou are organising your event in partnership with another organisation, that your insurance alone might not be able to cover all liabilities for the display. This might include a joint display with a local council, or a ‘Churches Together’ event and in this case, you might require joint insurance.
When you contact us, we’ll ask you to fill in a declaration form advising us of the details of your event and you may then have to pay an additional premium to your insurance company to extend your policy to cover your display.
For now, take the time to glance at our top tips and advice for staying safe while you enjoy your Bonfire night entertainment and firework spectacular.
- Check with and inform your local authorities of your event. This includes Fire Brigade, Police and First Aid e.g. St John’s Ambulance
- Choose your display area carefully, keeping well clear of buildings, trees and overhead cables.
- Clearly mark a safe areas for spectators and also any areas into which they must not enter. You may wish to do this with a rope or a barrier. We suggest that the safe area should be about 50m away from the display. Don’t forget to think about wind direction on the day!
- Think about using easily identifiable Stewards for Crowd control. We suggest that you have one steward for every 250 spectators. They should also be in charge of keeping entrance and exit routes clear and obstruction free. They should also know what to do in case of emergency.
- Only ever buy fireworks marked with ‘BS7114’. This code means that the fireworks comply with British Standard for Fireworks criteria for ‘construction, performance, labelling and testing’. You can read more about BS7114 here.
- It is the job of a responsible adult to light the fireworks and bonfire. This person should be completely free of the effects of alcohol and should only use the taper provided with the fireworks to light them. They should read the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging of the fireworks and adhere to them closely. Never use a naked flame to read the instructions on the firework’s packaging, always use a battery powered torch.
- Never return to a firework once it has been lit, even if it has not yet gone off – it could still explode.
- Fireworks should be stored in a closed box well away from any naked flames, especially a bonfire.
- The bonfire should be situated well away from the firework display and a safe distance from spectators.
- Before lighting, the bonfire should be checked for stability, to make sure that the structure won’t topple over. It should also be checked for dangerous rubbish – items like paint tins, aerosols and foam should not be burned. You might also want to check for animals such as hedgehogs sheltering in the bonfire.
- Use firelighters to light the bonfire, never use paraffin, petrol or solvents.
- Do not leave the site of the fire until it is completely extinguished and safe. Pour water on the embers to ensure the fire is out.
- If you plan to serve food at your event, be sure to familiarise yourself with food hygiene and health and safety guidelines. You can find our top food safety tips here.
You can also check out the Safer Places Of Worship (SPOW) website for more guidance. The information given on SPOW predominantly refers to churches but much of the safety guidance is exactly the same for any group or organisation organising a firework and bonfire display. Click here to go directly to the SPOW website.
