OSHA Issues Warnings about Protecting Workers in the Pyrotechnic Industry
OSHA is cautioning employers in the fireworks/pyrotechnics industry to protect their workers from hazards they face while handling fireworks for public events.
“As we look forward to celebrating July 4 with fireworks and festivities, we must also consider the safety of workers who handle pyrotechnics,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “It’s the employer’s responsibility to keep everyone safe on the job and take appropriate measures to protect workers making, selling, displaying or otherwise handling dangerous pyrotechnic materials.”
OSHA offers a Safety and Health Topics page that addresses two sectors in the pyrotechnics industry: retail sales of fireworks and fireworks display. The page includes descriptions of common hazards and solutions found in both areas of the industry, downloadable safety posters for workplaces where fireworks are handled and a video demonstrating best industry practices for retail sales and manufacturers based on National Fire Protection Association consensus standards.
The OSHA site references other federal standards associated with the industry, such as those of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, both of which address consumer use of fireworks.
Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.
