Media Release
Fireworks safety testing complete
Tuesday 27 June 2006
The Director of NT WorkSafe, Mark Crossin, today announced that only one firework product is to be withdrawn from sale in the Northern Territory this year.
Five dangerous fireworks were banned last year.
Mr Crossin said: “This is certainly a good sign. It means that the manufacturers and providers of fireworks are listening to us and incorporating our safety advice into their products. Hopefully, this will help to reduce the incidence of injury.”
“NT WorkSafe officers and third party assessors test fireworks stringently every year to ensure that they comply with the performance criteria laid down by Australian Standards. Fireworks that do not comply are not permitted to go on sale,” he said.
Mr Crossin also said that special arrangements had been put in place to ensure crowd safety for the public display of fireworks at Mindil Beach.
The display, by Howard and Sons, will be conducted from an offshore barge and from the Darwin High School end of the beach.
Mr Crossin said Mindil Beach would be divided into three areas for Darwin’s major public fireworks display on Territory Day.
The three areas on the beach will be:
- A “no-go” zone near the public display (Darwin high school end);
- A 600m zone at the casino end of the beach designated for the ignition of private fireworks; and
- An area behind (i.e. market side) each of these ignition zones for people to safely view, first the public display, and then the setting off of fireworks in the private ignition zone.
Mr Crossin said: “The three areas will be clearly sign-posted and cordoned off by mesh fencing.
“This is similar to last year’s arrangements, which worked well. We are expecting a large crowd that will need to fit onto a reasonably small section of beach due to the prevailing tide.”
“We would like people to be quite certain about where it is safe to ignite fireworks and where it is safe to view them from, so that they don’t inadvertently wander onto the wrong side of the barrier.”
“NT WorkSafe officers and Police will be on hand to advise the public.”
Mr Crossin said safety considerations must come first throughout the Territory.
“People must act responsibly when they set up and operate their own private fireworks displays. Young children must be carefully supervised at all times and people should take special care to look after their pets.”
Mr Crossin said he wanted to emphasise:
- The sale of fireworks will be restricted to two days, Friday 30 June and Saturday 1 July, as was the case last year. Fireworks can only be purchased from approved fireworks retailers between the hours of 9am and 9pm on those two days. Fireworks cannot be sold to persons under 16 years of age.
- Fireworks can only be ignited between 6pm and 11pm on Territory Day, Saturday 1 July. Special permits are required at all other times. “It is illegal to keep fireworks after Territory Day,” Mr Crossin said.
- Strict penalties apply under the Dangerous Goods Act for breaches of fireworks regulations with fines of up to $3000.
“Safety bulletins will be displayed at each retail outlet and retailers are being advised to remind customers of the need to follow manufacturers’ instructions and also the guidelines issued by NT WorkSafe,” Mr Crossin said.
Mr Crossin said NT WorkSafe had again coordinated a detailed fireworks safety strategy with several stakeholders, including Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Health and Community Services, local government organisations and the RSPCA.
This process has also been undertaken in Alice Springs and Katherine.
“Safety kits were also sent out to all Government and non-Government schools and safety guidelines were sent home with school newsletters before the end of Term 2,” Mr Crossin said.