Highland Council Trading Standards – “Stay safe with fireworks”advice

As part of a national safety campaign, Highland Council Trading Standards are urging members of the public to enjoy fireworks safely and responsibly.  

Highland Council Trading Standards Manager, David MacKenzie explains:  “We want everyone to enjoy their Bonfire Night and many families and friends may be attending private Bonfire Night parties.  We would advise anyone organising their own Bonfire Night or fireworks event over the autumn period to take a few precautions when buying fireworks and avoid buying fireworks from non-legitimate sources, as they may be unsafe to use.”

Both the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards (CTSI) and Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), jointly lead on this national consumer safety campaign regarding fireworks. Highland Council Trading Standards in support of this campaign also wish to highlight the following key messages to members of the public:  

• Don’t buy from a market stall or from a person selling fireworks from a van on the street! Always buy from legitimate, licensed sellers Consumers can check whether a person is a licensed seller by contacting Highland Council Trading Standards.
• Only buy CE-Marked Fireworks.All fireworks must carry a CE mark which is a manufacturer’s declaration that the goods conform to European safety standards.
• Follow the instructions given which should be clearly displayed on the firework and its packaging and on the firework itself. Stay a safe distance after lighting the fuse and if a firework fails to go off as planned, don’t go back.Wait until the next morning and then put it in a bucket of water for 24 hours.
• Make sure your garden is big enough to allow you to get to the specified distance stated on the fireworks packaging and firework.Stand a clear safe distance and wear protective gloves and googles if you are the adult setting off the firework.
• Never let children handle fireworks. It’s illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to be in possession of adult fireworks. Report it to Highland Council Trading Standards if you have any concerns regarding the sale and/or supply of fireworks to persons under 18 years of age.
• Be considerate of others and observe curfews and restrictions
• Keep pets safe and secure when using fireworks.Information about restrictions and curfew times relating to fireworks can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law

David MacKenzie adds: “We would urge members of the public to consider attending organised fireworks display where possible.  Public firework events can be much more exciting to watch.  They tend to cost thousands of pounds and use fireworks that are not available to members of the public and so can also be good value for money.” 

Further advice for members of the public on responsible and safe use of fireworks can be found at the Fireworks Hub at:  https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/campaigns/fireworks-safety-awareness-campaign 

Businesses looking for free and impartial advice on product safety and fireworks can visit:   www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/underage-sales/fireworks 

Information regarding the role of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) can be found at: www.tradingstandards.uk.  Further information on the role and work undertaken by OPSS can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-product-safety-and-standards/about 

Members of the public who wish to report concerns regarding sale of fireworks to underage persons can do so by contacting Highland Council Trading Standards at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/agerestrictedsales