Safety advice has been given out to families looking to buy fireworks to celebrate Bonfire Night this week.
Nottingham City Council’s Trading Standards is urging people to only buy from reputable and licensed traders.
Shoppers can check with the team or the fire service whether an outlet is licensed to sell fireworks, or simply ask the shopkeeper to see proof.
Sold fireworks should always have a CE mark clearly displayed on the box. This shows the product has been designed and manufactured in accordance with essential safety requirements.
They should only ever be purchased from reputable traders, and never from car boot sales, door-to-door sellers or market stalls. It is also advisable to avoid private sales on social media ‘buy and sell’ groups.
The legal minimum age for buying fireworks is 18 and if in doubt vendors should ask for ID before sale.
Tips for a safe event include:
- Keep fireworks in a closed metal box
- Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of your garden. Many need a 25-metre safety distance and are not suitable for smaller gardens
- Light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
- Don’t put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
- Never return to a firework that has not gone off, and never throw used or unused fireworks onto a bonfire
- Never drink alcohol while lighting a bonfire or setting off fireworks
- Children under five should not be given sparklers and those over five should wear gloves and be supervised at all times by an adult
- Have consideration for those around you, including notifying neighbours who may have pets and keep pets indoors.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion at Nottingham City Council, said: “Fireworks are great fun at this time for year, but they must only be bought from a reputable retailer. Before buying, seek advice on the suitability with the space available and check they meet current safety standards.
“Each firework will have instructions on how to safely use it. Consider where debris might fall and ensure friends and family are at a safe distance. These will be provided on each firework label or package.
“I hope everyone stays safe and has a wonderful time.”
To reinforce this safety-first approach, the Trading Standards team will be inspecting firework premises to give businesses advice on their responsible sale and storage, plus checking they meet the necessary safety standards.
Trading Standards carried out two seizures from addresses within the city earlier in the year where retailers and homeowners were storing fireworks without the required local authority licence, in addition to supplying unsafe fireworks.
If fireworks are stored without a licence, or people store more than they are permitted to, then they are liable to be seized by Trading Standards.
Further advice for citizens on firework safety can be found at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website at ROSPA – Firework Safety.
Anyone with concerns that retailers are not storing fireworks appropriately, selling fireworks that do not display a CE mark, or selling to anyone under 18, can report the matter to Trading Standards, via Citizens Advice consumer helpline:0808 223 1133 . Advice and guidance for businesses on the sale and supply of fireworks can be found here: https://bit.ly/3oJcZsV