Updated: Man critically injured in fireworks blast

p.bonnici

Oct 27th 2009, 15:50

everything is dangerous nowadays even walking in the street the only difference is that people who get hurt by fireworks chose to work fireworks and new the hazard from the beginning but walking on the pavement and getting hit by a car was not a choice!!!! pls just pray for mario and stop being stubborn maybe it is hard seeing a family member or a freind getting hurt or dying but it is their choice to do so!! when people just off the road get hurt by fireworks then we should talk about banning them! because it is not your hobby it doesnt mean it is not anyone else's!!!

John Said

Oct 26th 2009, 20:22

A 58-year-old Maltese man has died after finding himself in difficulties while swimming at Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo. Shall we stop going to Gozo or stop swimming

Claire Busuttil

Oct 26th 2009, 17:44

Just a question - which entity is responsible for the security in these so called factories? are all of them legal?? are the people, working in the fireworks, well prepared?? do they have some kind of qualifications regarding the matter??....are they licensed??

Chris Grech

Oct 26th 2009, 17:10

grazzi lil kull min wera/qed juri soledarjeta ma sehibna mario. Kuragg lil familjari tieghu, u lil dawk kollha li kienu jafuh. nitolbu ghalieh.

David Mallia

Oct 26th 2009, 12:42

Just to clarify - an outright ban of petards may address noise polution but does not address the risk nor address the question of safety - the high risk fireworks are actually the 'colour'. as they use chemicals which are quite sensitive to changes in temperature pressure and handling.

When you practice a dangerous sport or hobby such as skydiving the person practicing accepts the risk even though not always fully cognizant. Although I consider any death as a tragedy, in our society we must respect what other people practice (within the law). The moment we start 'banning' anything we must as well live in a bulb, because that is the only possibly risk free activity. However, as your actions (such as driving) impinge on others than we must follow common rules otherwise it is anarchy. I submit to the forum that is why strict regulation directly on safety is necessary . We should not break up any traditions but we should care and respect other members of the society concern for safety and best practice.

G. Attard

Oct 25th 2009, 13:54

My thoughts exactly, Mr. Oatman - but while I agree that a ban on petards is necessary for both the sake of noise pollution and the unnecessary loss of life and limb, there will always be a debate on whether a full ban should be made on petards. I respect the traditionalists who are in favour of them - they need to be heard too - so maybe a compromise can be made. I'm no expert on the subject, so I won't write what I don't know about, however there are pros and cons to every solution and they need to be brought to the table. If there is another country that produces the same kind of firework, maybe we can start by looking at their safety record and learn from that....

Anton Zammit

Oct 25th 2009, 12:53

@J Oatmon

Dear Sir would you care to specify who has ever stated that these fireworks are not dangerous? I don't believe I have ever heard the most assiduous of fireworks' enthusiast say that the latter are not dangerous. As to your assertion that the majority believe that fireworks should be banned by law, that is your unsubstantiated opinion. The crowds flocking to fireworks' shows all summer very much outnumber people like you who demand that fireworks are banned. The imposition of your will upon others is not a show of sanity, its just plain disrespect for others' opinions. And no, fireworks enthusiasts are not imposing their will on others as you most probably believe. They are practicing their art (whilst being fully aware of the dangers they are getting into) for the enjoyment of thousands of people. I pray for the recovery of this injured individual, something which I hope you would join me in.

daniel farrugia

Oct 25th 2009, 12:51

@j.oatman

no one says that fireworks are safe!! the person injured was doing what he likes and did not hurt anyone else who does not like fireworks!! there are more dangerous hobbies and no one talks about them.

may god be with this guy and help his family in this difficult time.

Mario Micallef

Oct 25th 2009, 09:05

Mr Oatmon, you are clearly belonging to a group of people who wanna impose the idea that whatever they dont like should be banned...please leave us in peace...don't take advantage of the situation where one of the many volunteers got seriously injured...im 100% sure that he didnt wanna get into this situation...with your argument shall we ban cars cause around 15 people die yearly on our roads...the choice is simple...if you dont like it dont see it...I have heaps of things that i dont like but still have to live with their noise...but i dont say they should ban them...may i remind you that nobody is forced to do this hobby...its a personal choice..

Paul Borg

Oct 25th 2009, 09:04

@ J Oatmon
"More serious injuries from fireworks - does anyone still maintain that fireworks are safe?
It's obvious these fireworks are extremely dangerous, and an unnecsssary (sic) item in the daily life of Malta."

Paraphrase:
More serious injuries from driving (substitute: all sort of sports,construction work,certain hobbies with some element of danger ) -does anyone still maintain that driving (sports, construction works, certain hobbies)are safe?It's obvious that driving (sports, construction works, certain hobbies)are extremely dangerous,and an unnecessary item in the daily life of Malta.

Nothing in life can ever be 100% safe.If you wrap yourself in cotton wool and never leave home you are bound to stub your toe at some time,and,guess what:you will still eventually die.Stop using relatively rare unfortunate accidents to try to banish long standing cultural traditions which are enjoyed by the vast majority of people in Malta(and indeed universally). Your connection with Malta appears to be recent and it is the height of arrogance to demand your host culture change its ways at your behest.The accidents harmed no one but the people who were pursuing their "exciting" hobby.

A. Borg

Oct 25th 2009, 08:31

@ J.Oatmon

Maybe you also could hav written this since a person died swimming yeterday:

More serious injuries from swimming - does anyone still maintain that swimming is safe?
It's obvious that swimming is extremely dangerous, and an unnecsssary item in the daily life of Malta.

Its time for the law to ban all swimming in Malta, and the government to stop being so spineless and chicken, in dealing with this disgraceful situation. Every year people get killed and maimed just for a dangerous 'hobby' (swimming) which most sane Maltese wish to end!

Roderick Micallef

Oct 25th 2009, 07:44

Dear Mr.Oatmon, fireworks are relatively safe if you are just watching them being fired up but a bit more challenging for the people that actually produce them. However there are a lot of unsafe things in life, to mention a few: travelling (cars,planes,trains,etc.), smoking, drinking, swimming. Actually all things in life can become dangerous in a way, even a kitchen knife so what do we do ban everything?
The people that produce such products which you refer to as hobbiests are aware of such dangers but keep practicing this 'hobby' because they have a passion for it, because they love it . That should be more than enough reason to keep practising this 'hobby'.
I am sure that the majority of maltese & foreigners love the fireworks displays in summer, and am confident that only a small minority like yourself would attack pyrotechnics with the excuse of the dangers.
As a last note I wonder whether you are maltese yourself in the first place, most probably you are not but here you are stating that 'most sane maltese wish this to end', can you kindly give us more details as to how you came up with this conclusion?

Charles Micallef

Oct 25th 2009, 07:41

AND AGAIN.......yet another sacrifice !

Ramon Casha

Oct 25th 2009, 06:10

Some things never change, and probably never will. There will be a few words shared on the media about the dangers created by these explosives, but by next week it will be business as usual, until the next "unfortunate accident"... and the next, and the next.

Zap Branagan

Oct 25th 2009, 05:40

Again, and again, and again, and again...

It's becoming a bit of a joke, isn't it?

Wake up, people, this is a tiny nation, yet it has more fireworks accidents than big European countries.

J Gouder

Oct 25th 2009, 05:26

@ J. Oatman - speak for yourself - Most sane Maltese do NOT want to ban fireworks, which has been part of our culture for many years!!

We just want them to be more safe though.. It is true that health and safety is a disgrace.. But that seems to be something ingrained in the Maltese psych. Health and safety seems to be ignored in most sectors. Just look at the number of deaths that take place in the building business.

Then again, with your argument we should ban all builders and masons because more people die in building accidents than in fireworks accidents...

David Caruana

Oct 25th 2009, 04:53

Dear Mr.Oatmon,

Please keep in mind that fireworks are intrinsic to Maltese culture. I am 100% Maltese, I consider myself sane BUT I don't want another part of my Maltese heritage to disappear.

I do agree with you though that there must be stricter control from the authorities. Yes you are right in saying, if it's not 100% safe, it shouldn't be done. No life should be put in danger for any hobby.

Margaret Attard

Oct 25th 2009, 02:47

Lets stop this excessive criticism. Is it not they themselves that decide to go to the factory? So where is the problem. I feel sorry for what happenned but they know what they are going into! Fireworks factories have to be strictly regulated so as for no civilian to get hurt in any way but then if they decide to be there themselves no one should stop the. As for the noise, I heard at the news that they are giving themselves a self regolation so why all this fuss. They have to understand that certain fireworks are not in place at late hours for excessive noise and i think that they have understood. I beleive that they are being more democratic than some of us who are annoyed by excessive sounds so lets give them a break.

Mario Ciantar

Oct 25th 2009, 02:38

While praying for the better health conditions of this young firework enthusiast i feel that if the firework factories respect the required law conditions they should not be banned at all. They do provide a wonderfull spectacle for both Maltese and foreigners visiting Malta. I think the fireworks organization has given itself a self regulation which i have to say is what we where expecting. So it is nonsense to go on criticising these people even if they show they want to cooperate in reducing the excessive noise at certain hours of the day. They are teaching the country that we can come to some sort of agreement. Let's wait till the next festive season before we go on criticising these people.

Dennis Zammit

Oct 25th 2009, 02:34

@Oatmon.

So let stop driving cars as well as more people die from car accidents every year.

Oh, Oh, lets stop working as well as more people die in work related accidents every year.

Then, why not stop all airplanes as some do crash etc every year killing people.

In my opinion, the Govt. through any of its agencies should enforce safety and observations of the laws which must be improved. For example, the video shows a normal boundary wall and not a blast wall which should be rather thick to contain any explosion.

Mark Attard

Oct 25th 2009, 02:30

Fireworks are noise pollution to many,
but surely the government MUST impose stricter safety regulations.
I am sure the AFM handles explosives safer.

Karl Consiglio

Oct 25th 2009, 02:02

Look, its as simple as this, You play with fire, YOU GET BURNT.

Andrew Camenzuli

Oct 25th 2009, 01:56

I think it's better to stop these childish comments. the accident at this factory caused no damage to other third parties. Its better if you pray for our beloved voluntary that he get better rather than being so disrespectful. I think that it's about time that the government helps all factories in making them safe, and save this tradition. This is a Maltese tradition and if this does not make any effect for you just don't comment, just live and let live. I agree for more control but banning is not fair.

Jean Paul

Oct 25th 2009, 00:34

I wish to ask those people that want fireworks banned from this country....what is really safe in life? since the time you are baby there may be dangerous issues like for example your mother can have a miscarriage, football you can break your leg, you can be run over by a car whilst walking. So please stop talking nonsense and respect other people's hobbies.

B Chetcuti

Oct 25th 2009, 00:28

Mr O Oatmon can u please shut up and tell a prayer for the victim. Its not true what you are saying. Its a tradition that we need to keep. An accdent is always an accident.. Dont be rude and say a prayer for him to see him back in our club :) Kuragg Mario il madonna mijek

Alfred Grima

Oct 24th 2009, 23:36

So Mr Oatmon, shall we get rid of all cars in Malta to be sure that we do not hear about any more traffic accidents? As I believe that we are losing more lives in traffic accidents than anything else.

Saviour Sam Agius

Oct 24th 2009, 22:54

Oh, I like your very sound logic Mr J Oatman. Cars kill more people than fireworks. By your reasoning, shouldn't the government ban them too and stop being a chicken? What sort of logic are we applying here? Argue sensibly. The fact that fireworks are noisy and the noise can annoy people is a valid argument but saying that something should be banned because it's dangerous to oneself is silly to say the least. In the long run, we won't even be allowed to walk because we might twist an ankle. I don't think the state should be our nanny.

Norbert Bugeja

Oct 24th 2009, 22:21

@ J Oatmon

Fireworks are part of our folk and tradition and a hobby to thousands of people.....of course it's dangerous but more people die or get hurt thro traffic accidents .......

Shall we ban driving or crossing the roads?

James Scerri

Oct 24th 2009, 21:52

First of all...hope for a speedy recovery to this young lad!

@ J Oatman: If petards for you are lousy and unnecessary..well that your opinion. You're entitled to an opinion like everyone on the planet. However, what you're not entitled to, is to generalise the situation to all of Malta. For Christ sake, a man is critically injured and all you're thinking of is to stop petards?! I will say this in Maltese no to lose anything in translation : Kulhadd jara sal ponta ta mniehru!!

Erin Ciantar

Oct 24th 2009, 21:44

Here we go again!! Same old story but we never learn

Michael Neville Cassar

Oct 24th 2009, 21:20

It is sad to see so many injured and killed each year, but people will never learn to keep away from fireworks not unless the Government will put his foot down.

Joseph Schembri

Oct 24th 2009, 21:15

Yes Mr. Oatmon ... why not? At the same time lets ban all kitchen knives, skeet shooting shotguns, automobiles in general, fishing equipment (we all know what a stray hook can do to the eye-sight), and while we're at it let's ban sports as well (since we all know they're dangerous as well - look at the 4 deaths recorded in last week's Detroit Marathon). Give us a break ... regulate the noise as much as needed but don't ban the hobby.

Eric Camilleri

Oct 24th 2009, 21:15

Mr Oatman
Is "BAN" the only word in your vocabulary ?

J Oatmon

Oct 24th 2009, 20:29

More serious injuries from fireworks - does anyone still maintain that fireworks are safe?
It's obvious these fireworks are extremely dangerous, and an unnecsssary item in the daily life of Malta.

Its time for the law to ban all petards in Malta, and the government to stop being so spineless and chicken, in dealing with this disgraceful situation. Every year people get killed and maimed just for a dangerous noisy 'hobby' which most sane Maltese wish to end!