Fireworks enthusiasts baffled by Mosta blast
Funeral on Tuesday
Fireworks enthusiasts are baffled by what went wrong when three massive explosions at the Mosta fireworks factory claimed the life of 41-year-old Mario Dimech on Friday.
This was the first time a fireworks tragedy occurred so close to a feast, when the works were "completed" and the fireworks were only being transported.
A source told The Sunday Times that incidents at this point of the fireworks process were generally unheard of as this was not the dangerous part of the manufacturing.
Shocked Mosta residents were still hoping to find Mr Dimech alive until early yesterday, according to Nicolo Isourd Band Club president Zaren Vassallo.
However, all hope fizzled out at 8 a.m. yesterday when his body was found completely burned among the debris in the centre of the explosion, Mr Vassallo said.
Mr Dimech was the only person at the factory, as the other 13 people working at the factory were out eating. They were meant to join him later.
Investigations were finding difficulty establishing the cause of the explosion, Mr Vassallo said.
"It could be that he was loading the fireworks and dropped one - anything is possible. However, what is certain is he wasn't working on any of the fireworks," he continued.
The August 15 fireworks factory was renowned for its safety standards, according to Michael Falzon, legal advisor for the Malta Pyrotechnics Society. This made the incident all the more shocking.
"It's a mystery to everyone. Only Mr Dimech knows what happened at this point," Mr Falzon said.
When asked whether a bad batch of fireworks could have been produced, which could have triggered the explosion, Mr Falzon said there was "nothing wrong" with the fireworks.
Several fireworks enthusiasts voiced their concern, saying once works were completed there was no problem with heat and humidity, which usually kept them from working in the summer afternoon sun.
"We hope investigations reveal a cause that may perhaps serve as a lesson to all of us," one enthusiast said.
"I think the workers are lucky there wasn't anyone else there," another enthusiast said, adding it was too early to speculate as to what could have gone wrong.
Today's external celebrations of the Santa Maria feast in Mosta have been cancelled following the tragedy and a quiet rosary reciting pilgrimage up to the fountain will be carried out instead.
The fireworks that were already laid out for firing will be let off in a display lasting 15 minutes at Mosta at 9 p.m. tonight.
The decision was taken unanimously during a meeting involving the archpriest, the feast commission, the police, and representatives of Nicolo Isourd and Santa Marija societies and the 15th August fireworks factory, who concluded it would be more dangerous to dismantle them and transport them off-site, especially as there was no factory to take them to.
A statement sent out by the parish explained that while ground fireworks were being safely removed, it was too dangerous to remove other fireworks, and these would be let off today.
Mr Vassallo explained how this incident further brought independent Mosta societies closer together.
Mr Dimech's funeral will take place on Tuesday.
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Miriam Webster
Aug 16th 2010, 13:24
The very title of this article really does say it all: "enthusiasts baffled".
Enthusiasts: also referred to as dilettantes. From Merriam-Webster (no relationship) Online:
1. an admirer or lover of the arts
2. a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge
Superficial interest, but no real knowledge, which is why they are baffled.
Fireworks are explosive devices, plain and simple. They are dangerous, plain and simple. Oh sure, we can choose to dismiss the danger, or we can acknowledge it, which would be the first step towards addressing the issue.
The same goes for other "normal" day-to-day dangers we regularly dismiss: for example, those that result in workplace and motor vehicle incidents. Note that I intentionally use the term incident, not accident, as the latter term implies that these events are unavoidable, when that is simply not the case.
Food for thought: to dismiss the dangers of avoidable/preventable incidents, we are actually lowering the value of human life on this island. Why would we knowingly do that?
D.Degaetano
Aug 16th 2010, 10:59
I was out with my family for a walk yesterday at Tal-Virtu in Rabat when the fireworks were let off. It was very sad watching them thinking that one of the people who made them with so much love is now no more! RIP and may God give strength to his family and friends! Please make stricter laws for this hobby because too many lives are being lost!
F.Psaila
Aug 16th 2010, 01:47
I believe the major two reasons for the increase in frequency of such accidents has to be due to "inferior materials used due to higher running costs" and in this particular case it sounds more reasonable that "something was being fixed after the initial let offs showed some defect in the workmanship which would have made it reasonable enough to attempt to fix it". Enthusiasts familiar with this environment know these two reasons well enough. Static electricity can be a reasonable cause but it is more likely to happen during the manufacturing phase and for the sake of information, if a petard that drops from 1 meter can be set alight due to friction then the same problem can also occur during the letting off phase causing the petard to fire immediately on or just above ground, which can be as dangerous. In the latter case then it can be duly considered lack of workmanship. In all cases being a professional manufacturer or an amateur hobbyist, the risk factor remains equally balance, one due to greed and the latter due to over-zealousness.
May you all permit his soul to rest in peace and consolation to his family.
James A. Tyrrell
Aug 15th 2010, 22:55
@Charles Sammut. Charles you seem to have missed the point here and in fact strengthened my argument perhaps without meaning to. What happened at Enschede, as well as in Denmark and England were disasters and I agree with you that the police and firemen were completely irresponsible, especially at Enschede where they allowed the people to stand there like idiots and watch!
The point is Charles in all three cases these were purpose built factories staffed by properly trained personnel with all the proper health and safety training, and look what happened. The people in those cases were not amateurs making explosive devices for a hobby in a collection of stone rooms with tin roofs on a hilltop!
I think the owner of the English factory best summed it up when he compared a fireworks factory as being like keeping a tiger for a pet. Most of the time everything is fine then one day the tiger gets hungry and decides to bite back!
Mike Farrugia
Aug 15th 2010, 19:17
Perhaps the time has come to go for quality rather than quantity. Why not organise feasts with few but spectacular fireworks? Do we need to see the same thing over and over again during a feast?
I once attended a feast in Gozo. They had 45 mins of fireworks non-stop while the statue was entering back in church. 5 mins would have been enough.
Less explosives would definitely make this art safer.
Chris Ebejer
Aug 15th 2010, 18:40
Il-haga hija li kulhadd jispekula u jitfa teorija tighu ghax it-temperatura, u shana........ Ghawn 6 festi ohra ghaddejja f'dal-mument u l-ebda murtali ohra ma hadu minhabba it-transport u static electricity fireworks explosion. Jekk kien verament dan il-kaz, kellhom ghalfejn jiehdu ta sitt festi ohra. Kull sajf isiru transport ta eluf ta murtali f'temperaturi gholjin u umdita baxxa u ma hadux bhal ma gara f'dal kaz uniku fil-gimgha tal-festa. Ghadu hadd ma jista jbassar x'kien ezatt ghax Mario kien wahdu fil-kamra dak lil hin. l-Aktar kaz prattiku huwa li inqaras ballun li seta waqa. Imma din ukoll hija suggett miftuh.
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 22:11
Chris, by your reasoning, if a car crashes, all the other cars on the road should also crash.
Accidents are rarely the result of just one mistake. It is usually a combination of mistakes culminating in the final tragedy. It is the coming together of a number of unfortunate circumstances in a particular situation. I hope that once it is determined what the victim was doing, what clothes he was wearing, what shoes he had on his feet, what he was carrying at the time, a clearer picture will emerge. For example a synthetic (nylon or polyester) tee shirt and rubber soled shoes would be part of the jigsaw puzzle. I am sure that the experts know what to look for and that they will do their utmost to get to the bottom of it.
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 17:52
Google "static electricity fireworks explosion" and the following come up on the first page.
http://nobombs.net/brucel/explosiveintro.html
3. Static electricity is everywhere. It is created by motion. A car driving down the road is creating static electricity as you travel. Wind or walking on a carpet can create static electricity. You can create static electricity by running your fingers through your hair. It is usually not visible but you can sometimes see it in the dark or hear it "crack". I am sure that everyone has been shocked by static electricity when they grab a door handle after sliding across a car seat. Synthetic clothing tends to create static electricity and cotton clothing tends to prevent static electricity. A simple spark of static electricity near an explosive mixture will quite often cause an explosion. Many fatal fireworks accidents have been caused by static electricity and these accidents can occur at any time.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/07/07/1258548/two-shirts-caused-fireworks-blast.html
http://www.mountainhomenews.com/story/1647270.html
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5523300/
http://www.esdjournal.com/static/fireworks/kilgore.htm
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FIREWORKS+EXPLOSION+KILLS+WOMAN%3B+MOORPARK+MOTHER+SETTING+UP+FIREWORKS...-a083616607
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Boy-hurt-by-fireworks-blast-has-warning-for-other-kids-97897949.html
So there, don't take my word for it. But some people are too lazy to look things up.
Joseph Vassallo
Aug 16th 2010, 01:25
My question to you is this... "How does static electricity get discharged to earth without contact or close proximity to metal?"
I hardly think that any of these factories have at any time invested in anti-static flooring that allows for trickle or out-of-zone discharge.
You will most likely encounter such installations in operating theatres where volatile fluids are used whose evaporation builds into a combustible/explosive gas. Wasn't there a hospital in Italy that was blown up by just such an event some years back?
The presence of ether is one such circumstance that is potentially explosive so I hope that our state-of-the-art hospital was specified with correct precautions.
V Battistino
Aug 15th 2010, 16:00
Install CCTV systems manned from a remote area (like speed camera system) so that all activity is monitored. after all this is a really dangerous activity and all the happenings inside the complex should be controlled.....
I ask....
what was this poor soul doing alone in the factory when his friends were out eating ?
the work had been done and as such it required only transporting ... but alone ? a one man job ?
what vehicle was going to be used ? who is the owner of this vehicle ? is it well adapted to carry such material ? would the same thing have happened if it was out in the street ?
if he was not handling any explosives, then why did it go off ? is it that much unsafe ?
Renee' Deguara
Aug 16th 2010, 12:21
l-ewwel nett nixtieq nghidlek li kieku tkun taf minn xiex se tghaddi hadd ma jghaddi minna u dan ma tistax toqghod tghid ghax kien wahdu jew kien qieghed igorr xi materjal wahdu jew kif u xfatta... ghax xi kultant tkun f'sitwazzjoni li qas tkun taf kif spiccajt fiha ahseb u ara. dawk ghalihom tant jidraw li qishom dehlin id-dar mhux bhalna nibzghu ghax kamra tan-nhar .... u ohra sorry lanqas xtip ta karozzi mghandhom xjaqsmu anzi kif issuqhom - hemmhekk iva joqodu attenti ghax attivita li ssir darba f''sena mhux bhal meta qed jahdmu murtall tigi tant komuni..... Madonna zomm idejk fuq kulhadd specjalment fuq dawn in-nies ghax ghandom bzonn id-devozzjoni tieghek!! l-kondoljanzi lil- familjari....
V Battistino
Aug 16th 2010, 13:25
possibbli wara tant imwiet nibqghu nghidu li hadd ma jkun jaf min xiex ser jghaddi ?
hafna incidenti fi kwalunke settur isiru ghax dak li jkun ikun dara', jibda jiehu l-affarijiet for granted imbghad iweggha jew jitlef hajtu jew iweggha l-haddiehor u wara nighdiu ghax incident !!
affarijiet bhal dawn hemm bzonn li niehduhom b'aktar attenzjoni u serjeta' !!!
James A. Tyrrell
Aug 15th 2010, 15:59
The one word, which seems to dominate every time one of these accidents occurs, is the word 'enthusiast'. Malta must be the only civilised country in the world which allows 'enthusiasts' to construct and transport bombs, because lets face it that's what they are, in and through public areas.
It's not enough to say that you are baffled by what has happened. A man has lost his life as others have before him and being baffled just doesn't cut it. I think that the people who give of their time to make these fireworks, which entertain so many people, are very skilled in what they do, but they are 'enthusiasts' not explosive experts.
The making of fireworks must continue as it is part of Maltese tradition but the time has come for proper regulation to be imposed by the Government to ensure the safety of the people involved in the manufacture and those members of the public who may through no fault of their own find themselves in close proximity to one of these accidents.
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 18:30
No, Mr Tyrell, Malta is not the only civilised country in the world to allow this.
This was in the Netherlands in 2000. A fireworks factory in a built-up area. When it blew up, 23 people were killed and 950 people were injured. 2000 homes destroyed. As you can see the police and firemen were completely irresponsible and did not clear the area. I think that the authorities in Malta acted far more responsibly.
This is footage of the actual explosion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks5X0N8M_o8
This includes footage of the aftermath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVqCWErj2Pc
Denmark is also a civilised country: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBW8tLYVI7o
This is in the UK, is it a civilised country? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPFXD-DsPTM
For the superstitiously inclined, this was on the 13th May 2000, the feast of the Madonna of Fatima.
Peter Korsten
Aug 16th 2010, 11:19
@Charles Sammut:
The biggest problem was that someone, who handed out the permit, didn't consider it a safety issue that a fireworks factory was located in the middle of a residential area. The owners of the factory also didn't consider it a problem that fireworks were also stored in shipping containers instead of only bunkers.
Until that fateful day, very few people in the Netherlands were aware of the dangers of stores of fireworks, because fireworks are only set off on New Year's Eve, or by professionals during special events.
Obviously, now the situation has been remedied, as is usually the case after people die. But you can't compare the situation in Malta to that in the Netherlands, and for sure there are no amateurs produce fireworks. Not that this makes any difference, as exemplified by the explosion of the supposedly professional fireworks factory in Enschede.
Aldo Refalo
Aug 15th 2010, 15:47
""We hope investigations reveal a cause that may perhaps serve as a lesson to all of us," one enthusiast said."
I think that evidence of what happened is enough to say not to play with fire. This is the lesson that this enthusiast should now learn.
A Zahra
Aug 15th 2010, 15:15
There are only two things which can cause a completed firework to explode unexpectedly namely
a) A naked flame fire .
b) Dropping it sharply "jinqaras" especially if it employs chlorate based substances.
Whilst electrostatic discharge can set off easily powder mixtures in the dry state especially chlorate based flash mixtrures it is practiucally impossible for ESD to set off a ready fireworks. However ESD may possibly ignite an electric igniter which is retrofitted in shells for electronic firing. In fact to avoid this it is very normal safety practice to have these devices left shorted so as to avoid any form of induced current to flow in the ignition device since current cannot flow in an equipotential loop. What is definitely very wrong practice is that some factories are fitting bronze nails (one used by tapisters) to these igintion devices so that on the field they can hammer them into the firing line.
Besides unshorting the ignition device ends (devices are always delivered shorted by suppliers) to do the modification putting on a pointed nail is like putting on a magnet for ESD. Which will act as a sink for any accumulated charge.
A.J. Anastasi
Aug 15th 2010, 15:10
From the comments appearing today, a lot of concern is centred on the transportation of fireworks from the factory to the firing-site; and this is justifiably accepted.
Some few days ago, I happened to be driving behind a small truck carrying a full truck load of fireworks without actually knowing what I was following if just the driver of the small white light-car just infront of me and right behind this truck, did not start warning me through his gestures with his right arm holding a presumably police-hat to keep my distance from his vehicle.
I was baffled by these gesticulations only to realise that just in front of him was this truck load of fireworks which were dangling from the three sides of this truck and luckily not falling off!
All this was happening while driving up the Ta’ Alla u Ommu hill in Naxxar at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
On realising what I was actually following, I immediately hit on my foot-brakes and let this “Time Bomb” disappear from my sight as quickly as possible!
Is this the CORRECT way, these “Time Bombs” are to be transported?
A.J.A.
Mark J. Magri
Aug 15th 2010, 14:07
Do not play with fire as it hurts you with any prior warning....
The more fireworks produced...the more deaths in the pipeline...
So-beware...It is better festas without fireworks than more fireworks tragedies...
Ramon Casha
Aug 15th 2010, 13:22
What's baffling is that people say they're baffled. Explosions happened in the (recent) past and nothing was changed in the aftermath. Just a few speeches, a toned-down festa then everything goes on as usual. If nothing is done and nothing changes after this one, it won't be surprising when it happens again.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 15th 2010, 13:17
Experts get complacent and take risks. Maybe they're not so 'expert'?
Addiction is about risk-taking. Therefore, addiction kills (be it alcohol-indulgence, sex, gambling, climbing the highest peaks, jumping the highest heights, diving the deepest depths, racing the fastest car, etc.).'
Pretty, colourful shapes in the night sky are wonderful for kids. I look at the bigger picture, the inconvenience, the frequent tragedies. MY life would not be poorer with no pyrotechnics.
@Kevin Galea. Applying my true Christian-values - AS THE NON-RELIGIOUS PERSON, THAT I AM, you understand - principle, I would rather not be amused if that means a dead man can still walk the streets with his family. Because nothing is worth a tragic death, especially if it is just a hobby to 'entertain' people - and annoy many others - for a few seconds.
Of course what I'm saying will be dismissed by some/many. And so to the next tragedy.
E. Azzopardi
Aug 15th 2010, 13:06
It WILL NOT serve as a lesson. How many more people need to die and others left as widows and fatherless before we learn our lesson? Repeat, it will not serve as a lesson because we should have learned it a long time ago.
Somebody has to wake up and do something serious about this and fast before the next one.
victor pulis
Aug 15th 2010, 13:05
The fireworks that were already laid out for firing will be let off in a display lasting 15 minutes at Mosta at 9 p.m. tonight.
Wasn't it reported that the fireworks were being let of as a safety precaution? Since when is a safety operation described as a display? i said it yesterday and I'll repeat it. I bet there'll be a crowd watching the display this evening.
Tonio Privitelli
Aug 15th 2010, 13:00
"When asked whether a bad batch of fireworks could have been produced, which could have triggered the explosion, Mr Falzon said there was "nothing wrong" with the fireworks." Ah yes. No explanation, no nothing. How sure of ourselves we are. Of course there was nothing wrong with the fireworks. The only problem was that they blew up just a couple of days too early. But it's only those who want to have this insanity brought to an end, that should be ashamed of themselves. Yes, indeed.
William Attard McCarthy
Aug 15th 2010, 12:59
... I think that Messrs. Sammut & Bezzina have offered the answer here. Static elctricity is most probably the culprit; it has also killed people while refuelling their cars.
Michael Bartolo
Aug 15th 2010, 12:52
Sincere condolences to Mario's family and friends. May he rest in peace! Such a tragedy! I hope that the investigation would throw some light on the reason for the premature explosion to prevent it from happening again. Michael Bartolo (lino), Geneva
Richard Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 12:05
Two years ago around this time, my beloved wife was in her final stage of a terminal sickness and had difficulty to sleep due to the pain she was suffering...........Many times as she finally dozed off she would be shaken up by loud bangs made by these selfish people to the glory of their saints.
I will refrain to say any more......except that....
May God grand eternal peace to my wife.
A.J. Anastasi
Aug 15th 2010, 11:57
From the comments appearing today, a lot of concern is centred on the transportation of fireworks from the factory to the firing-site; and this is justifiably accepted.
Some few days ago, I happened to be driving behind a small truck carrying a full truck load of fireworks without actually knowing what I was following if just the driver of the small white light-car just infront of me and right behind this truck, did not start warning me through his gestures with his right arm holding a presumably police-hat to keep my distance from his vehicle.
I was baffled by these gesticulations only to realise that just in front of him was this truck load of fireworks which were dangling from the three sides of this truck and luckily not falling off!
All this was happening while driving up the Ta’ Alla u Ommu hill in Naxxar at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
On realising what I was actually following, I immediately hit on my foot-brakes and let this “Time Bomb” disappear from my sight as quickly as possible!
Is this the CORRECT way, these “Time Bombs” are to be transported?
A.J.A.
V.Battistino
Aug 15th 2010, 11:45
For accountability's sake....install CCTV systems around the complex with the base at a different place (like the speed cameras system) so that the activity is monitored, recorded and in such incidents the chain of events studied. We use so much money to produce this hobby, we surely could use some funds for such systems !! hopefully, we could also be monitoring the people working inside......
some questions please :
why was one person alone at the time, presumably working ?
should one person alone transport such material ?
transporting means also driving from one place to another ....are pertinent precautions taken ?
what type of vehicles are used ?
who drives these vehicles ?
this is what the legal advisor should be asking his members and not ask unanswerable questions cause the dead can never talk !
We need to safeguard life - that's the bottom line !
stephen bonnici
Aug 15th 2010, 11:36
I dont like fireworks, but you have to respect other people ideas, these persons are doing their hobbies, they are not forced to do so, its like who do stunt, the danger is there but its part of the adventure. Accident can happen any time anywhere you cant eliminate accidents its part of life/ nature.......Accidents - car, planes, boats, bikes, divers, so what.... you eliminate all these and other thousand hobbies and sports and do nothing so you l be safe? I really feel sorry for their families cs I know how difficult it is for them to accept and understand the missing of their relatives, family members and that keeps you thinking............
Kevin Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 11:15
First of all this is a lesson for every one in connection with fireworks so they do not let the guard down in any moment.
Second shame on some people that are always waiting for such tragedy to open cannons against these people and their hobby.
let's face the truth,everyone looks when some fireworks are let off and admires it even he is not supporting this hobby.
Instead of doing the brave after a tragedy lets praise these people for risking their lives all year round to continue our tradition, to make our village festas the most spectacular and brighten our skyes with beautiful colours and designs.
GOD BLESS THOSE PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES DOING FIREWORKS TO DELIGHT US
TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS HOBBY IN THEIR HEART PLAY SAFE AND MAY GOD PROTECT YOU .
Ray Buhagiar
Aug 15th 2010, 11:56
You are simply turning a blind eye. Pyrotechnic enthusiasts are simply that enthusiasts and there competence is lacking in general. Some perhaps are experts but the remainder simply dapple.
Get serious, and if you want to continue enjoy this hobby, get basic education.
Darren J. Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 13:41
I think you need to see this in perspective. People are not "opening cannons" against your hobby.
I think people have had enough of the alarming regularity with which these tragedies are happening. People want to see a stop to all the senseless deaths in the name of a "hobby" and would be happy to see safety regulations in place and enforced so that we stop having the WORST RECORD IN THE WORLD in this type of accident. A factory explodes here on average once every TWO MONTHS!!!!!
Govt and church should have the spine to implement laws and enforce them.
Jon Attard
Aug 15th 2010, 13:58
I am very sorry for all the people who died in the production of our pyrotechnics. I am even more sorry for their bereaved families and for those who died innocently as in the case of the illicit Naxxar factory.
But this is no longer an issue of delight. This has become an issue of safety. It is perhaps time that we grabbed the bull by the horns and do what we should have done very long ago - ban this tragic practice.
It is shameful how people who are too blinkered to see the dangerous practice for what it is keep defending it on the grounds of it being a hobby. No praise and no glory should be attributed to those who risk their lives and other people's lives just for the delight of a moment (plus damages to property, both public and private) ... and to those who are still into the practice, I would like to exhort to common sense - and whether they would want to be the ones to bereave their families next?
P Mifsud
Aug 15th 2010, 14:00
Sorry, but I cannot possibly find it in me to 'praise' anyone for risking his life unnecessarily for the sake of a dangerous hobby. It's perfectly obvious that he would not be taking into consideration the feelings of the people who love him and who are always afraid that they would never see him again in one piece. Yes, I do admire the colourful fireworks when I happen to see them (although I avoid all festas like the plague). There is great workmanship involved but the danger to human life and limb is not worth it.
Do you know of even one fireworks enthusiast whose caring family wholeheartedly supports him in his choice of hobby? Do you know of anyone who actually wasn't seriously relieved that it wasn't his/her loved ones who died so tragically and so needlessly?
Charles Micallef
Aug 15th 2010, 11:01
While expressing my deepest sorrow to the family, friends and colleagues of the victim, who as everyone knows only too well, are 100% committed to their passion / sport!
However after every accident, everyone claims that they are left baffled as how the explosion occurred and I, like the rest of the population, keep asking the same questions over and over again, and no one ever discovered the real reasons why these accidents happen !
Is it human error?
Is it the material that they are using?
Is it the ambience?.
One thing for sure, we must have the highest rate of such accidents in the world.
I also feel that although the victims who do this sport, do it out of love or passion, they must not think very hard of their loved ones and how they are left to cope after these tragedies as if they did and cared enough for their families as they cared for their passion / sport call it what you want, some will seriously think twice before they do it. It has been proven, month after month, year after year, the chances of getting killed are extremely high and are on the increase!
Christian Sciberras
Aug 15th 2010, 16:29
"One thing for sure, we must have the highest rate of such accidents in the world."
Looks like it.
Joseph Tonna
Aug 15th 2010, 10:39
No fireworks, no danger, no noise pollution....
N. Zammit
Aug 15th 2010, 13:20
No Cars, No Danger, No Noise Pollution.
No Paceville, No Drugs, No Noise Pollution.
No Concerts, No Alcohol, No Noise Pollution.
etc....
Should we stop everything??
Paul Barrett
Aug 15th 2010, 10:39
With four factory explosions just this year, it would seem that safety rules are honoured only in their breach.
The above article does beg the question about transportation of high explosives. Were they actually going to be transported through or near residential areas on public roads en masse whilst not in fire-proof containers - the thought is frightening if this is happening.
Rocco Cauchi
Aug 15th 2010, 10:30
Just one simple question please?
What happens if I bump into a car on the carriageway, in normal driving hours, carrying fireworks? Would other innocent passers-by be in any way protected?
Nathalie Vella
Aug 16th 2010, 10:15
What happens when some idiot decides to drive drunk?
Would other innocent passers-by be in any way protected?
S. Camilleri
Aug 15th 2010, 10:28
So this happened to one of the most professional of Fireworks Factories on the Island. I have no reason to doubt this. Its all relative. However the worrying part is that the accident happened during transport! What precautions are taken then? What standards applied and what supervision is carried out by authorities. I hear that fireworks were being transported to Attard. What if this happened during transport on one of our roads
P Mifsud
Aug 15th 2010, 10:18
I have a question: The massive explosion occurred when the fireworks were being moved. How often are completely innocent lives in danger on our roads when fireworks are being transported from A to B? How are fireworks transported from the factory to their final destination? If the 'enthusiasts' are baffled by what happened, can the real experts please tell us what went wrong? It is hardly reassuring to be told that there was "nothing wrong" with the fireworks when something went so obviously horribly wrong.
Eddie Attard
Aug 15th 2010, 10:17
The first and worst fireworks tragedy close to a feast was on the eve of Our Lady of Lourdes feast at Qrendi on 10 July 1926 when Indri Magro, Gużeppi Agius, Indri Camilleri and Salvu Magro lost their lives after an explosion in the fireworks factory.
Joseph Agius
Aug 15th 2010, 10:09
nothing baffling when playing with fire!
Franco Farrugia
Aug 15th 2010, 10:08
'A statement sent out by the parish explained that while ground fireworks were being safely removed, it was too dangerous to remove other fireworks, and these would be let off today.'
Surely, other ways should have been sought, in order to render these fireworks safe. Or else, they should have been let off during the daytime, when surely people would be more aware of what they are doing. So, ... let there be a spectacle!
edward bartolo
Aug 15th 2010, 10:03
Quote: "The August 15 fireworks factory was renowned for its safety standards, according to Michael Falzon, legal advisor for the Malta Pyrotechnics Society. This made the incident all the more shocking."
This only proves that the dangers associated with fireworks are very real. More work in needed to upgrade the safety standards.
Some suggested retraining in an institution: I don't think it is logical to force fireworks workers to relearn everything they already know. This is simply a sheer waste of time. A well prepared examination, including both theory and practice, should guarantee that whoever is involved, has the necessary knowledge and awareness.
Christian Sciberras
Aug 15th 2010, 16:32
"This only proves that the dangers associated with fireworks are very real."
Because we used to think fireworks are akin to shredded coloured paper, didn't we?
Fireworks are especially dangerous considering their flammability and many other *explosive* factors.
Lets learn from other countries; even in military, they're not using flammable explosives anywhere. See "composite 4" as an example...
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 09:57
High temperature + low humidity + movement = static electricity.
Static electricity + tons of fireworks = humongous explosion
Q.E.D.
That was the math on Friday.
Joseph Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 10:32
If your mathematical proof is practical ,why is it that fireworks always explode when someone is present??
I only have one word....Tampering.
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 10:58
Because fireworks on their own do not move. Hence the element of 'movement' in the equation. This 'movement' is usually provided by a person.
Have you never got an electric shock when you get out of the car? In the dark you can even see the spark jump between your finger tip and the door frame. If there is a fine explosive dust around, it will ignite with such a spark. And vehicles themselves are a great source of static electricity and sparks. That is why great precautions are taken around fuel bunkers.
The relative humidity at the time of the explosion was 39% if I remember correctly. That is low enough to provide the conditions required.
Albert Bezzina
Aug 15th 2010, 11:03
Precisely! The hygrometer reading in my kitchen in Mosta was 43%, and this in a kitchen where exposed water sources are present. At a higher altitude on the hillock, lower humidity would have been present. Static electricity discharge is avoided by fireworks manufacturers with specific precautions being taken DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. Was the victim wearing synthetic material like nylon or the like? He would have become a walking capacitor if added to that he was wearing footwear with electrically insulated soles. It would have taken a single pat on a petard from the victim's hand to allow a spark to ground through the petard to set it off.
G Falzon
Aug 15th 2010, 11:53
Elementary, Watson! Because one of the elements in Mr Sammut's formula is "movement" and stored fireworks do not move on their own.
Besides I doubt the statement "fireworks always explode when someone is present". If I am not mistaken, fireworks did explode when no humans were around, and the explosions were attributed to mice or short circuits. But I am not 100% sure about these statistics.
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 11:56
It would be interesting to retrieve the temperature/dew point readings at the time of the last few fireworks accidents. The Met Office keeps these records meticulously, so it should be easy.
This would confirm what I am saying. We all hate 'ir-rih isfel' but it is a firework enthusiast's best friend and protector.
There are special shoes with metal inserts in their soles to discharge any static electricity that accumulates on the person. There are also special wrist bands which are connected to earth and which carry out the same function. Even simply wearing wet footwear will probably be enough to save your life.
Joseph Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 12:02
So by this reasoning we will soon start seeing explosions while fireworks are being transported on our roads to their final destination because of too many sparks by too many people involved in transportation caused by the exact temperatures and humidity levels.
M Vella
Aug 15th 2010, 12:06
Mr Sammut this electric shock happens to me nearly always when I close my car door in fact it bothers me a lot
M Vella
Aug 15th 2010, 12:09
maximum temperature at Rabat was of 33.6C at 2:55pm with only 25% relative humidity
Charles Sammut
Aug 15th 2010, 12:42
I have just received the following email:
Hi
I just read your comment on timesofmalta.com so here are the figures to prove your math :-)
Rabat on 13th August 2010: Maximum temperature occurred at 2:55pm with only 25% relative humidity
Best regards
Mark Vella
Managing Director
Meteo Malta - Pioneers in innovative weather forecasting
The figure I quoted was based on the temperature at Luqa. The figure for somewhere at a higher elevation would be lower as Dr Bezzina pointed out and confirmed by Mark Vella.
We need to get get the rest of the met stats at the time and day of the other accidents. If The Times can dig out the dates from its archives, I am sure that Mark will oblige with the figures and an educated guess be made as to the cause. A few lives and a lot of sorrow might be saved in the future.
Stephen Baldacchino
Aug 17th 2010, 14:14
I would like to ask you to give a little thought to what I'm going to mention........If you all notice all the firework factories explod from a time frame of 2pm to 5pm........ think about that