The tragic destruction of human life through fireworks explosions continues. Four men have been blown up this year in Qormi, Marsaxlokk and, a few days ago, Dwejra. Following last year’s tragedies, the roll-call of death by fireworks goes on.
These are not acts of God. They are acts of all too human fallibility. Fireworks factories around Malta – and there are literally scores dotted around the countryside – explode either because of human error, or because not all rules are obeyed or because ensuring adherence to the safety rules – ultimately entrusted to the police – is, for one reason or another, not happening or, at least, not happening the way it should. Accidents will, of course, happen but here we are literally playing with fire and, so, extra care must be taken on all fronts.
None of the above is to under-estimate the personal agonies suffered by the families and friends of those who perish in such accidents. But it is to underscore brutally the urgent need to do something radical to avoid fireworks explosions as much as humanly possible. Each accident is one accident too many; each death or maiming, one death or injury too many.
The authorities, with each successive fireworks accident or misdemeanour, promise action but have notoriously failed to deliver on their promises. This time they must and the government has to understand this loudly and clearly. It has a duty of care to society as a whole, which it is not appearing to be exercising in this area.
The explosions that rocked the fireworks factory in Dwejra on Friday, August 13, left one man dead and a scene of devastation. By many standards, the Dwejra factory was in a somewhat open piece of countryside. It would be horrific to imagine what might have been the result if a similar explosion had occurred in some of the other fireworks factories, which are placed in direct proximity to crowded towns or villages.
In the wake of a spate of bad incidents in the past, legislation was belatedly tightened up in 2008 and again this year. The law lays down clear criteria for issuing licences, controls on the type of chemicals and explosives that may be used and the need for insurance. It allows for an explosives committee, groups of experts to advise the Home Affairs Minister and the employment of a team of fireworks inspectors to regulate the factories on the ground.
The weakness clearly lies in the application of regulations on the ground, where it matters. The administration of the law, not the law itself, is probably the void lying at the heart of this life-threatening manufacturing industry.
A board of inquiry should be established immediately to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the practical administration of the fireworks regulations. It should focus on the issues of concern and make urgent recommendations for their rectification, including: Are there sufficient fireworks inspectors to ensure proper regulation? Is the licensing of factories in conformity with international standards? Is the calibre of those manufacturing the fireworks up to required standards or should the day of the gifted amateur (dilettanti) be consigned to the history books? Are there some factories which are now so close to urban habitation that they should be closed?
The time for prevarication on this life and death issue is long gone. The need for action to spare us from future fireworks carnage has surely come.