The news that two men were injured at a fireworks factory near Żebbuġ last week was the seasonal bad tidings we have sadly become all too familiar with.

It was welcome news to hear the police saying that preliminary investigations showed all precautions had been taken. But, in reality, such news is disconcerting.

It brought home (yet again) the stark reality of the dangers of pyrotechnics, whether precautions are taken or not.

Let’s not forget the recent incident where a 47-year-old man sustained extensive burns to his arm after a petard went off prematurely.

A good number of incidents are caused because enthusiasts like cutting corners.

In a recent incident, an elderly man was badly burnt while allegedly handling chemicals for ground fireworks at his residence in the centre of Mqabba.

Fireworks production is a decades’ old tradition that has spilt too much blood, not to mention the gross inconvenience that petards inflict on the majority of law-abiding citizens. This is because the powers that be have always been reluctant to seriously tackle a vociferous lobby that has conveniently used the pretext of tradition to continue with its ways – just like a number of hunters.

It was a huge relief to hear that the new Government wanted to implement the recommendations contained in a report by experts to improve fireworks safety.

A Government spokesman had said this important report will finally see the light of day and that “recommendations will start being implemented by the end of May”. Unless some of the recommendations missed the media radar or whether they were technical in nature, the situation appears unchanged.

The Government must ensure the health and safety of citizens, including those who dabble in this risky business.

It is important that the experts’ set of proposals, and, specifically, their recommendations regarding the testing of all chemical mixtures before their use in fireworks manufacture, are carried through.

It is also hoped the safer practices recommended for the transport of fireworks on crowded roads are fully implemented.

The Qala council rightly warned last Friday that it could no longer accept a situation where all fireworks shipped to Gozo from Malta were offloaded at Ħondoq ir-Rummien and then transported through the village.

The Sunday Times of Malta reported last November that fireworks were being transported through villages with active igniters – which is utter madness.

The council insisted that the fireworks should be unloaded in a port that was closest to the destination of the fireworks, thus reducing dangerous land transport.

This comes amid fears in Gozo that more fireworks than the norm would have to be brought from Malta this year after a number of explosions on the sister island destroyed fireworks factories and killed several manufacturers.

The Qala local council also wants to be informed in advance whenever fireworks were unloaded at Ħondoq so that it could advise residents accordingly and that fireworks should be unloaded at bays closer to their end destination. Since the police have said they will allow the unloading of fireworks in other bays too this demand seems to have been met .

Where safety of citizens is concerned, the Government needs to bite the bullet and steam ahead with reform, despite the lobby’s protests.

This country needs a comprehensive and strict policy regulating fireworks, one that would lead to a reduction in their supply and reducing danger for inhabitants and enthusiasts.