The recent wave of fireworks factory trage-dies that left 11 fatalities over a 10-month period necessitate a critical analysis of local fireworks manufacture.
In all the correspondence on the subject, one fundamental issue has been missed out. Fireworks today are different to those manufactured years ago. They have evolved like everything else.
Mechanical processes have replaced hand operations. Old binders based on starch and dextrin are being replaced by newer organic ones, new metals and their compounds like bismuth, titanium, lead, lithium and magnesium are being used regularly.
Water as a solvent is being replaced by various alcohols, acetone and nitrocellulose, while electrical initiation has become the order of the day.
Incorporating into all this the chaotic effect that our high temperatures, humidity and UV radiation may have, I fear we are rapidly reaching the limits of pyrochemical mixture stability. Add to this envy for fireworks volume, knowledge, and exhibitionism between rival clubs and manufacturers (which now also includes foreign competitors) and we truly have an explosive situation.
What action should we take? The recently set up board of inquiry should be encouraged and helped by all concerned, and should not exclude the possibility of bringing in assistance from foreign experts.
Imported raw materials should be scrutinised for compliance with standard specifications. Scrutiny must also include products not produced purposely for the pyrochemical industry which may thus not comply with its specifications.
A case in point is agricultural sulphur used for making gunpowder and fungicides containing copperoxychloride being used in star compositions. The authorities should encourage fireworks enthusiasts to test new formulations at least for shock stability and friction sensitivity. The equipment could be housed in a laboratory run jointly between private manufacturers, chemical import-ers, the government and village feast clubs.
Premature accidental firing from background stray electrical currents when using electrical initiation has become a real possibility, especially for systems using low- voltage devices. Such currents are generated by vehicle ignition systems, radio frequency, mobile phones, electrical tools, people generating high static potential and electrical currents generated during the actual sieving of pyrochemical ingredients.
A legal notice banned chlorates with sulphur, but why didn’t it include chlorates with sulphides, ammonium salts and fine metal powders? Chlorate containing stars should be primed with sulphurless meal and not with black powder.
Adding fine metal powders to sulphur containing gunpowder to improve its trailing effects is potentially dangerous especially in very humid conditions.
Meanwhile, extreme caution is required when using Bismuth compounds especially in the presence of alcohol, as spontaneously ignitable compound may form by a chemical process known as short lived free radicals.
Special fireproof clothing and other safety gear ought to be introduced especially during the more dangerous operations.
Plastic adhesive tape should be avoided as under high UV radiation temperature levels underneath the tape could reach dangerous levels and their adhesive properties may break down.
Rumour has it that fireworks have been loaded on Gozo Channel vessels without their consent. The company should be more vigilant throughout the year especially as the festa season approaches, rigorously inspecting closed containers.Sniffer dogs could be easily trained to find gunpowder.
Enthusiasts should beware of information on the internet which can be dangerous as often it is often incomplete. To reduce the probability of fire propagation in case of accidents with our winds being predominantly northwesterly, storage rooms in fireworks factories for finished products should point northwest while manufacturing facilities towards the southeast.
Pyrotechnic art has become part of our culture and traditions but fireworks manufacture should be taken to a higher professional level.
Awarding of licences must be upgraded, storage capabilities and number of personnel to practise in a factory must be individually defined. During manufacturing the attitude must change from ‘this is safe’ to ‘what if this goes wrong’ and those directly responsible must be vigilant against any form of complacency especially as festa time approaches.