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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
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LEAVE FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS From the State’s annual Skyworks on Australia Day to the many small events around WA, everyone loves firework displays. Fireworks are dangerous (they can kill people) and are classified as explosives. This means that only licensed, trained, experienced and competent operators are allowed to conduct firework displays. The Department administers the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 and the use of fireworks comes within the ambit of these regulations. A fireworks event permit needs to be issued for each public fireworks display. Before a permit is issued, the fireworks contractor needs permission from the local police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, local government authority, owner of the land, Civil Aviation Safety Authority and possibly other authorities if the display is over navigable waters. The Department assesses the applications to ensure they comply with its Safe use of outdoor fireworks in Western Australia – code of practice and the legislation. It needs to be satisfied that the display will be conducted in a safe and secure manner before issuing a permit. Fortunately there have not been any injuries or deaths caused by fireworks at the Skyworks, although there have been a number of incidents over the years, including a barge fire in 2007 and projectile fireworks shooting towards a helicopter
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in 1999. In 2017, the Skyworks display was cancelled after a fatal plane crash into the Swan River during afternoon celebrations prior to the event.
AUSTRALIA DAY SKYWORKS More than 12 months of planning goes into organising an event on the scale of the Skyworks. There are 40 organisations involved with the event, ranging from local councils to the WA Police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Swan River Trust, Department of Transport (Marines and Harbours) and St John Ambulance. Throughout the year, the Department attends meetings held by the City of Perth. The Department looks at what is proposed and confirms any differences from previous years do not compromise safety. The onus is on the fireworks contractor or event organiser to prove they can be used safely. A camp is set up on the northern side of Heirisson Island, where the barges are loaded with fireworks. There were 19 barges in the 2019 display. It takes a week for the barges to be loaded, yet the entire event is fired in 30 minutes. On the morning of the display, the barges are towed to the firing points. This year, 12 barges formed a circle in the middle of the river, with the rest lined up either side of the circle. This provided a different effect for the display.
