Accident: 200840239 - Three Killed, One Injured In Fireworks Accident

At about 9:15 p.m. on July 3, 1997, Employees #1 through #4 and a coworker began putting on a fireworks display from a barge approximately 375 ft due west of Riverfront Park in Alton, IL. When it was nearly over, Employee #1, the crew chief, climbed up and over the 4 ft high coaming to access the barge's unguarded prow, where seven 8 in. mortars were located. At approximately 9:30 p.m., he used a hand-held road flare to ignite the fuse of the first mortar, and then the second. When he lit the third mortar, it only reached a height of 10 ft before it started to descend. Employee #1 yelled "fire in the hole," as the shell hit the deck of the barge, landing between the "ready box" that contained additional shells and the 4 ft coaming on the starboard side. The shell exploded upon impact with the steel floor, and Employee #4 and the coworker immediately ran for the side of the barge, climbed over the coaming, and escaped into the water. The coworker eventually made his way to the stern of the barge and was rescued. Employee #4 hung onto the side of the barge, and sustained an injury to his right ankle. Employee #3 was killed where he stood, consumed by the flames generated in the numerous explosions that followed. Employees #1 and #2 both leaped off the prow of the barge and drowned; neither were wearing life preservers. Their bodies were found downriver the next morning.

fireworks, explosion, mech malfunction, burn, ankle, drown, barge, life jacket, pyrotechnics, work rules

Accident: 14529077 - One Killed And One Injured By Igniting Fireworks

Employee #1 and #2 were setting up a fireworks display. Several 5 in. diameter shells had been loaded in their respective mortars. The group of 12 pvc pipe mortars was built in a wooden rack. Employee #1 was standing in front of the rack, using a manual staple gun to staple the quick matches to the top of the rack, when one of the mortars fired. The shell struck Employee #1 in the face, as he evidently was leaning over the mortar when the shell fired. He suffered massive craniocerebral trauma and died shortly thereafter. Employee #2, who was standing to the right of Employee #1, suffered minor burns to his face and neck and was treated and released that evening. Cause of the ignition of the shell was believed to be a spark from the steel staple striking dirt on the wood rack or friction igniting the quick match.

set up, fireworks, pyrotechnics, ignition system, hand tool, spark, fire, burn, face, neck

Accident: 924704 - Killed And Three Injured As Fireworks Explode

Employees #1 through #4 were technicians working a July 4 fireworks display. A shell detonated at the work level instead of in the air. Employee #1 was killed, Employees #2 and #4 were hospitalized, and Employee #3 was treated and released.

fireworks, pyrotechnics, explosion

Accident: 605261 - Dies Of Burns And Smoke Inhalation From Fireworks

Employee #1 was assembling Class B fireworks and cut a piece of thermalite, which sparked a flash fire. Employee #1 died from burns and smoke inhalation.

fireworks, pyrotechnics, burn, smoke inhalation, flashback

Accident: 14298855 - Employees Burned While Disposing Of Fireworks

Employees #1 and #2 were disposing of discarded firework products by burning them in a burn pit. They placed a box of star powder, which was discontinued because it created sparks, 2 feet from the edge of the pit and proceeded to dispose of other products. Employee #1 started burning the powder by reaching into the wooden box and spreading the powder over the fire with a sweeping motion . At some point Employees #1 and #2 realized that the box was too close to the burn pit and decided to move the box. As they reached downward, a spark ignited the box of powder, resulting in a flash fire that severely burned Employee #1 on his face and upper torso. Employee #2 was burned on his arm and face, but not severely. Employee #2 drove both injured parties to the office area where medical services were notified. Employee #1 was flown by Maryland State Medivac to the Baltimore Burn Center. Employee #2 was treated and released. Employees #1 and #2 had received training in the proper disposal methods by the plant manager.

fire, burn, spark, fireworks, powder

Accident: 14500748 - Three Killed, 2 Injured By Fireworks Explosion

Employee #1 was assembling an experimental fireworks shell a short distance from Employees #2, #3, #4 and #5, who were placing paper coverings on 12 inch fireworks shells. There was an explosion in the vicinity of Employee #1. Employee #5 escaped prior to the subsequent ignition of nearly 500 lb of fireworks in the building. Employee #4 was the next one out. Employee #1 was the last one out. The bodies of Employees #2 and #3 were found in the rubble after the fire was extinguished. Employee #1 died several weeks later on June 3, 1991. Due to the high destructive force and the subsequent fire, a precise cause of the explosion has not been determined.

explosion, fireworks, fire

Accident: 594150 - Two Killed, One Hurt In Fireworks Plant Explosion

A fireworks manufacturing plant exploded during the manufacturing process. Employee #1 was burned inside the building and died; Employee #2 was blown out of the plant, suffered multiple injuries, and died; and Employee #3, the supervisor, escaped with cuts, bruises, and burst ear drums, and was hospitalized. The exact source of ignition could not be determined because the entire structure was destroyed by the explosion and fire. Considerable electrical equipment and devices were in use that were not approved for that location. Inappropriate ppe was used, safety procedures were lacking, and the required safety equipment was not in use.

fireworks, explosion, fire, work rules, ppe, burn, laceration, contusion, ear, pyrotechnics