As an ECA Member, you know that a successful job starts with preparation and putting safety first. With Bonfire Night approaching, those same habits matter beyond the workplace — whether you’re taking the family to a display or planning a celebration at home.
There’s plenty to enjoy: the first whistle, the burst of colour and someone confidently announcing, “That must have been the finale.” A little preparation helps keep the evening memorable for the right reasons, leaving you free to enjoy a well-earned break with family and friends.
And it’s not just Bonfire Night: fireworks also feature in celebrations such as Diwali and Chinese New Year. Whatever the occasion, the message stays the same — enjoy the spectacle, look out for others and put safety first.
For ECA Members, the message is familiar: recognise the risks, plan ahead and don’t leave safety to luck. Here’s a reminder of how that approach applies to your celebrations away from work.
Let someone else do the lighting
A professionally organised display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks — and leaves you free to concentrate on the important questions, like whether there’s time for another hot chocolate.
Follow the organisers’ instructions, stay behind barriers and supervise children. Agree a meeting point in case anyone gets separated and wear sensible footwear. Muddy fields rarely reward your favourite trainers.
Organising a display as a business? Plan ahead
If your ECA Member business is organising a fireworks display for staff, customers or the community, treat it as a planned event, not an informal addition to the evening. Assess the risks to workers, spectators and neighbours, and use HSE’s guidance on organising firework displays to inform your preparations.
Decide who will operate the display and consider appointing a professional fireworks display operator. Major public events need detailed planning and professional involvement; F4 fireworks are for professional display operators only. Check that the site has enough space for spectators, safety distances and falling debris, and inspect it in daylight for overhead power lines and other obstructions.
Agree responsibilities with the display operator, including emergency arrangements and who will contact the emergency services. Check suitable storage arrangements with your supplier or local licensing authority and confirm that your insurance covers the planned event. Recheck the site, weather and wind direction on the day, and postpone if conditions are unsafe.
Keep spectators out of the firing, safety and fallout zones, and do not allow them to bring their own fireworks. Never attempt to relight a firework. Before committing to a display, review HSE’s guidance and make sure everyone involved understands their responsibilities.
Small sparkler, serious heat
Sparklers can cause serious burns. Never give them to children under five and supervise older children closely.
Wear gloves, hold sparklers at arm’s length and light only one at a time. Put finished sparklers straight into water — they stay hot after the sparkle disappears. For younger children, glow sticks offer a safer way to join in.
Be a good neighbour
Give neighbours advance notice, keep pets indoors and keep your display short. Not everyone welcomes unexpected bangs.
If someone gets burned, cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. Don’t use ice or creams. Seek medical advice and call 999 for a serious emergency.
ECA Members: planning a business fireworks display? Put safety on the agenda now — before invitations go out. Review HSE’s guidance, appoint a lead organiser and confirm your risk assessment, display arrangements, emergency plan and insurance cover. Share the plan with everyone involved and make responsibilities clear. If you cannot put the necessary safeguards in place, do not proceed. Make a well-planned, safely managed event your business’s priority.
Guidance from the Health & Safety Executive on holding firework displays safely, can be found here.
