More than 60 under 5s went to hospital in 1997 following a firework accident. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch. Hands and eyes are most at risk in firework accidents. Most firework accidents are caused at family back-garden displays closely followed by incidents in the street. Throwing a firework in a street or public place is a criminal offence, with a maximum fine of 5000.
Fireworks are explosives, but they are also, in the main, consumer products.
The basis of the majority of UK law relating to fireworks is the 1875 Explosive Act and subsidiary legislation. In essence the Act says that items on sale to the general public must be safe for use by the general public, and must be safe in use without any form of training. All fireworks supplied to the general public must comply with the requirements in the Standard as well as additional requirements in the 1997 Regulation. The British Standard, and the types of fireworks it includes, is described in more detail in a later section. The DTI prepared a set of emergency regulations in 1996 which were made into permanent law in 1997.