Fireworks Accidents

a ndO the rT hings F ire w orks T ha tG o B oomin the N ight C om pile dby D ona ld;a m e sH a a rm a nn

"hundre dsof fa nta sticstode s a bout "t e ot the ca ll risht a fte r church"' oicke d up I gdt rhe ca lJrighia fre rl got ba ckfrom church ihe m ica fa ccide ntstold to m e by fire m e n a nd E d h a d g o n e in e a rlyo n a s u n d a ym o rn in g to che m istryte a che ls." A fire m a nw ho le d a B oy S couttroop took the w ork on- de ve lopinga hydroge nse nsora nd got on a w e e ke nd ca m ping trip. T he ca m pla ds w ith a H e w a s w orking blow n to sm tthe re e ns. r usingit, bootle g m ixture of six pe - rce nthydroge n a nd groundha d a n outdoorpJivy.-A fte firct conta ine rla a notice d ihe S coutm a ste r D la stic a nd de tona ble . s hrghly oxyge - n.lt tw e nry-pe rce nt "lt a n e xplosionw a sfa lrlv pre dicta ble . ble w him be le d"Llm efor D e odoriz ingirhe poure dsom eof r a division the w hrte oow de rIhroue h rhe hole a nd w a lke d to bits," re ca llsthe sa fe rym a na ge for a w a v.H e ha dn L gone m ore the n 3 0 ya rdsw he n of an aerospa cecom pa ny. he w a s a ne ste dibruptly by a loud re pon a nd, im prove d a n H e w a s w orking on de ve loping turning,sa wtha t the outhouseha de xplode da nd re a c' nucle a r in a w a v to de te ctcritica lD roble m s .fe w the re ia ins w e re buning m e dly to how be fore w e e ks tor, H e a ske d m e a It turne d out. T ra ge rsa ys,tha t som e bodyha d ha ndlethe sa ssa fe ly.H e shouldve be e nbe hrnd m ista ke nlvfille d the lim e conta ine rw ithca lcium re ' va lve s the ope ra ting sa ndba e ba - rrica de s, 'a nd m o re lv ]ls e n th im a le n e r,a n d p o in re do u Lth a t hypochlorlte a, ve ry srrongoxidiz inga ge nt" the m uture he wa nte d to usi wa s ille ga l to oni of the che m ica lstha t give frre m e nfits A ]l tra nsporta crosssta te line s H e w a s a know ing tha t w a s ne e de dw a s a n orga nicsubstnte a nd D ' OW! 'D articiD a nt. N e us.S e P te m be1r9 , I thoue ht he w a sa m D lvfore w a rne d.H e w a sa lche m icqla ndE ngine e ing gra dua te ;ngine e !.H e kniw the ha z a rdsA ccord- 1 9 8 8 ..] ing to his n6 te s,he w a s.m e te nnghydroge na nd T he reisa long hrstoryofa ccide nLae lxp)osions o x v g e nin to a v e ry s m a llte s t c h a m b e ar n d g e t' e xplosive s, d se nce of dns-va ria tions he iouldn't a ccount[or, H e ne e de d ca use dby the unsuspe ctepre give n rise to se nous ha ve a ccide nts M a nv o[the se a nd he to ia rrow the ca useof the fluctua tions, lnlurie s. F a m ilia re xa m ple sa ie the pre se nteof . sa idhe ne e de dto ge t a ca libnte dga ssource so e xplosivede tona corsin dom e sticcoa l supplie s he boorle e se dit in. T he e xiiosion cost a bout $ 1 2 5 ,0 0 0in da m - ,nd in w a r souve nirsbe ]ie ve d co ha ve be e n . c o u p leo f e m ow . P e rha pstle m ost srrikingof a ll suchoc' a g e s . ltm id e a s h a m b le s o fthseh o p A ca rsw e re de srrove d.A nd it ca use dsom eda m a ge . u ri. ic "t tu ri th a ro f 2 5 J u ly I 9 r5 a t w a v e rle y ' a crossthe stre e t,ltw a spre ttysP e cta culaHr'e ha d N ova S cotia ,w he re a disuse de xplosivefa ctory tw o srow n childre n a nd a voungste r.H e w a s in w a s_be ing m a de sa fe by {'l$ .tl"n cha rge sof his lite 3 o's or e a rly 4 0 's. it w a l inte re sting,he e x D lo s rvoen th e s rte so f o ld b u rld rn gasn dd n in ' e m ight ha vebe e n w a ss o n o [a n a q in qflo w e rc h ild - th is w a sb a c k a g; dirche sw he ren it roB lY ce ri.n be e n flre don the shoreof ore se nt. F our shots ha d the y sca tin the e a rly 7 oi- - a nd a t his fune ra l re re drosepe ta lsove rthe w a te rby S a nraB arba n a la ke a nd no e vide nceof nitroglyce rinew a s obse rve d.lt w a s de cide d.how e ve r,to fire a nothe r T he re w e ri not e noushof his a she sle ft. H is fa m llve n d e du - pg e ttin ga b o u ta $ l 2 m il' shot ne a rthe la le w he rethe rew a se vide ncetha t lio n s e ttle m e n t.T h e y iu e d th e g a ss u p p lie r.I t nitroglyce rinem ight ha veflow e dfrom a building w hich ha s la stbe a n in use prior to 1 9 1 0 .A de tone ve ! e ve n E otro coun. n a tio no c c u re di. a v '. '. ? te r4 5 m e te rs lo n qt5' lS a fe tg& - H gqie neN e us.O ctobe r1 9 8 8 .1 ' 'p, lt w a se stim a te d m e te n w idd,ind 8 tglyce rinem ust kilo, put in tha t a bout 8 ,0 0 0 he F re dT ra qe rof B a rbe non,O hro,sa ys r a c h eor [a s h o w - ha vebe e npre se nr a b o u t3 0 v ia rsa sa v o lu n te e te "H a z a rdousche m ica ls."It w a s a nd-te ll cburse , -um sta na i,,* F rictiona isnition l pa n of a public re la tionsprogra msta ne dby his .(e sse s. m a nur" thl fie ld of ce s outstde w a r II. Lm olove r. P pG lndustrie i, ifie r W orld d 'rr' T ra ge r,now . re nre d,ftught the courseto sa fe ty S p rlle ed x p lo s iv e . cba ens u b ie c rei.ri. n p.roups,pa id a nd volunte e r fire m e n che m istry i r d r h a . ^ , , r . o ^ r r n n < . n ie a cie rs. a nd stude ntsa ll ove r ohio, P e nnsyl' c a n a ls o o ( c u r in to la lr , ie x D - . , sa ys,he ce s,a s w h e n a m a n p la yin g te n n is o n ; r. va nia ,a nd N e w Y ork. In due course he

P a g e l0

P G IB u lle rinN o . 6 4 . M a ( h 1 9 8 9

s u d d e n iyfo u n d h is le g e n v e J o p eind fla m e sI.n - la n d e drh e m .n e a rth e q u a rrym o u rh .A fte r rh e v e s tig a tio snh o w e drh a rrh e c o u rrh a d b e e nre - s m o k eh a d . c le a re d m a n ye n re re dL h eq u a rryro ce ndy tre a te d w ith sodium chlora te for w e e d v re w . tn ee e c tso t th e e x p jo s to nA. n u m b e ro f kJlLngpurpose sa nd tha r his rubbe rsole dte nnis p e o p iern L h ec ro w d s ra rre dto c o lla p s ea n d a ll s h o eh a d p ro v id endo t o d y th e fu e ltop ro d u c e a n re rre a re d , . b e a rrn g rh e - c o lla p s e dp e o p le w trh e x p lo s jv m e ix ru rew ith th e c h lo ra teb u ra ls oth e rne m . tn a [ se ve npe ople w e re found ro be de a d tri tion re quire dto ignite it. a s th e re s u tto t a s p h y x ia riobny c a rb o nd io x rd e w h rc hh a d J lo w e do u r fro m th e 'b ro k e nro c ka n d is s ntistw ho h a dto rm e da la y e ro n th e q u a rryflo o r,s o m e w h a t , ,T he re the ca seofa _ ne xp) osivescre ra D rrc a te d .aasnhlra y lro m c a s tT N T a n d k e p tit I n th e m a n n e r o l th e G ro trod e sC h e in sT. h ec a s e on his office de sk for the use o[ vjsirors,only is n o t u n iq u e , re v e a h nirs g n a ru rea fre rrh e yh a de x rrn g rs u h e dI c lg a re tte I n it w ith n o u n to w a rdre s u lts , I n 1 9 5 3 .a b o y w a sfilh n ga s m a llm e ra ltu b e w ith a . p o la s s iucmh lo ra cseu lp h u m r ix tu rew h e n A n unusua l e xplosion of this type occulre d it e x ? lo d e dre , s u lrjn gin la c e ra rio nto s h is le fr ( 1 9 3 1 )in . a h o s p iu l o p e ra rin gth e iire w h e rea n a n d .A rra n g e m e n L s w e rem a d efo r rh e p o lic eto m a n w a s be inggive n a n a ne sthe ticof e the r a nd c a u L io nh im w h ile a p a re n tw a sp re s e n t'. U n fo roxygen and a ru n a L e lyh,e p a idlittle a tre n tio nto th e w a rn in s . p e n c illig h r w a s b e in gu s e dro s e e in s id eh is a n d ,s o m em o n rh sla re r,a s s is L eadn o rh e rb o v ri th ro a t. T h e re w a s _ a - en x p lo s io nin th e m a n . s ra m p a p ie c e o f m e c a pl ip e w rth a m ix tu r6 o f he die d trom .his iniurie s.T he ljghr p o ta s s iu mc h lo ra c es ,u lp h u r Inour,n.a nd a n d p h o s p h o ru sA. w a s d e le c riv ea n d a s p a rkfro m it rn irja re dih e pre ceol m e ta t w a s be ing use d to fill the rube e xplosivee the r./oxyge nm ixture , w he n the m ixrurc e xplode d.T he boy w a s so s e rio u s ly in iu re dth a rh e d je ds o m etim e la te r. 1 9 2 2 in N e w york, a de vicefor the disposa l .ln ot unw a nre dca tsw a s_w e cke d by a n e xploiion. In 1 9 5 6 ,a boy a t a ge 1 4 w a s m a king a bom b l n e c a rsw e red ro p p e din roa n iro n ta n kc o n ra in - w ith p o ra s s ru m c h lo ra re a n ds u lp h u r.I r e x p lo d e d rn ga le th a lc o a gl a s / a irm ix tu re .o n o n e p a n ic u - a n oc a u s e d s u c hs e v e rein iu rie sto h is h a n dth a t la r o a y .a to u rth b a rc ho l c a rsin c lu d e da p a n ic u - th is h a d ro b e a m p u ta re dT. h e p o lic ere m o v e d ia rlylie rc eb la c km a lew h o c lu n gro th e b a s k e in r I h e c h e m ic a ls h e h a db e e nu s in g .T h e b o ys fa , w n rc hh e h a d b e e nb ro u g h t,T h is b u ih u p s ta tic che r,.how e ve r, re que ste dthe ir ie turn so a s to e le crricacha l rgeon his bodyso rha t,rvhe nhe w a s e n a b ieh is s o nto c o n c iru eh lse x p e rim e n $w h e n e ve nrua llydrslodge da nd fe ll rhrough the ope n- n e c a m eo u t o t h o s p ita l, rn g ro rh e ta n k , a s p a rkig n ire drh e e x p lo s iv e m ix ru rere m a in ln gin jL T h e rew a sa n e x tlo s io n I n 1 9 . 1 0a,n e m p lo y e e a ra en x p lo s iv efa s c ro ry . a nd pe oplefrom rhe office rushe dtn ro find the in th e U n rre dS ra re w _ sa slrg h rin g ic ig a rw h e na i th re ee xe curione rs on the floor.T w o w e rese ntro e xplosronoccurre d.T he e xplosion srrippe dhis th e .h o s p jra i, o n e w irh a p o s s ib lyfra c tu re sd k u U , in d e xfrn g e ra n drh u m bo ffle s h , T h ls w a sa p p a r_ a nd a ll w e re m ore or le ssbum e d a nd la ce ra te d. e n tlyd u e ro rh e p re s e n coef n trro g ly c e rinu en d e r tn e n a ilso t th e tin g e ra n d th u m b . A le s srh a nu s u a in l s ra n c oe c c u n e d1 1 9 3 5 1 in a E xplosion ,bujlding lnue sriqa tion. IH , J. Y e lJop, T he F ote on a fire w orksfa crory.A fire - sra nid in n s icS c ie n cSe o c ie $ ,lg 8 O . l - ne e ve nin a tre r the fa ctoryw a s close d.h w a s :s ra D lls h e th d a t s p o n ta n e o uiq s n jrio n h a d o c . A v ro le n t- e x p lo s iotono k p la c ein a n e x h a u s r :u rre djn th e ro o f o f th e b u ild tn gT. h e b u ild in e duct trom a la bora roryhood in w hich pe rchloric .vx ve ry oid a nd.inrhe roofthe rew a sa colle crioi a crd soiurionw a sbe ingfum e d ove ra gis pla LeIt. 'l b ird s n e s rsim p re g n a re d w jrh e x p lo s iv edsu s L ble w . out w indow s. bulge d rhe ory pre viouslyrhe re ha d be e n a he a ,"y n I re Oth e ro o t, _ a nedx te n s iv e lye xririoi w a lls, d a m a g e ed q u rp . alnrnln?, to llo w e db y g re a rh e a t.S u c hc o n d rrro nasre m e n ta n d . s u p p lie s . S o m etim e p rio rto rh ee ip lia voG D letor ca usingsponta ne oushe a ting a nd sion. rhe hood ha d be e n use dfor rhe a na lysris of re nce ,w he re e xplosivejs pre se nt,e xplosion. m rs < e lla n e om u sa te rja lsT. h e e x p lo s ro na p p a r. e n rlyo n g in a re in d d e p o s irs o fp e rc h lo ric a c ij a n d T he LochF lyne qua rryw a sa de e pone w ith rhe o rg a n icm a re rjajnl th e h o o da n d d u c t. vorK lngta cevjsjble lrom the se a .h w a sde crde d o c a rry o u t- a b la s t w irh a v e ry la rg e c h a rg e A n. e m ploye e droppe d a 7 pound borr)e of onsrsting_of a bour 6 ,0 0 0 kilogra m s-of gui, pe rchlori( a cjdsolutjon on a concre Lefloor. T he ow oe r. M a ny pe oplew e re give n the cha nceto I iq u idw a sra k e n u p w irh s a w d u sat n dp la c e din a v jrn e s sth e s p e c ra c le fro m a b o a tw h jc h th e n C ontinue doi ne xtpa qe B u lle tlnN o. 6 {. M a ( h 1 9 8 9

P aBe I I

co'.e re d, m e ta lw a sreca n.F ourhoursla te ar.hghr fe cts w e re n o t m o re critrcrl. e xplosionbie w ope nthe hinge dcove rofrheca n. T hre eoffrce rsin C a na daw e re injure dw hile g b u rns m a llq u a n trrreo s[ th rsm rx A stone ta ble ofa fum e hood w a s p a tch e dw ith a tte m p rrnro a glyce rin ce m e nt a nd se ve ra lye a rs la te r, w h e n ture on a shove bla l de . the hood w a s be ing re m ove d ,th e ta b le e xp lo d e d w he n a w orkm a n struck the sto n e w ith a ch ise l,

A C uba nre volutiona ry bom be rin M ia m ilost 5 0 pe rce ntof his he a ringin one e a r a nd 1 0 0 D e rce ntin the othe r e a rw he n the front of his bodyfrom the w a istup w a sbla cke ne from d the e xplosionof a re d phosphorus m ixture in a six ounceca n,w hich w a sbe ins - m a deinto a hom e m a deince ndia rv sre na de .

D uringroutine m a inte na nce involvingpa ftia l drsm a ntlingof the e xha ustbiow e ron a pe rchlo ( a cid ve ntila ringsyste m a, de tona tionfollow e d a lie ht blow w ith a ha m m e ron a chise l he id a ga initthe fa n a t or ne a rthe se a lbe tw e e n the re a rcove rD ia te a ndthe fa nca sins,T he inte na finge rw he n le ss sitv of the e x;losionw a ssuchtha tlt w a she a rd A che m istryte a che lost r four m rle sa w a ya nd o[ the thre e e m ploye e rn s th a na n o u n c eo f h rsre dp h o s p h o rupso. ta s s iu m the vicinity, one susta ine dfa ce la ce ntiona nd nitra te a nd the rm ite m ixture e xplode din a r hilehe w a sca rryingit from one roomto slighte yeinjuryrthe se condsuffe re dlossoffour be a kew finge rson one ha nda ndpossiblelossof sightin a nothe r, one e ve :the third w a sfa ta llviniure dw ith the 6 A w rite rofa bookte llioghow to m a kebom bs inch ;hise l e nte nnsbe low his le ft nostril a nd e m be dde in d the biin. lK urtS a xon]losta ll his finge rson oneha ndw ith [K . E ve re tta nd F . A . G ra fJr. H a ndLngP e rch- a n ounceof the sa m em ixture . loric A cid a nd P e rchlora te s. ln: N .V . S te e re , [T hom a s C , B rcdie , B onbs a nd B om bings. E d, H a ndbookof la bora tory S a fe ty,S e cond C ha rle sT hom a s,1 9 7 2 .1 t o llr o n -

1 9 , /l, I

I se ndvou tw o sm a llphia lsof nitra le dsulp h u re ot f p o ra s ho. r y e llo wp o w d e r. a sir rsu s u . H ypergolicM ixtwe s A fe w w ordsshouldbe inse ne dhe reconce m - a lly ca lle din this country.. .I ha vem a desom e ing re dphosphorus bought a ndpota ssium chlora teT. he y hundre dpoundsofit, w hichw e ree a ge rly com posew ha t is know na sa hype rgolic m ixturc, up by hunte rsa nd sponsm a nfor prim ing fire w hich m e a nstha t the tw o substa ncems a y e x- a rm s,a purposew hichit a nsw e re m d osta dm ira ' plodeupon be ingm ixe dtoge the r.T his m a y not bly; a ni, but for the ha ppy introductionof ha ppe na t once ,but rhe y m a y e xplodea fte r a pow de rfor prim ing,w hich is igrite d by pe rcusw hilea llby the m se lve s. T heslighte srm ove m e nt sion,it w ould long sinceha vegoneinto e xte nm a y initia tea "viole ntrca ction," a sthe che m jca l sive use . c o m p a n je s s ta te o n th e c o n la "V in eiolsle, n tre a c - w ith this pre pa ra tion I ha veha dm uchto do. r, the w holecircleofe xpe rtion is a n unde rsure m e nt, a se xe m plifie by d rhe a ndI doubt',vhe the in im e nta lphilosophy,m a ny ca se sca n be found follow ingincjde nrs. involvingda nge cm orediffjcultto be ove rcom e , A bottle on this m ixturcw a sle ft on a de te c- tha n m e ltingfulm ina tingpow de ra ndsa vingthe tive 'sde skin N e wY orkC itvbv a nothe rde te ctive product,a nd re ducingthe proce ssto a busine ss w bo did not knorpw ha t it'w is, W hile the room ope ra tion.I ha veha d w ith it som ee ightof the w a s unoccupie d,the m ixture e xplode dspon- tre m e ndouse xD losions. a nd in one of the m I full in;y fa cea nde ye s,the fla m eofa ta ne ouslybre a kingw indow s,light fixture s.a nd re ce ive d, just a sit qua ne rof a poundof the com position, the de sktop. ha dbe com ethoror.re hlv m e lte d. A boy in D a deC ountyha dthe m a jorityofthe i sha llbut ;ust rie ntion a fa ta le ve ntw hich fliction skin on his ha nds,finse rs,a nd srom a ch la te ly ha ppe ne din G e rm a ny,from a n e xpe risca rre w d hile pla cinga pproxim ite lyoneounceof m e nt m a dew ith ba isa mof sulphurte re binthil na te d,a nd confine din a closeche m icave the m a te ria into a D la sticca D sule . l sse l, a nd thus e xplode dby fire ; G odgra nttha t m orT he rvrite ! re ce ive dse conda nd third de pre e u l m e n m a vn o w b e s o in e e n io uast th e iro w n b u rn so n 2 5 p e rc e n or l h is b o d y a n d h a d a n cost, a s to pe rve rt a prJfita bl" scie ncea ny e a rdrumblow noutw hile disposing ofone pound longe rro suchhorrible use s.F or this re a sonI of the sa m e m a re ria w l hicb w a s le ft from the forbe a rto m e ntion se ve ra othe l r m a tte rs fa r incide nt.S incethe che m ica ls w e reun- m ore horrible a nd de structive tha , n a ny of D re vious ionfine d on ne w soa pewr hich he he ld, the e f- thosere be a rse d. la g e 1 2

P G IB u lle tin N o . 6 4 , M a rch 1 9 8 9

e n ire db y a n a c c i- [B e oja m iDS illim a n, 1 8 3 1 . In T e nne y D a vis, fe w o f. rh e s eh a v in g . b e ro mig T he C he m istryof P ow de r& E xplosive s.i o e n t,th e o rig ino t w h i( h w a sn e v e rc le a rlya s c e r_ ta ine d,ca use dthe w hole to e xplode .O ni buildA n a ccide ntinvolvinga substa ntiaal m ount of ing sudde nlyga vew a y, the fa ia de be ing blow n A rm strongs m ixture w a s re pone d rnr out, a nd the stone w ork hurle d som e d-ista nce , [E xplosive s a nd T he ir pow e r. T ra nsla te da nd C in- O n e s to n em, e a s u rin gcau b ic m e te r,w a sth ro w n de nse dfrom the F re ndt of M . B e rthe lot,Lon- L Oa O ls ta n coet litty - tw om e te rs . A g re a tp a rto [ don 1 8 9 2 .1 the a dtoiningbuildingw a s a lsode srioye d.four"T he pa ris, e xplosionw hich occurre din in the te e npe rsonsw e rekille d on the spot,a nd sixte e n R ue B e ra nge r,on M a y 1 4 , 1 8 7 8 ,m a y a lso be of re ce ive dinjurie s. "T he se m e ntione d,in2 store onta ininga m orce s( torpe te rriblee ffe ctsa re e xpla ine dw he n w e d o e s ) rn te n d efod rc h ild re ns ro v i.T h e s ea m o rc e s conside tha r t w e ightof the e ntire e xplosivem a tw e re com pose da s follow s,- bne kind, ca lle d te r conta ine din the a m orce s a m ounle dto a bout single ,of a m ixture of pota ssiumchlora te ( 1 2 6 4 kilogra m s,a nd tha t its force , ow inp to the pa rts). a m orphous ( re d1phosphorus pa risl, com positronof this 16 m a tre r,w a s e qua l1 6a force I e a do x id e( 1 2 _ p _ a fts a n) d. re s rn( t p a rr) :th e o rh - o f 2 2 6 k ilo g ra m s . obf la c k p o w d e r. lT h e s efa c rs e rs,ca lle ddouble .consiste dof a m ixrure of pot- na ve D e e nta ke n Jrom the re pon pre se nte dby a ssiu_ m chlonre ( 9 pa rrs) ,a m oryhousphosiho- th e C o m m rtte eo f I n q u iry . ) ru s ( l p a n ) ,a n rim o n yz u lp h id e lt p a rt) .n o i{e rs - lf is e sse nriatha l t pe rsonsha ving e xplosrve ot sulphur(0 .2 5 pa rr) .a nd nirre ( 0 .2 5 pa rt) .T he s u D s ta n c ue ns d e rth e irc h a rg e s h o u ldn e v e rlo s e la tte r. m orc se nsitiveto friction, a ve rige d0 .0 1 s ig h to l th : c o n v jc tio nrh a t. fro m th e fa c tsa n d gJa m sin w e ight. F rom six to e ight m illons of ge ne ratruthsw l hich ha re just be e nsta te d,pre vthe sea m orce spa sre don pa pe rslips.in lo$ offive e rtive m e a sure sshould_ a lw a ys be pre scribe don e a ch,w e re pile dup in the w a re housein_ boxe s. A m e n y p o th e s is o f a e x p lo s io n I. A " m e n.l

A Le tte rto E d V a na se k Just re turne d from m e e tingsbe tw e e n A pA th e 5 0 m . illig ra lm m ir. S k yR o c k e rsR.o m a nC a n re ple se nta tiveasnd C hine sem a nufa cture rs he ld d le s ,a n d m u lrip lere p e a re rs th a t u s e w e ll o v e r in c u a n g z h o uC. h in a T. h em e e rin ghs e ld J a n u a ryl3 0 , m illig ra m so f- fla s h p o w d e r fo r re p o n o r lO rh- I5 rh w e re bille da sa folloi up ro our tnp bre a ks) .A s a n e nthusia st, the se jte m s a re our to S h e k o uC, h in ain J u ly .A r rh a t rim e .w e a n a - be srpe rform e rs; but in rhe ha ndsofnovice s,the y ly z e da ll th e C h in e s efire w o rk sile m s ro d e re r- ca nbe da nge rous. In re ce ntye a rs,rhe num be rof m ine the ir le ga ljtyunde rthe C pS C 'sne w strins- ire m sc o m jn gjn fro m C h in a th a ra reo v e rlo a d e d n q u ire m e n rs e n t jn s p e c rio re A .t th a t tim e , q O - % ha s grow n tre m e ndously,thus w e ve m a de our_ o i rh e ire m sw e lo o k e da rfa ile dC p S Cs s ra n d a rd sse ive sa n e a sym a rk a s a n industry, in som e fo_ rmta . be lltng proble m ssrood our a s S e condly.the re la tive lysm a llnum be rof fire th e m a jo rtla w in th e ite m sw e lo o k e da r,A t tle w orks com pa nie in s the U nite d S ta te sa lsom a ke re ce nrm e e rings,w e found tha t m a nv jre m la be ls us a n e a sym a rk.conside ring the la ckof politica l ha d be e n corre cre dbur slill ne a rli 4 O T oof dl c lo u rw e c a rryT. h isc a nb e c h a n g ew d tL hio n c e n rte m s ne e de d som e clunge . probie m s ra nge d tra te de ffons of a ll fire w orks e n-thusia sts. I ro m p la c e m e not l c a u tlo na n d w a rn in ps ta re T hird, U nite d S ra te sim porte rs'pre ssureon m e n rsto c o n te n at n dry p es iz eo f th e s ta te m e n c s lnrna .^, to proclucem ore ne w ite m sw jth diffe re nt P a n ic ip a rinrn g Lhe _m s ee e trn ghsa sg iv e nm e a I a b e lso n e v e ryp ro d u c rio hn a sru s h e dth e p rin t, cna nceto se eboth side sro a ve ry com ple xprob- ln g o t th e s ela b e lsw ith o u t m u c h c o n s id e ra tio n I e m .A s a n im p o n e ro f C la s sC fire w o ik s I, 'h a v e forC P S Csta nda rds. T o da te ,thisa re ase e m sto be re rt trrst ha nd the inte nsepre ssuretha t cpsc is colle cring itse lf a fte r S he kou a nd our re ce nr putting on our indusrry._ A lthough I fe e l C P S C m e e ringsin G ua ngz hou.B ut the se thre e a re a s na s D e e nove pe a iousinthe ir rnspe ctionproce ss, h a v ele lt C I a s C s fire w o rkas sa n e a s vm a rkfo r rh e I,ca nt fe lp butfe e l tha t w e ve biought iom e of C P S Cw. hy e lsew ould a re gula toryige ncyspe nd tnrs uD onou$ e lve s. , u % o t rts tim e o n a c o n s u m e gr o o dth a t ra n k s F irsi,C P S Cguide line sre fe m ngro producrpe r- l5 5 th o n th e c a u s eo f in iu ry . lts ip u t o u t b y th e form a nceha ve be e n on rhe booksfor ye a rsa nd y e rw e 'v e _ abllo u g h ta n ds b o tC la s sC iie m s th a t In a se nse ,the ba ttle line s w e re dra w n in push rhe iim ir ( i.e . I /?',fire cra cke rstha r e xce e d C ontinue on d ne xroa a e P G IB u lle tinN o. 6 4 , M a rch1 9 8 9