Celebrating with Class 1 Explosives

In the US, on warm nights in the first week of July, Americans watch as the sky erupts in a symbol of pride for the place they call home.

Part of why most viewers love this experience (without ever having to consider it) is that we get to enjoy it from a safe distance—hundreds of feet away. The reality is that trained safety professionals have to handle these hazardous materials up close for the show to go on.

Fireworks As Hazardous Materials

In transportation, most fireworks are regulated as Class 1 explosives and so are subject to extensive requirements for packaging, markings and labels, and documentation. Employees who prepare and handle hazmat shipments must complete required hazmat training (Hazmat Training FAQ).

Based on hazmat incident reporting data available from US DOT/PHMSA, transportation incidents involving fireworks are fortunately relatively rare. Since 2010, common causes of incidents that included a release of a Division 1.4G hazardous material include:

• Failure to block and brace cargo
• Dropped packages and containers
• Packages punctured with forklifts or sharp objects

More frequently, reported incidents involve undeclared fireworks—in other words, packages or containers that are not marked or labeled to indicate the presence of hazardous materials. These packages were often discovered at freight sorting facilities, by air carriers, or during transportation.

Did you know? PHMSA proposed a rule in November 2023 to relax some regulations related to approvals for "ground devices"—firecrackers, crackling balls and strips, some sparklers, and more. 

When Shipping Fireworks Goes Wrong

Back in 2022, Independence Day started a week early in New Jersey. A tractor-trailer caught fire on Route 287, and that fire spread to the cargo—10,000 pounds of fireworks. The video below from News 12 NJ shows the impromptu display that motorists saw that night.

VIDEO: A tractor-trailer carrying a large amount of fireworks caught fire overnight, igniting the #fireworks – shutting down parts of I-287 in #New Jersey. (Courtesy: Albin Forgiarini) More Information - https://t.co/i2bwxqt1Rk pic.twitter.com/DbIsJV9YuE

— News12NJ (@News12NJ) June 27, 2022

Upcoming Hazmat Training Workshops

Develop a step-by-step process to ship hazardous materials/dangerous goods by ground and air, in full compliance with US DOT and international regulations. These upcoming workshops are built to help satisfy 49 CFR (DOT) and IATA DGR training mandates for shippers and "hazmat employees."

Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT)

Tags: fireworks, hazardous materials, hazmat, hazmat shipping