With many of us attending firework displays over the next few weeks, wrapped up warm, standing (not too) close to a raging bonfire and gazing up at the fireworks cracking in the sky, we can easily forget that there are environmental health, health and safety and trading standards practitioners behind the scenes who have worked hard to keep us all safe at such functions. 

Whether it be through the licensing of events or storage facilities for explosives, issuing temporary event notices, auditing risk assessments or ensuring the hotdog we’ve just bought is manufactured and cooked to safe standards, there are so many services that the general public don’t see. 

Safety doesn’t happen without education and regulation, and professional officers working in partnership with emergency services are fulfilling this role every day, particularly during periods of festivity.   

On RIAMS Libraries we have a sizeable collection of procedures and documents covering all areas of environmental health, which offers support to local authority officers in carrying out their duties; these include:  

Licensing – Explosives manufacture and storage, fireworks licensing and temporary event notices 

Health and safety – Investigating complaints and accidents and serving notices 

Food safety – Food allergens, detention and seizure of food, complaints, infectious diseases and foodborne Illness 

Safety and events aren’t the only consideration during Halloween and Bonfire Night. ASB and criminal behaviour have a real impact on communities.  

Police forces and key partners in Wales are supporting #OpBang, reminding people that they can have fun on Halloween and bonfire night but that the festivities are ‘not fun for everyone’. South Wales Police reported that last year they received over 1,828 calls for service on Halloween and a further 1,534 on Bonfire Night.  

Similar campaigns are being run across England, including the #BangOutOfOrder campaign running in Greater Manchester, which has the aim of reducing ASB and attacks on emergency service workers, whilst also providing safety advice. Figures from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Greater Manchester Police reveal that last year between 1 September and 13 November they received over 10,000 reports of ASB incidents, up by nearly 20% on 2022 figures. 

I spoke to Jim Nixon, our Director of Community Safety, for his insight on year-round ASB concerning the use of fireworks and ways in which The Noise App can support local authorities and communities to manage complaints of this nature: 

In the UK, fireworks are regulated under the Fireworks Regulations 2004, which set strict guidelines on when and where they can be used. Generally, fireworks are allowed on specific days, including Bonfire Night, but using them outside of these times can lead to legal repercussions. 

For those affected by persistent noise from nearby fireworks, The Noise App can be an invaluable tool. This innovative app allows users to document noise nuisance incidents, providing clear evidence that can support a noise complaint.  

When neighbours are setting off fireworks excessively or at inappropriate times, users can record these disturbances, timestamping each event for accuracy. 

Housing associations and local authorities can use this data to address complaints effectively. By combining community reports with documented evidence from The Noise App, complimented by back-office support provided through RIAMS Libraries, they can take appropriate action against irresponsible firework use, ensuring a safer and more peaceful environment for everyone. 

Visit thenoiseapp.com for more information or to book a demo. 

Documents, templates and guidance that supports officers responding to ASB are available on RIAMS Libraries, including procedures on community protection notices, criminal behaviour orders and closure powers, as well as those for investigating noise and nuisance complaints. RIAMS Libraries is a subscription service; contact RHE Global for more information or to book a free trial and demonstration.