31 replies to this topic

[Ritual33]

*gives you an evil look* Grrrr

[Richard H]

Sounds like you had fun, but you were transporting loaded mortar tubes? Not good!

[BigG]

We had to do it this way and they were waterproofed in advance because it was raining!

I have never heard such nonsense before. You never heard about waterproofing on site?!?! I?m not sure what you done is legal, but I never heard a serious company putting shells in advance in mortars and carrying them like that in the van? Anyone from the professionals care to remark?

[Mortartube]

That way Dave can safely have a fag while he is driving with all that pyro on board safe in the knowledge that nothing can touch it OR set it alight by accident either.

I take it Dave's never been much into safety then. Imagine the scenario. Dave's merrily driving down the road, fag in mouth, loaded mortars in the back. He collides with an oncoming vehicle and the van rolls onto it's side. The roof points at the windows of a busy supermarket. Dave's fag ignites the petrol pouring from the other car. The fire spreads to the load and shells fire straight down the baked bean aisle of Tesco's. Many people are seriously injured or die. That would really promote the old firework industry. I assume that he's taken the ARD course! I assume that he know about the carriage of explosives by road regulations. Loaded mortars and a quick fag are both highly illegal whilst transporting fireworks. The fireworks aren't in a U.N approved container and they aren't classified for transport in that form either.

I suggest that you stay away from Dave.

[The_Djinn]

It is not legal to transport loaded mortar tubes. As per regulation, fireworks are to be transported in original packaging or specific cases..... not in mortar tubes.

As for the comment on advanced preparation, I agree... be prepaired as in have everything ready that you would need on site to layout all fireworks as well as securing them and a suitable method of water proofing.

We all know it takes time to rig a show and I have done shows that have taken a few hours to rig and severall that have taken over a week to rig... just make sure you leave enough time according to the size of show to rig even if you have to get out of bed at 5 in the morning.

The wooden partition would be turned to match sticks if a mortar fired in the back of the vehicle... get "Dave" to launch a 4" shell in daylight for you.. you will soon get an idea of the velocity that a shell leaves the tube. Shells that are not in mortar tubes will not be projected in a direction if the lift is ignited.. they may bounce around but that is about it, well atleast for the next 3 to 4 seconds then it will get kinda hair raising.


Mark

Edited by The_Djinn, 07 November 2005 - 04:16 PM.

[adamw]

The original post has been edited to spare Dave and company's blushes. A terrible example of safety violation however!

Mortartube's point is a perfectly chilling example of what could happen. And 8" ??!! What a fool! Please Anthony, don't think this is how it is / should be done because is sure is not!

If time was so essential, why did you sit round having fags and watching other displays!?

Also, Anthony - I know the show / plan / decisions were not yours, but you preach about Cat 3 safety yet turn a blind eye to this serious, unprofessional and irresponsible act!? Don't be so daft!

On all displays I go to we endure whatever the weather throws at us and load / waterproof the mortars IN THE FIELD! Reading this just makes me so damn angry!

[fishy1]

pretty stupid, especially smoking in the van. and as for loaded morters, well mortertube pretty much says it all.

[karlfoxman]

I find this worrying that these highly explosive devices are not stored/transported with the respect they deserve. Not having a go at Anthony but this is the type of cuting corners that is very very dangerous. I can not imagine the destruction caused if a rack of shells went off while being transported, nightmare scenarios happen.

[Mortartube]

Well I'm sorry if my reply riled you up Anthony, but after I spent fifteen years in the firework industry complying with rules and regulations (which also cost quite a bit of money to comply with in some instances), I feel pretty angry that people can flout the rules like this and generally give the industry a bad name. It's a bit like car tax dodgers tend to make those who pay up angry, because those who pay, try to comply with the law.

If anyone is likely to have an accident along the scenario that I have suggested. It will most likely be somebody who behaves in the way that you have outlined that your mate Dave behaves. Luckily this "nightmare scenario", hasn't happened, as most people respect the rules and regulations and the reason behind them. That's why most of them comply.

I certainly wasn't trying to tell you who you should or shouldn't associate with, I would have thought that common sense and a sense of self preservation would dictate that in this instance. Perhaps I'm wrong there!

As a final point, it doesn't matter where Dave flicks his ash or extinguishes his fags or why you carry loaded mortars in the van. He is breaking the law and WHEN, not if, some idiot like this cause a major incident, the whole of the firework industry will suffer and not just the perpertrator(s).

That's my tuppence worth said.

[chris17]

I really can't say much about the UK, but here in Finland transporting loaded mortars seems to be quite common, at least when the traveled distance is short. I have not been in the professional business very long but this seems to be the policy of at least my display supplier.

[Mortartube]

I know that some countries do allow the transportation of loaded mortars. I believe that Canada does (or did), allow it. I recall reading an article about a company who had a trailer loaded up with preloaded mortars. They went to the site. Disconnected the trailer and jacked up the front to angle it away from the audience. It was wired to the firing desk and Presto! An instant show. The trailer was very wide and low, so that if it did turn over in an accident, it would most likely not remain on it's side with mortars pointing horizontally.