11 replies to this topic

[exat808]

Link to Government report of 1888 relating to the deaths and injury sustained at a toy firework factory.

http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/01629.pdf

[phildunford]

What a thorough & lucid report. Think the present authorities could learn some lessons.

This factory must have been about a mile from where I live!

Thanks exat...

[crystal palace fireworks]

A really interesting and detailed account on a sad & tragic event.

From my brief understanding of the report, the randomness in individual caps sizes when initially dipped on to paper, compounded the difficulties when trying to cut regular straight lines,........ which must have been difficult to do and concentrate on when dealing with many thousands of caps using only scissors.

Nowadays, a remote setting, better dipping and spraying/damping techniques, and a semi or fully automatic paper feeder into a guilloteen would be a much safer and doerable option.

Thanks exat

[phildunford]

Is a search of these types of documents available to the general public?

Someone has asked me to look into an explosion, resulting in a death at Wells' Honor Oak factory, circa 1936.

I've tried a few searches on the HSE website, but nothing this old seems to come up. It's also possible that it did not happen of course!

[exat808]

Is a search of these types of documents available to the general public?

Someone has asked me to look into an explosion, resulting in a death at Wells' Honor Oak factory, circa 1936.

I've tried a few searches on the HSE website, but nothing this old seems to come up. It's also possible that it did not happen of course!

Phil,

This incident from 6th Dec 1935 may be the one.
Sadly the archive doesnt list the site.


http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/09959.pdf


and one here from 10th march 1937. no site listed again.

http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/09827.pdf

Edited by exat808, 24 December 2010 - 04:18 PM.

[exat808]

29th april 1937

http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/02294.pdf

28th may 1937

http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/02295.pdf

12th November 1937

http://www.hse.gov.u...osive/02296.pdf

[phildunford]

Many thanks Exat - this could well be it.

As you say, pity there are no names. However I would imagine that deaths were pretty rare, so this lends weight to the possibility...

Edit:

Just seen your additional post - sadly not as rare as I had thought...

Edited by phildunford, 24 December 2010 - 04:37 PM.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Is a search of these types of documents available to the general public?

Someone has asked me to look into an explosion, resulting in a death at Wells' Honor Oak factory, circa 1936.

I've tried a few searches on the HSE website, but nothing this old seems to come up. It's also possible that it did not happen of course!

Phil, What specific info are you looking for?

[Peret]

I've looked (unsuccessfully) for the report on the 1864 gunpowder magazine explosion at Erith, referred to in Brock's "History of Fireworks". According to Brock it caused damage over a radius of ten miles, so it was a big one, and there was an official investigation and report by Colonel Boxer of Woolwich Arsenal.

[exat808]

I've looked (unsuccessfully) for the report on the 1864 gunpowder magazine explosion at Erith, referred to in Brock's "History of Fireworks". According to Brock it caused damage over a radius of ten miles, so it was a big one, and there was an official investigation and report by Colonel Boxer of Woolwich Arsenal.

01 Oct 1864
Explosive: Black powder
Event: Explosion
Activity: StorageArea: Erith
Location: Storage Area
Fatalities: 9
Injuries: Unknown
An explosion of unknown cause occurred on a river barge and communicated to powder magazines. There were three separate explosions which destroyed 150 ft of river wall. Glass was broken in some instances up to 10 miles.

Above is the very brief entry on the EIDAS records. There may be a written record for parliament but as this incident precedes the 1875 Explosives Act it may not be likely. I will search for you.

Edited by exat808, 26 December 2010 - 10:47 AM.

[Peret]

Thank you exat, you're a Gentleman and a Scholar.

[Monocle]

That 1888 report makes fascinating reading. Many thanks for putting up the link.