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Fireworks factory blasts leaves more victims
Gaat nog weleens wat fout daar in die fabrieken..
Is het nou zo slecht gesteld met de veiligheidsvoorzieningen aldaar of zijn dit gewoon domme fouten van de medewerkers ?
Er zijn al wat members naar deze fabrieken geweest inmiddels en die hebben waarschijnlijk wel een passend antwoord....
Denendo
Is het nou zo slecht gesteld met de veiligheidsvoorzieningen aldaar of zijn dit gewoon domme fouten van de medewerkers ?
Er zijn al wat members naar deze fabrieken geweest inmiddels en die hebben waarschijnlijk wel een passend antwoord....
Denendo
Laatst bewerkt:
Het is nu een fabriek waar veel mensen weer mensen kennen.
Erg triest weer!! Maar ik zet steeds minder voet in een fabriek. Ik vind het wel best zo. Om de haverklap vliegen er delen omhoog en je kan het bijna niet zo doen dat alles 100% clean is. We hebben nog wel wat foto's van de Ricasa Fabriek waar we geweest zijn en daar werken ze allemaal in kleine hokken en met maximaal 2 personen tegelijk. En het zegt genoeg als ze dit soort dingen doen want mocht het gebeuren en die kans is denk ik in elke fabriek aanwezig dan zal de schade beperkt blijven.
Misschien kan ik het zo niet zeggen (beperkt) maar die mensen weten dat de kans er is dat het fout gaat. Of in de fabriek of met het afsteken. Vuurwerk is en blijft een product waar je met voorzichtigheid mee om moet gaan en zelf dan kan het nog weleens fout gaan..
Erg triest weer!! Maar ik zet steeds minder voet in een fabriek. Ik vind het wel best zo. Om de haverklap vliegen er delen omhoog en je kan het bijna niet zo doen dat alles 100% clean is. We hebben nog wel wat foto's van de Ricasa Fabriek waar we geweest zijn en daar werken ze allemaal in kleine hokken en met maximaal 2 personen tegelijk. En het zegt genoeg als ze dit soort dingen doen want mocht het gebeuren en die kans is denk ik in elke fabriek aanwezig dan zal de schade beperkt blijven.
Misschien kan ik het zo niet zeggen (beperkt) maar die mensen weten dat de kans er is dat het fout gaat. Of in de fabriek of met het afsteken. Vuurwerk is en blijft een product waar je met voorzichtigheid mee om moet gaan en zelf dan kan het nog weleens fout gaan..
Mijn persoonlijke ervaring met Maltese vuurwerkmakers is dat ze wel veel ervaring hebben met het maken van de bommen, maar scheikundig weinig ervaring hebben. Zo staan ze ook rustig sassen op basis van Loodtetraoxide met de korte mouwen en zonder stofmasker te zeven. Ook houden ze angstvallig vast aan chloraat en zware metalen die tegenwoordig niet meer nodig zijn. Dit doen ze puur omdat het zo al jaren gebeurt, ze kennen die sasjes en voelen geen enkele drang om toch maar over te stappen op perchloraat. Dit komt vooral omdat de scheikundige kennis om te vernieuwen ontbreekt. In zekere mate is het geld ook een probleem, perchloraat is duurder. Maar of dat nog een punt moet zijn als er 8 doden in 1 jaar vallen...
Luqa - Malta
Registered User
Malta and the world has lost a pioneer of Fireworks.
Anthony Farrugia (Twanny), has left us yesterday at around 11pm.
Twanny is a very good friend of ours and always used to be with us during our feast.
We have lost a good friend and a master pyrotechnician.
Anthony Farrugia (Twanny), has left us yesterday at around 11pm.
Twanny is a very good friend of ours and always used to be with us during our feast.
We have lost a good friend and a master pyrotechnician.
Luqa - Malta
Registered User
Please, while I understand some of the reasons mentioned above are generaly true, Anthony Farrugia was certainly an expert on chemichals.
The reasons for these accidents could be many and 1 clear problem is that to this day there are no certified/qualified laboratories in Malta that test the imported chemicals to the standards required.
The reasons for these accidents could be many and 1 clear problem is that to this day there are no certified/qualified laboratories in Malta that test the imported chemicals to the standards required.
Our deepest condoliances to his family and all the St. Michael Firewoarks Factory of Hal Lija. I agree with Luqa Malta, something have to be done to start testing the chemicals.
If there are cheap chemicals cant continue to enter Malta. Same thing counts for the other countries.
If there are cheap chemicals cant continue to enter Malta. Same thing counts for the other countries.
This is a Message Twanny wrote on the St. Katerine Zurrieq website after thier accident.
Less than 2 weeks later it took his life
Twanny Farrugia, LijaIt-Tnejn, 19 ta' Novembru 2007
Ma nistax ma nesprimix is-soghba u d-dieqa li titnissel fuq kull pirotekniku Malti partikolarment intom li maghkom kien jahdem Zaren Barbara. Nixtieq ukoll li nestendi l-kondoljanzi lil familjari tieghu, qraba u hbieb. Nemmen ukoll li Santa Katerina, li Zaren tant kien ihobb. ixxerred fuqkhom kollha kemm intom, kuragg, sabar u farag.
Huma mumenti sfortunati bhal dawn li jghaqqdu lil piroteknici kollha Maltin bhal ahwa go familja wahda u kbira. Ejja ma nhallux li t-telfa ta' Zaren tintesa minghajr ma sservi ta' twissija lilna kollha kemm ahna li nahdmu n-nar.
Irridu nistinkaw aktar u aktar sabiex dak kollu li hu umanament possibbli u li jista jghinna nevitaw kull incident iehor jigi attwat.
Nitolbu flimkien lil Santa Katerina u l-Qaddisin l-ohra kollha, padruni ta' l-irhula u bliet Maltin u Ghawdxin biex jieqfu ma Fredu Cassar biex kemm jista jkun malajr jinghaqad lura mal-familjari tieghu.
Kuragg.
Twanny - Lija
Less than 2 weeks later it took his life
Twanny Farrugia, LijaIt-Tnejn, 19 ta' Novembru 2007
Ma nistax ma nesprimix is-soghba u d-dieqa li titnissel fuq kull pirotekniku Malti partikolarment intom li maghkom kien jahdem Zaren Barbara. Nixtieq ukoll li nestendi l-kondoljanzi lil familjari tieghu, qraba u hbieb. Nemmen ukoll li Santa Katerina, li Zaren tant kien ihobb. ixxerred fuqkhom kollha kemm intom, kuragg, sabar u farag.
Huma mumenti sfortunati bhal dawn li jghaqqdu lil piroteknici kollha Maltin bhal ahwa go familja wahda u kbira. Ejja ma nhallux li t-telfa ta' Zaren tintesa minghajr ma sservi ta' twissija lilna kollha kemm ahna li nahdmu n-nar.
Irridu nistinkaw aktar u aktar sabiex dak kollu li hu umanament possibbli u li jista jghinna nevitaw kull incident iehor jigi attwat.
Nitolbu flimkien lil Santa Katerina u l-Qaddisin l-ohra kollha, padruni ta' l-irhula u bliet Maltin u Ghawdxin biex jieqfu ma Fredu Cassar biex kemm jista jkun malajr jinghaqad lura mal-familjari tieghu.
Kuragg.
Twanny - Lija
I'm shocked and trembling all over after reading this sad news.
Anthony Farrugia was well known for his skills and craftsmanship.
And has always been insisting on strict safety regulations.
We have indeed lost a truly great pyrotechnician and besides that a really good guy.
My deepest condolances to his family and friends.
Anthony Farrugia was well known for his skills and craftsmanship.
And has always been insisting on strict safety regulations.
We have indeed lost a truly great pyrotechnician and besides that a really good guy.
My deepest condolances to his family and friends.
Laatst bewerkt:
While trying to understand what went wrong I found this newspaper article.
Source: www.timesofmalta.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 28th November 2007
'If it bit Twanny, it could bite anyone'
Natalino Fenech
Anthony Farrugia
Veteran fireworks maker Anthony Farrugia, 51, succumbed to the injuries he sustained on Monday while preparing fireworks at the St Michael's factory in Lija. He died late last night at Mater Dei Hospital.
Fireworks enthusiasts were baffled over how, an expert of his calibre, should have fallen victim doing the pastime he was so cautious about.
People who spoke to The Times were unanimous in their view: "If it bit Twanny, it could bite anyone." Known for his meticulous ways, 51-year-old Mr Farrugia, who has been involved in pyrotechnics for at least 25 years, was stacking colour chemicals in petards when a flash occurred.
He was known to be stacking colour in six bursts for two petards and had completed five. Colleagues said the sixth one ignited, leading to what is technically known as a sympathetic flare-up of the chemicals that were around.
It is estimated that there were at most two kilos of material involved in the flash. Apart from sustaining severe burns, Mr Farrugia would have inhaled hot toxic gases and severely damaged his lungs. Joe Theuma, the secretary of the Malta Pyrotechnics Association, said Mr Farrugia was his right-hand man. He has known him for some 25 years and this was his first accident.
"He was very cautious and knew what he was doing. He kept his feet firmly on the ground and never overstepped his limits. His accident has created a big mystery over how it could have happened. He also sat on the commission tasked with recommending safety measures for fireworks. Everyone looked up to him," Mr Theuma said.
The chemical he was using could have been of two types. When it flashes it produces temperatures of between 2000 to 2700°C or 4000 to 5000°C, Mr Theuma said.
Former Police Superintendent Joe Valletta, who manufactured fireworks with Mr Farrugia, said the accident had compelled him to call it a day.
"He was very dedicated and very correct in what he did, never taking risks or shortcuts. If he was involved in an accident, then it can happen to everyone. He was very helpful in giving advice, very meticulous and never abused. He had started using safer, more expensive material.
"What he was doing was routine work which he was very familiar with. He was not experimenting. The colour in petards was his job. He was very proficient at it. His accident has shown me the red light. Fireworks are over for me," he said.
The Labour Party's deputy leader, Michael Falzon, is a close friend. "I can vouch for him that he always went by the book. He was exemplary in his trade. Even the incident shows you he went by the book. There was very little material around him, and he was on his own.
"He was a specialist in colour whose petards brightened up the skies in Malta and abroad. He led by example and was a member of the committee of the Malta Pyrotechnics Society since its inception in 1994.
"The accident is a big blow to us all," Dr Falzon said.
Col Albert Camilleri, an explosives expert with whom Mr Farrugia worked as a chief clerk in the army, said Mr Farrugia was "one of the brightest chaps in fireworks industry. We used to have constant conversations about this. Before I retired, it was a daily topic of conversation. He was very dedicated and cautious."
Charles Briffa, an importer of pyrotechnics material and a producer, said Mr Farrugia was "very cautious and fearful. We used to speak about the inherent dangers. He was definitely not one to risk or shortcut. Accidents happen when you least expect them.
"The news of his accident was a shock for me. One can't make fireworks that don't burn or ignite. We know we are taking risks. But he was one of those who minimised these risks as much as possible," Mr Briffa said.
Silvio Valletta, another associate of Mr Farrugia in the manufacture of fireworks, described him as exemplary in whatever he did.
"If he was angry or agitated, he did not do anything because he wanted to have complete presence of mind. He was a real expert whose pastime took over his life. He was always concerned in the weeks leading to the feast of Our Saviour in Lija and wanted time to fly so it would all be over without anyone getting hurt."
A chemicals expert who did not wish to be named said that in manufacturing fireworks there was always an element of risk that cannot be eliminated.
Source: www.timesofmalta.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 28th November 2007
'If it bit Twanny, it could bite anyone'
Natalino Fenech
Anthony Farrugia
Veteran fireworks maker Anthony Farrugia, 51, succumbed to the injuries he sustained on Monday while preparing fireworks at the St Michael's factory in Lija. He died late last night at Mater Dei Hospital.
Fireworks enthusiasts were baffled over how, an expert of his calibre, should have fallen victim doing the pastime he was so cautious about.
People who spoke to The Times were unanimous in their view: "If it bit Twanny, it could bite anyone." Known for his meticulous ways, 51-year-old Mr Farrugia, who has been involved in pyrotechnics for at least 25 years, was stacking colour chemicals in petards when a flash occurred.
He was known to be stacking colour in six bursts for two petards and had completed five. Colleagues said the sixth one ignited, leading to what is technically known as a sympathetic flare-up of the chemicals that were around.
It is estimated that there were at most two kilos of material involved in the flash. Apart from sustaining severe burns, Mr Farrugia would have inhaled hot toxic gases and severely damaged his lungs. Joe Theuma, the secretary of the Malta Pyrotechnics Association, said Mr Farrugia was his right-hand man. He has known him for some 25 years and this was his first accident.
"He was very cautious and knew what he was doing. He kept his feet firmly on the ground and never overstepped his limits. His accident has created a big mystery over how it could have happened. He also sat on the commission tasked with recommending safety measures for fireworks. Everyone looked up to him," Mr Theuma said.
The chemical he was using could have been of two types. When it flashes it produces temperatures of between 2000 to 2700°C or 4000 to 5000°C, Mr Theuma said.
Former Police Superintendent Joe Valletta, who manufactured fireworks with Mr Farrugia, said the accident had compelled him to call it a day.
"He was very dedicated and very correct in what he did, never taking risks or shortcuts. If he was involved in an accident, then it can happen to everyone. He was very helpful in giving advice, very meticulous and never abused. He had started using safer, more expensive material.
"What he was doing was routine work which he was very familiar with. He was not experimenting. The colour in petards was his job. He was very proficient at it. His accident has shown me the red light. Fireworks are over for me," he said.
The Labour Party's deputy leader, Michael Falzon, is a close friend. "I can vouch for him that he always went by the book. He was exemplary in his trade. Even the incident shows you he went by the book. There was very little material around him, and he was on his own.
"He was a specialist in colour whose petards brightened up the skies in Malta and abroad. He led by example and was a member of the committee of the Malta Pyrotechnics Society since its inception in 1994.
"The accident is a big blow to us all," Dr Falzon said.
Col Albert Camilleri, an explosives expert with whom Mr Farrugia worked as a chief clerk in the army, said Mr Farrugia was "one of the brightest chaps in fireworks industry. We used to have constant conversations about this. Before I retired, it was a daily topic of conversation. He was very dedicated and cautious."
Charles Briffa, an importer of pyrotechnics material and a producer, said Mr Farrugia was "very cautious and fearful. We used to speak about the inherent dangers. He was definitely not one to risk or shortcut. Accidents happen when you least expect them.
"The news of his accident was a shock for me. One can't make fireworks that don't burn or ignite. We know we are taking risks. But he was one of those who minimised these risks as much as possible," Mr Briffa said.
Silvio Valletta, another associate of Mr Farrugia in the manufacture of fireworks, described him as exemplary in whatever he did.
"If he was angry or agitated, he did not do anything because he wanted to have complete presence of mind. He was a real expert whose pastime took over his life. He was always concerned in the weeks leading to the feast of Our Saviour in Lija and wanted time to fly so it would all be over without anyone getting hurt."
A chemicals expert who did not wish to be named said that in manufacturing fireworks there was always an element of risk that cannot be eliminated.
While trying to understand what went wrong I also found this newspaper article.
Source: www.timesofmalta.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 29th November 2007
I did not do anything wrong - Lija fireworks victim
Natalino Fenech
The man who died two days ago after a fireworks factory accident in Lija kept telling colleagues on the way to hospital that he had not done anything incorrectly as he assembled the petards that ultimately killed him. Twanny Farrugia, an expert in fireworks manufacture with a reputation as a stickler for safety, was severely burnt in a flash that occurred at the St Michael's Fireworks Factory in Lija on Monday while he was in the process of making petards. Despite his horrible injuries he ran down to seek help from two colleagues who were in another part of the complex. He died in hospital on Tuesday.
Sources close to the factory said that throughout the short trip from Lija to Mater Dei Hospital, Mr Farrugia kept looking at his hands, as if to make sure his fingers were still intact, and kept repeating "M'ghamilt xejn hazin, m'ghamilt xejn hazin". (I did not do anything wrong).
Before getting into the car, his concern was that he was going to soil the seat because of the injuries he had sustained.
He only stepped into the car when he was assured it was not a problem.
On arrival at the hospital, he got out of the car on his own and was rushed to the resuscitation room. Apart from his burns, medical staff were mostly concerned about the toxic fumes he had inhaled.
Fireworks have claimed eight lives so far this year. Mr Farrugia was the latest victim.
Two men died in an explosion at St Catherine's Fireworks factory in Zurrieq last week while last June five men died and another suffered burns in a series of explosions at the St Helen's Fireworks Factory in Gharghur.
Sources in fireworks circles said there was now "grave concern" over whether the accidents were the result of defective chemicals.
But chemicals experts said that although nothing could be ruled out at this stage, one had to bear in mind that there were always serious hazards in fireworks manufacture; although the risks could be minimised, they could not be eliminated.
"Humidity is one of the worst enemies for pyrotechnics manufacturers, as it makes the chemicals unstable," one expert said.
The type of chemical Mr Farrugia was using is unknown because whatever he was using was burnt up in the flash.
But his insistence that he had done nothing wrong and his reputation for never taking risks is worrying fireworks enthusiasts, who are mystified about what could have sparked the incident.
"If there was someone about whom one could say that he would never have an accident, it was Twanny. But his death has changed that," one of his close friends said.
A number of organisations have cancelled their Christmas activities as a mark of respect.
His funeral will be held tomorrow. The cortege will leave Mater Dei Hospital at 1.45 p.m. for the Lija parish church where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m.
The coffin will then be carried by his colleagues to the Lija cemetery, accompanied by the St Pius X band club.
Source: www.timesofmalta.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 29th November 2007
I did not do anything wrong - Lija fireworks victim
Natalino Fenech
The man who died two days ago after a fireworks factory accident in Lija kept telling colleagues on the way to hospital that he had not done anything incorrectly as he assembled the petards that ultimately killed him. Twanny Farrugia, an expert in fireworks manufacture with a reputation as a stickler for safety, was severely burnt in a flash that occurred at the St Michael's Fireworks Factory in Lija on Monday while he was in the process of making petards. Despite his horrible injuries he ran down to seek help from two colleagues who were in another part of the complex. He died in hospital on Tuesday.
Sources close to the factory said that throughout the short trip from Lija to Mater Dei Hospital, Mr Farrugia kept looking at his hands, as if to make sure his fingers were still intact, and kept repeating "M'ghamilt xejn hazin, m'ghamilt xejn hazin". (I did not do anything wrong).
Before getting into the car, his concern was that he was going to soil the seat because of the injuries he had sustained.
He only stepped into the car when he was assured it was not a problem.
On arrival at the hospital, he got out of the car on his own and was rushed to the resuscitation room. Apart from his burns, medical staff were mostly concerned about the toxic fumes he had inhaled.
Fireworks have claimed eight lives so far this year. Mr Farrugia was the latest victim.
Two men died in an explosion at St Catherine's Fireworks factory in Zurrieq last week while last June five men died and another suffered burns in a series of explosions at the St Helen's Fireworks Factory in Gharghur.
Sources in fireworks circles said there was now "grave concern" over whether the accidents were the result of defective chemicals.
But chemicals experts said that although nothing could be ruled out at this stage, one had to bear in mind that there were always serious hazards in fireworks manufacture; although the risks could be minimised, they could not be eliminated.
"Humidity is one of the worst enemies for pyrotechnics manufacturers, as it makes the chemicals unstable," one expert said.
The type of chemical Mr Farrugia was using is unknown because whatever he was using was burnt up in the flash.
But his insistence that he had done nothing wrong and his reputation for never taking risks is worrying fireworks enthusiasts, who are mystified about what could have sparked the incident.
"If there was someone about whom one could say that he would never have an accident, it was Twanny. But his death has changed that," one of his close friends said.
A number of organisations have cancelled their Christmas activities as a mark of respect.
His funeral will be held tomorrow. The cortege will leave Mater Dei Hospital at 1.45 p.m. for the Lija parish church where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m.
The coffin will then be carried by his colleagues to the Lija cemetery, accompanied by the St Pius X band club.
PLEASE ONLY ENGLISH!