While trying to understand what went wrong I found this newspaper article.
Source:
www.timesofmalta.com
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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.