NLPC SAFETY POLICIES & PROCEDURES
NLPC Safety Policies and Procedures: Authority and Scope
(UPDATED 3-1-2016)
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The Executive Committee shall have final say in any dispute.
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The Safety Chairman and Safety Team will render initial decisions.
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The Shoot Chairman shall consult with the Safety Chairman regarding display activities
1) These guidelines represent a minimum standard and include only the absolutely essential rules. Members are referred to NFPA-1123-2014*, NFPA 1124-2013 NFPA-1126-2016, and PGI Safety Guidelines-2001 for additional information. These documents and the combined experience of the officers and safety team will serve in guiding specific decisions made regarding shooting issues. Where conflicts exist, these guidelines, 2016 edition shall apply.
2) Each and every club member has a responsibility for enforcing these safety rules. If you see any safety violations either correct them or bring them to the attention of the safety team.
3) Any member or guest promoting any illegal or unsafe act may be directed to leave the shoot site. Membership and/or guest privileges may be suspended or revoked by the Executive Committee.
4) All weapons are prohibited at club events. This includes, but is not limited to, firearms, tasers and personal defense sprays of all kinds.
5) No smoking within fifty feet of fireworks or anywhere within roped off firing areas.
6) If you want to shoot fireworks, don’t drink ANY alcohol! Consumption of any alcoholic beverage will result in your being not allowed to shoot fireworks that day. Illegal drugs and fireworks DO NOT MIX and are prohibited at all club activities.
7) Only guests who are have a valid pyrotechnician license / certificate of competency on file with the Secretary may handle any non-consumer items.
8) Guests, when shooting Class “C”/1.4G fireworks, MUST be accompanied at all times by a club member. That member MUST be at least 21 years old.
9) Even though the NLPC shoots are family events and we encourage family participation, shooting areas are off limits to anybody under the age of 18 (or 21 based on local/state law). Access may be granted in certain special situations with approval from the Safety Chairman and Shoot Chairman. Underaged shooters in this case must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian who must be a club member who is at least 21 years old
10) Vending of supplies and fireworks shall be in areas designated by the Safety Officer and from preapproved vendors and approved by the officers. Only NLPC members who have paid that day’s shoot fee may purchase or pickup fireworks. (NO EXCEPTIONS).
- Eye protection, long pants, long sleeves, and safety shoes are highly recommended when inside any shooting or display area. Nylon jackets, windbreakers, pants and the like are NOT to be worn in any shooting area.a) Class “C”/1.4G – A hardhat, ear protection and cotton or flame resistant clothing are STRONGLY ADVISED. Other protective clothing is at the discretion of the shooter, subject to approval by the Site Safety Officers.
- Class “B”/1.3G – A hardhat, ear protection and flame resistant clothing are REQUIRED.
The Site Safety Officers may require or disallow other protective gear at their discretion.
12) Storage of Materials – All materials must be stored in compliance with all Federal, State and Local regulations:
- a) All Class “C”/1.4G Consumer materials must be stored in a manner that will prevent accidental ignition and in their appropriate areas as determined by the Safety Chairman and Shoot Chairman.
- b) All Class “B”/1.3G must be stored in a magazine or approved ready-box
- c) This area is for 1.4G Proximate and 1.4S materials
- d) This area is for HE/1.1G Materials
- e) This area is for Flame Effects Materials
13) Separation Distances: In the event that no local permit is required, the table of distances within NFPA1123 will be adhered to based on the interpretation of the Safety Chairman.
The use of rockets of 6oz. and under will be at 2” shell separation distances. Rockets over 6 oz. will be fired with 3” shell distances. Rockets and missiles may be banned, on a case by case basis, by the Safety Chairman.
14) Material shall ONLY be fired in the approved areas for specific types of fireworks. If unsure as to where you should shoot a device, please ask a safety team member or officer.
Absolutely NO fireworks are to be discharged outside of designated areas.
15) All items are to be lit with a torch, flare or electronically. The use of matches, lighters, cigarettes or cigars is expressly prohibited.
16) On the Class “C”/1.4G areas, hand lighting of more than one fuse at a time is expressly prohibited. Lighting of multiple fuses may be done with use of visco or quick match with approval from the onsite safety team member.
17) Chain fusing, whether for racks or on boards, will be done with the safety of the membership and spectators in mind. The exact method of chain fusing is at the discretion of the individual member, with approval of the Safety Chairman.
18) E-firing activities will be done with an inspected and approved initiation device which complies with NFPA 1123. Continuity testing will only be done with notification and the permission of the Safety Chairman. The shooting field should be cleared prior to testing, at the discretion of the Safety Chairman.
19) Firecrackers must be discharged only in approved areas and by approved means. Hand holding and tossing these devices is expressly and absolutely prohibited. There are NO exceptions to this rule. Hand holding is only allowed if device is specifically designed to be held. No tossing of any firework device is permitted.
20) Single Class “C” cakes may only be discharged from within approved shoot boxes, buried, or braced to prevent accidental tip-over.
21) Racks: Acceptable rack construction standards are addressed in the document titled “NLPC Safety Policies and Procedures: Mortar Rack Construction Standards”
22) All proximate 1.4G items,1.4S items, 1.1G items, and flame effects are allowed on a caseby- case basis by competent personal as state and federal law allow. The club Safety Chairman shall have the final word on this.
21) The following items are prohibited with the sole exception of specifically approved demonstrations: parachute flares, high explosives, explosive gas mixtures, improvised explosive devices, and fireworks / explosives without an issued EX number that are not part of an approved, on-site training or manufacturing seminar.
22) All activities that include any assembly or modification of fireworks must be performed in an approved area. Current approved areas include the assembly tent and the hands on seminar area unless otherwise approved by the Safety Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Manufacturing or modifying anywhere else is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. Manufacturing is event specific and is not available or allowed at all events.
23) These rules are general guidelines. They may be modified or amended at any time by the Executive Committee. All interpretations of these guidelines are at the discretion of the Safety Chairman and the officers. If you have any questions regarding fireworks activities, safety rules, etc., PLEASE ASK before making a mistake. Within fourteen (14) days prior to an NLPC sanctioned shoot, the Safety Chairman may impose additional rules and regulations based upon the shoot site and the projected weather.
24) All injuries resulting from setup, ignition or cleanup of any NLPC event must be immediately reported to the Safety Chairman. A full written report will be taken by the Safety Chairman and submitted to the officers (and made available to any and all authorities if necessary) with 24 hours. Based on the report a determination of negligence will be determined. If a member is found negligent by violation of the club’s safety rules, disciplinary action will be imposed by the EO to any and all members involved. If an EO is involved that individual loses his/her rights to a disciplinary vote.