Firecrackers, Noise and Air Quality: Are Fines Enough?

Diwali is a festival of light, family and celebration. In Mumbai in 2023, it was also a night of firecrackers going off long after they were allowed, and of a steep rise in noise and air pollution. The Times of India reported on what happened, and the story raises a question for everyone who works in health, safety and environment (HSE): when a rule is broken this widely, are penalties enough on their own?

What happened

A high court order limited firecrackers to a fixed window of time, and the police set out to enforce it. Even so, residents in many parts of the city reported loud blasts well after that window had closed.

People who broke the rules were fined, and cases were registered under the Explosives Act. Not everyone felt this went far enough. Writer Vinta Nanda and environmentalist Debi Goenka were among those who spoke out about how disappointed they were with the authorities' response, and their criticism raises a fair question: can fines alone change the way people behave?

Do fines change behaviour?

Penalties are a familiar tool in India. The Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for vehicles, for example, relies on checks and fines to make owners take responsibility for their emissions. It is reasonable to ask whether a similar approach could build the same sense of responsibility around firecrackers.

Fines have a place. They show that a rule matters and they can deter some people. But in HSE we know from experience that rules work best when people understand the reason behind them and agree with it. Enforcement alone tends to change behaviour only while someone is watching.

Looking beyond penalties

If fines are only part of the answer, what else could help? Three ideas are worth discussing:

• Community education. Explaining the effects of noise and smoke on children, older people, people with breathing problems and animals, so that restraint becomes a matter of care, not only of law.
• Working with the authorities. Housing societies, schools, employers and local groups can support enforcement by agreeing common times and places for celebrations and sharing the message widely.
• Technology. Monitoring, reporting tools and data can help authorities target enforcement and help the public see the effect of their choices.

An HSE pledge

We would like to suggest an HSE Pledge: a voluntary commitment by safety professionals, their organisations and their families to live by safety, health and environmental values at home as well as at work. A pledge for the festival season might include:

• celebrating only within the permitted hours
• using fewer firecrackers, or choosing to celebrate without them
• keeping children supervised and at a safe distance
• thinking about neighbours, older people, pets and anyone with asthma or heart problems
• leading by example, because colleagues and families notice what HSE professionals do off duty

Firecracker safety at home

If you do use firecrackers, a few precautions reduce the risk of injury:

1. Read and follow the instructions on the pack.
2. Light them outdoors, in an open space away from buildings, vehicles and anything that can catch fire.
3. Keep a bucket of water or sand close by.
4. Light at arm's length and step back straight away. Never lean over a firecracker.
5. Never try to relight one that has not gone off. Leave it, then soak it in water.
6. Wear cotton clothing rather than loose synthetic fabrics.
7. Make sure an adult supervises children at all times.

First aid for a minor burn

• Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, starting straight away.
• Remove rings, bangles or tight clothing near the area before it swells, unless they are stuck to the skin.
• Cover the burn loosely with clean cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing.
• Do not put ice, butter, oil or toothpaste on a burn.
• Get medical help for burns that are large or deep, or on the face, hands or genitals, and call 112 in an emergency.

For employers

The festival season is a good time for a short toolbox talk on firecracker safety, noise and burns first aid. Check that first aid kits are stocked with burn dressings, that fire extinguishers are in date and that trained first aiders are available on every shift. If you run staff housing or a campus, agree clear rules on where and when celebrations can take place.

Have your say

Can fines alone solve this problem, or do we need a wider approach? We would like to hear from the HSE community. Write to us at info@eduforce.in.

Our Fire Safety training covers prevention, ignition control and early detection, and our Basic First Aid Certification training prepares people to deal with burns and other common injuries. To arrange a session, write to info@eduforce.in or message us on WhatsApp at 8779291591.