Tougher fireworks laws required

The NSW govenment should introduce legislation to regulate the production of fireworks, the NSW coroner recommended recently.

Coroner Carl Milovanovich was investigating an explosion at the Foti International fireworks factory at Leppington in June 2003.

The worker received burns to his face, arms and legs and lost nine fingers in the explosion. The exact cause of the explosion could not be found. But it was probably due to "frictional overheating or static discharge", the coroner's report said.

A WorkCover report found the accident might have been prevented if the company had introduced proper risk-management principles. However, there were no specific guidelines for fireworks makers, the coroner found.

Foti is well known for producing fireworks displays such as those at Sydney's New Year celebrations and those that lit up the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony.