Fireworks Research Articles

Unintended workplace safety consequences of minimum wages

We investigate the unintended impact of minimum wage increases on workplace safety. Using establishment-level data from the United States and a cohort-based stacked difference-in-differences design, we find that large increases in minimum wages have significant adverse effects on workplace safety. Our findings indicate that, on average, a large minimum wage increase results in a 4.6 percent increase in the total case rate. Event study estimates show that this adverse effect persists in the medium run. Furthermore, we find a more salient effect for firms more likely to be financially constrained or subject to a higher labor market rigidity in firing workers. We provide suggestive evidence that small minimum wage increases might reduce injury rates, highlighting the potential heterogeneity in the impact of minimum wage changes. We do not find evidence that capital-labor substitution could be behind the findings.

A Critical Study on Child Labour in India with Reference to Firework Industry in Tamilnadu

Child work is misuse of underage youngsters in any structures, constraining them to work wrongfully which damages or misuses them. This maltreatment might be physical, mental or sexual; denying the offspring of their privilege of essential training. . As per the International Labor Organization(ILO), " firework is the place youngsters are denied of their youth since they are compelled to work extended periods for next to zero cash, denied of trainings and in conditions destructive to their psychological and physical advancement." According to UNICEF, there are 250 million children matured between 5-14 years utilised as child work in creating nations out of which 120 millions work all day. Among the creating nations, India has the most elevated number of fireworks younger than 14 years which is roughly 12.6 millions. Youngsters are occupied with each part of the economy like match stick making, firecrackers, residential work, development, cover making industry, block furnaces, and so forth one of the spots where child labour is encountered the most is Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. Children are the eventual fate of any country or network. As indicated by the International Labor Organization (ILO), if fireworks will be restricted and all youngsters get legitimate training, the world's absolute pay would be raised by about 22% more than 20 years, which is a record for more than $4 trillion. Restricting child work will help in boosting the economy of a nation. Be that as it may, the circumstances here are more terrible. Thus this paper to make a basic examination of the Child labour in fire worker industry and effects of it.

Legal Protection against Retaliatory Firing Improves Workplace Safety

Abstract Workplace safety policies are designed to ensure that employers internalize the costs of injuries, but employers can undermine these policies with threats of dismissal. We show that states’ adoption of the public policy exception to at-will employment—an exception forbidding employers from firing workers for filing workers’ compensation claims or for whistleblowing—led to a substantial reduction in injuries. The widespread adoption of the public policy exception explains 14% of the decline in fatal injury rates between 1979 and 1994. Statutory protections from retaliatory firing also improved safety, but only when employers faced sufficiently strong penalties for violating them.

Final Hymn of the Rigveda

The final hymn of the Rigveda, 10.191, the last three stanzas of which are dedicated to saṃjñānam ‘unity’, plays in a remarkable way with the preposition/prefix sam(-) ‘with; together’ and the phonetic sequence mā̆n. Some of the words with mā̆n go back to Proto-Indo-European *men ‘think’ (mánas- ‘mind, intellect, thought’, mántra- ‘utterance, spell’, and mantraye ‘I utter an utterance, recite a spell’); others are forms of the adjective samāná- ‘common, the same’. This brief communication shows that the display of phonetic fireworks has analogs in our earliest hymns in Avestan and Greek, in which both reflexes of *men and etymologically unconnected words that have the same pattern of sounds are frequently found in the most “privileged positions”: the beginning and/or end of a section, poem, or entire poetic collection.

An Assessment of Turkish Forest Fire Workers' Thoughts on Occupational Health and Safety

Forest fire workers (FFWs) operate in very difficult working conditions; they transport heavy equipment on rough and steep terrain and are exposed to high levels of noise, heat, stress, and smoke. Working in different fire sensitivity degree regions (FSDRs), FFWs experience occupational health and safety (OHS) problems as they are involved in dangerous and risky tasks. In Türkiye, which is a high risk country in terms of forest fires, there is no comprehensive and well-documented data regarding what FFWs think about OHS, taking into account all FSDRs. In this study, the views of FFWs in Türkiye regarding OHS training, first aid training, the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by FFWs, the quality of the equipment and ergonomic suitability levels were investigated. The Body Mass Index (BMI) parameters of FFWs were also calculated. In addition, occupational accidents experienced by FFWs and the relationship between these occupational accidents and taking on additional duties were examined with the Spearman ranking correlation coefficient. 962 FFWs participated in the survey, which consisted of four sections and 20 questions. Whether the data obtained differs between the four FSDRs was examined with the Chi-Square test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. There was a statistical difference between FFWs operating in the FSDRs in terms of OHS and first aid training. The quality of the majority of PPE and equipment used statistically differed between FFWs operating in the FSDRs. There was a statistical difference between FFWs operating in the FSDRs in terms of work accidents. Occupational accidents of FFWs and the relationship between these and taking on additional duties were examined and a positive correlation was found between the occupational accidents of FFWs and the additional duties assigned to them. The average height of the FFWs was 175.03 cm. and the average weight was 81.01 kg. 1.46% of the FFWs were underweight, 37.42% were of normal weight, 44.39% were overweight, 16.73% were obese. Although the health checks of the workers were carried out regularly, the BMI values were not at normal rates. Even though FFWs in Türkiye participate in OHS training at a high level, they cannot adequately reflect this training in their experiences. Regarding first aid, the level of participation or education was not sufficient. The General Directorate of Forestry (GDF) should increase the effectiveness of OHS training received by FFWs and their inspections on this issue.

New insights into the influences of firework combustion on molecular composition and formation of sulfur- and halogen-containing organic compounds

Firework (FW) events occur during various festivals worldwide and substantially negatively influence both air quality and human health. However, the effects of FWs on the chemical properties and formation of organic aerosols are far from clear. In this study, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected in a suburban area in Qingdao, China during the Chinese Spring Festival. The concentrations of chemical species (especially carbonaceous components) in PM2.5 were measured using a combination of several state-of-the-art techniques. Our results showed that mass concentrations of water-soluble sulfate, potassium and chloride ions, and organic carbon drastically increased and became the predominant components in PM2.5 during FW events. Correspondingly, both the number and fractional contributions of sulfur (S)-containing subgroups (e.g., CHOS and CHONS compounds) and some chlorine (Cl)-containing organic (e.g., CHOSCl and CHONSCl) compounds identified using ultrahigh-resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) increased. The S- and Cl-containing compounds unique to the FW display period were identified, and their chemical characterization, sources, and formation mechanisms were elucidated by combining FT-ICR MS and quantum chemical calculations. Our results suggest that FW emissions play notable roles in both primary and secondary organic aerosol formation, especially for CHOS- and Cl-containing organic compounds.

Special Issue on Crowd Management and its Applications

This special issue summarizes the research findings of the “Crowd Control Adaptive to Individual and Group Attributes” project, which is selected as a full-scale research project under the “Development of the Crisis Navigator for Individuals” prioritized theme of the JST Mirai Program.* Despite the lingering memory of the 2022 crowd accident in Itaewon, South Korea, similar accidents have occurred worldwide, including the firework display in Akashi, Japan, and the Love Parade in Germany. Addressing this social issue is imperative. To significantly reduce the risk of crowd accidents, this project aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying human flow stagnation and establish a method to effectively guide the flow of people. Our approach involves creating a mathematical model that can estimate the flow of people by considering individual and group attributes, such as wheelchair and group behavior, to accurately predict flow stagnation. Based on these predictions, we developed a system that provides individuals with information on movement and utilizes technology to guide crowd flow, drawing principles from game theory and nudge theory. This system is characterized by integrating information on human flow, environmental factors, simulation results for predicting future conditions, and crowd control measures within the Crowd Management Platform as a Service (CMPaaS). Furthermore, we conducted demonstration tests at shopping malls, train stations, and event venues, and found that it offers valuable guidance to achieve risk reduction effects at real-world sites. In this special issue, the first paper presents an overview of the newly created crowd management platform. Thereafter, it is organized into 16 articles presenting current research results categorized under Simulation, Theory, Control, Experiment, and Data Analysis, followed by a note on visitor trajectories in indoor facilities. We anticipate that the outcomes of this study will facilitate interdisciplinary research in this field and promote the social implementation of crowd management platforms to prevent crowd accidents, thus creating a society where everyone can move safely, securely, comfortably, and efficiently. * Mirai means “Future” in Japanese. The program is administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Implementation Measures for Fire Work Safety in Gas Area of Metallurgical Enterprises

It is an important task to control the dangerous operation of gas fire and reduce the occurrence of gas fire and explosion accidents in ensuring gas operation safety in metallurgical enterprises. Combined with the requirements of current laws, standards and practical experience, the key points in fire safety management and control are analyzed to solve the gas fire safety problems.

The productivity puzzle and the decline of unions

This paper finds that rapid de-unionization can explain the sudden vanishing of the procyclicality of productivity in the U.S. during the 1980s, a phenomenon dubbed the ‘productivity puzzle’. Cross-sectional evidence from U.S. states and industries shows that a decline in union power led to a decrease in the cost of hiring and firing workers, which prompted firms to rely less on labor hoarding, making productivity less procyclical. In a model with endogenous worker effort, a decrease in employment adjustment cost by the amount implied by de-unionization explains a significant part of the observed decline in the procyclicality of productivity.

The effect of preserving job matches during a crisis

It is generally difficult to measure the importance of preserving worker-firm relationships, particularly for low-wage jobs that involve general skills. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the sudden and seemingly temporary disruption of millions of otherwise productive employment relationships around the world. Using novel administrative and survey data from Denmark, we study a policy where firms paid up to 25% of wages to furlough instead of firing workers. We find that aid-taking firms furloughed about 24pp more workers, a large share of whom would have otherwise been laid off, and this had a positive impact on subsequent firm survival, employment growth and sales. Further, we find firms derive value from maintaining ties to low-wage and blue collar workers and that preserving those matches is beneficial to firms, suggesting policies that preserve job matches may help speed-up recovery.

Modal Research on Photoelectric Turntable of a Medium Caliber Tracked Anti-aircraft Gun

Aiming at the problem of violent vibration of the photoelectric turntable caused by the high frequency firing work load during the firing of a medium caliber tracked anti-aircraft gun, the tracking accuracy of the photoelectric tracker is unstable, and the law of the vibration of the gun on the platform is obtained by combining mechanical simulating and experiment. According to the finite element theory, a model of certain type of the gun is built, modal analysis is carried out through the ANSYS Workbench, the natural frequency and mode shape of the turntable are gained, and the hammering method modal test is carried out to verify the simulation outcomes. Through the strength check of the gun mount assembly under three typical working conditions, the weak link in the structural design is found. The results show that the research results can provide a reference for the structural design optimization of the photoelectric turntable on a vehicle-mounted antiaircraft gun.

Changes in dopamine and octopamine levels caused disordered behaviour in red imported fire ants exposed to cinnamon essential oils

Some plant essential oils (EOs) are environmentally friendly insecticides because they can kill insects by manipulating the social behaviour of the red imported fire ants. In this study, we found that the main component of cinnamon oil, trans-cinnamaldehyde, which is extracted from the bark and leaves of Cinnamomum loureirii Nees and Cinnamomum cassia Presl, could cause leg-antennal and double-antennal grooming, as well as fighting behaviors in red imported fire ants. In particular, the bark oils not only produced strong fighting behaviour but also accelerated the death of the worker ants. Analysis of the contents of neurotransmitters (octopamine and dopamine) in red imported fire worker ants treated with trans-cinnamaldehyde, the main component of cinnamon oil, showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde destroyed the antennal receptor structure, causing a decrease in octopamine content and in the ants' ability to recognise their nest mates. Trans-cinnamaldehyde stimulated the synthesis of dopamine, thereby enhancing the aggression of the worker ants. Indeed, the relative mRNA expression levels of two genes needed for dopamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase and DOPA decarboxylase, were significantly upregulated compared with those of the control group (CK) from the beginning of the fight to the peak of the fight. The ratio of octopamine to dopamine reached 1:86 during the peak of the fight. The findings revealed that trans-cinnamaldehyde acts on the nervous system of red imported fire ants to interfere with the behaviour of the workers, thus providing a strategy to control the spread of red imported fire ants using cinnamon EOs.

Fires of Joy and Anticipation Wedding Firework Displays of the Central European Habsburgs in the Second Half of the 17th Century

Early modern firework illuminations and displays formed part of festivities in both secular and sacred contexts from the end of the 14th century. During the 15th and 16th centuries their designers, often high-ranking artillery officers, became an increasingly important part not only of army but also of court life. The development of fireworks, and especially rockets, gave prominence to intricately conceived displays, which were gradually developed according to the changing tastes of musical theatre productions and the skills of masters of pyrotechnics. In Central Europe, several performances were staged at the Habsburg court from the middle of the 17th century onwards which were clearly among the most costly, complex and, above all, the highest-quality pyrotechnical displays of their kind in the history of human culture. They were instruments of the complex patterns of contemporary propaganda and courtly representation, and their stories reflected the reality, desires, visions and concerns of the ruling dynasty. We can deduce their forms, stories and messages from surviving synopses and printed illustrated sheets.

A New Latin Poem by Joseph Addison

Abstract Known almost exclusively now as the author of The Spectator and Cato, Joseph Addison was also highly regarded throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as a Latin poet. This article presents a new addition to the canon of Addison’s Latin verse: a 57-line hexameter poem entitled Arcus Triumphalis which survives in a unique manuscript copy recently acquired by Addison’s alma mater Magdalen College, Oxford. The article begins by describing the manuscript (scans of the leaves containing Addison’s poem are included), detailing its likely genesis and confirming its attribution of the poem to Addison. Then it reconstructs the contexts of the poem, which describes a firework display put on in St James’s Square on the evening of 2 December 1697 to celebrate William III’s triumphal return to London after concluding the Peace of Ryswick. A third section provides a critical reading of the poem, concentrating on its surprising presentation of William III and its bold use of ekphrasis. The article concludes by assessing the place of Arcus Triumphalis in Addison’s career, in relation to the early development of his Whiggism and as a forerunner of several of his definitive concerns in The Spectator: privacy and the public sphere, urban spectacle, and the aesthetics of looking. An edited text of the poem and an English translation are provided in an appendix.

Source apportionment of PM2.5 using PMF combined online bulk and single-particle measurements: Contribution of fireworks and biomass burning

Fireworks (FW) could significantly worsen air quality in short term during celebrations. Due to similar tracers with biomass burning (BB), the fast and precise qualification of FW and BB is still challenging. In this study, online bulk and single-particle measurements were combined to investigate the contributions of FW and BB to the overall mass concentrations of PM2.5 and specific chemical species by positive matrix factorization (PMF) during the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong in February 2013. With combined information, fresh/aged FW (abundant 140K2NO3+ and 213K3SO4+ formed from 113K2Cl+ discharged by fresh FW) can be extracted from the fresh/aged BB sources, in addition to the Second Aerosol, Vehicles + Road Dust, and Sea Salt factors. The contributions of FW and BB were investigated during three high particle matter episodes influenced by the pollution transported from the Pearl River Delta region. The fresh BB/FW contributed 39.2% and 19.6% to PM2.5 during the Lunar Chinese New Year case. However, the contributions of aged FW/BB enhanced in the last two episodes due to the aging process, evidenced by high contributions from secondary aerosols. Generally, the fresh BB/FW showed more significant contributions to nitrate (35.1% and 15.0%, respectively) compared with sulfate (25.1% and 5.9%, respectively) and OC (14.8% and 11.1%, respectively) on average. In comparison, the aged FW contributed more to sulfate (13.4%). Overall, combining online bulk and single-particle measurement data can combine both instruments’ advantages and provide a new perspective for applying source apportionment of aerosols using PMF.

Predicting spatiotemporal variations of PM2.5 concentrations during spring festival for county-level cities in China using VIIRS-DNB data

Short-term PM2.5 increment is one of the severe air quality issues in the urban areas of China during the Spring Festival (SF) owing to the large amount of firework (FW) displays. This study proposed a hybrid self-adaptive deep learning algorithm, named Self-adaptive deep belief network (SADBN), which calibrates PM2.5-AOD relationship self-adaptively by the spatial relation between each predictor and the others around it, to estimate the short-term rapid changes of PM2.5 concentration during SF of China urban areas. Firstly, all the urban areas were extracted for 4 years (2015–2018) by using the optimal threshold method based on VIIRS-DNB data. Secondly, the SADBN model was constructed through integration of VIIRS-DNB data, PM2.5 ground measurements and meteorological fields. Then the PM2.5 concentrations were mapped for the urban areas of China during SF used SADBN model. Finally, the spatiotemporal changes of PM2.5 were analyzed based on three periods (Previous, During and Post) of SF from 2015 to 2018. The results demonstrated that the VIIRS-DNB product could be able to capture the short-term variability of PM2.5 concentration at high spatiotemporal resolution with acceptable accuracy, which is affected by human activity. The SADBN could be improved by the consideration of VIIRS-DNB data with increments R2 of 0.06 and decrements of RMSE of 4.98 μg/m3. The results indicated that the rapid increase of PM2.5 concentration caused by FW can affect the monthly average PM2.5 of most of the urban areas during SF. The mapping results showed that there were obvious temporal trends during and after SF, the PM2.5 concentration increased rapidly During period and decreased significantly Post period of SF in the most of the urban areas.

Minimal PM2.5 Impact Observed in Communities Near Large, Recurring, Non-Independence Day Festivals with Fireworks Displays

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from fireworks displays have been linked to serious health concerns, particularly in infants and children. Outdoor displays in large, recurring festivals such as state fairs thus may threaten local air quality, particularly given the proximity of fairgrounds to substantial, nearby residential populations. Here, we identify state fairs with known firework displays and assess their impact on air quality in nearby communities. We assessed the impact of three large, recurring festivals on PM2.5 levels in nearby communities. Overall, our multi-year analysis failed to identify measurable increases in PM2.5 concentrations during festival days at air quality monitoring sites within 4–10 km of the fairgrounds, even when data were filtered by wind direction. Results suggest that firework displays from such festivals are unlikely to violate PM2.5 air quality standards in communities near the fairgrounds. The results suggest that identifying a potential air pollution signal associated with fireworks is challenging, particularly in urban fairgrounds where air quality is impacted by multiple local and distant pollution sources. Local impacts may yet be identified in future studies if air quality is monitored closer to the fairgrounds and if the fireworks pyrotechnic content is known.

“A Revolution in Labor”: African Americans and Hybrid Labor Activism in Illinois during the Early Jim Crow Era

“A Revolution in Labor”: African Americans and Hybrid Labor Activism in Illinois during the Early Jim Crow Era

Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations during Independence Day Fireworks Display in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Region, South Texas, USA.

Fireworks are typically discharged as a mark of celebration and joy in many societies spanning various cultures. In the United States of America, 4th July is celebrated as the Independence Day when the nation overthrew the British colonial yoke in 1776. While this day instills a sense of patriotism in every American's heart, it is also a major PM2.5 air pollution concern. This study is first of its type in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Region of South Texas, USA, that characterizes fine particulate matter pollution. Using a low-cost sensor (TSI BlueSky Air Quality Monitor), real-time PM2.5 measurements were assessed at eleven different locations in four different towns and cities of Lower RGV Region: Brownsville, Edinburg, Weslaco, and Port Isabel. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations from July 03–06, 2021 are presented in this research work. Intraurban PM2.5 spatial and temporal variations provide an insight on the general population's exposure burden during the festive period. Results indicate an increase in fine particulate matter pollution across the region, but the levels do not exceed the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Findings from this study would possibly help in the formulation of effective firework policies to minimize the pollution impact.

Health risk assessment using chemical signatures of fine and coarse particles collected at breathing level height during firework display in New Delhi, India

Sporadic emissions of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10) particles at breathing level height (BLH) during Diwali, before Diwali and after Diwali (DD, BD and AD) in fireworks ban and no-ban years (2017 and 2018) were studied for water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII), organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), metals and health risk. Average PM2.5 level at BLH exceeded Air Quality Standard (60 µgm−3) by 7.6, 3.7 and 3.2 times during BD, DD and AD, respectively, in 2017 while impulsive increase was observed in 2018 during DD (26 times) followed by AD and BD (5.2 and 4.7 times). Al, K, Sr, Ba, NO3 -, OC, Cl- in PM2.5 showed sudden increase during DD compared to BD and AD in non-Ban year (2018) and can be considered as markers of firework display. OC was more than EC in PM2.5 and was highest during BD and AD, as compare to DD. Dry deposition of emissions and re-suspension of residual ash/unburnt mass could be a reason for poor air quality at BLH. High Hazardous Index (HI) values in both size particles indicated that children were more vulnerable to exposure and were at high risk compared to adults. Cr followed by Cd and Ni in particles posed carcinogenic risk to children and adults. More such studies shall be conducted at BLH to improve human health risk assessment due to PM2.5 exposure.