June and July are both recognized as Fireworks Safety Month, which is good timing as we prepare to celebrate the nation in July. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most fireworks injuries are reported between June 16 and July 16. The CPSC also reported that fireworks were involved in an estimated 14,700 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during the 2024 calendar year. The kicker? All of these injuries were preventable if the right safety measures had been applied.

One of the main reasons fireworks injuries are preventable is that the risk is seasonal and predictable—it’s the same scenario for risk every year. Summer is vacation season for many employees, making July a great time for companies to focus on off-the-job safety. Doing so reinforces an important message: the company cares about employees’ well-being not just at work, but at home and in their communities as well. Safety communications tend to be more effective when they relate to activities employees are already planning, such as family gatherings, camping trips, and holiday celebrations (including those with fireworks).

An employee injured during a holiday or summer weekend may be unable to work for days or weeks afterward, affecting both the individual and the organization. Addressing hazards employees face at home not only reinforces the company’s concern for safety beyond the workplace, but it also helps employees remember that safety message outside the workplace. The topic is quick and easy to discuss. A short toolbox talk can provide reminders that many people know but may forget in the excitement of the moment.

For a deeper dive into the complacency that exacerbates the risks associated with fireworks, SafeStart has a Predicting and Preventing Accidents flex unit that can help address those risks. The first half of the flex unit explains how to predict errors in the first place. The second half explains how to set an effective reminder to reduce risk in the moment.

While workers need to know how to predict errors for themselves, as the flex unit instructs, in the case of fireworks it’s also important to consider how human factors might be affecting other people. It’s easy to think the risk of fireworks mostly affects the people setting them off, but the crowds of people who show up to watch the show aren’t 100% safe either. In fact, viewers may be more at risk than the folks lighting the fuses—one CPSC study showed that 65% of people injured by fireworks are bystanders.

When creating a safety talk on this topic, be sure to include safety tips for fireworks spectators. A general rule for observing fireworks: watch from at least 500 feet away from where fireworks are being launched and respect all safety barriers put in place for professional fireworks displays. Do not enter restricted areas before, during, or after fireworks displays. And since fireworks are best watched in the dark, before they begin, it’s important to know where first-aid kits are located. It’s also a good idea to have your mobile phone handy in case 911 needs to be called.

Sparklers are something that often goes hand-in-hand with fireworks. While they seem harmless enough, sparklers are actually the second-most common cause of fireworks-related emergency room visits. Sparklers burn at approximately 2,000°F, which is hot enough to melt some metals).

Fireworks can produce hot debris that travels significant distances. Watch for falling debris and get out of the way if it looks like it will land in your vicinity. Avoid touching it until it has completely cooled.

Don’t forget about your pets. Fireworks can cause extreme stress and panic in animals, causing them to run away or injure themselves trying to escape the noise. Their efforts to flee may also put you in danger as you try to contain them.

It’s never a bad idea to remind workers about the many concerns related to fireworks safety as the calendar turns to June and July. Besides, summer is the perfect time to focus on off-the-job safety. So use your next toolbox talk or safety meeting as an opportunity to remind employees about the need to take safety precautions the next time they’re setting off—or even just watching—fireworks.