About Me

This is Tom Smith’s new blog – This is Tom Smith
Tom graduated from Oxford University in 1983 with 1st class honours in Chemistry and subsequently gained his Doctorate, again at Oxford, in 1985. After working in the chemical industry for 3 years, and as a computer lecturer for a further year he joined Kimbolton Fireworks in 1989 as display manager in control of, eventually, some 200 firework displays each year.

His responsibilities included all aspects of planning, including site survey, design, choreography and production, as well as managing production of specially designed items, firing system design and software design for pyromusical display choreography. Tom was responsible for several major displays including

• VJ Day on the Thames 1995 (the largest display in London to that date)
• Hong Kong Handover display 1997
• London 800 celebrations 1994
• Knokke Firework competition 1991 – First prize
• Montreal Pyromusical competition 1993 (Silver Jupiter) and 1996

During this time, and subsequently, Tom also represented the UK firework industry on a number of Government working groups including:-

• Packaging of Explosives and Control of Explosives 1991
• Manufacture and Storage of Explosives 1992/3 and 1996-2001
• Classification and Labelling of Explosives 1993/4

Tom regularly presents technical lectures and papers and has contributed to many publications and meetings including:-

• “Pyromania – Everyone loves fireworks” – Channel 4
• “Fireworks – Explosives for Entertainment” – Lectures for RSC, SCI and others
• Fire Safety College Risk Management seminars
• Fireworks and the Law (CBI Publications)
• “Working together on Firework Displays” and “Giving your own Firework Display” (HSE Books)
• Explosive Safety Management CD Rom (designed and produced by Davas Limited for CBI Publications)
• The Journal of Pyrotechnics
• HSE Contract Research Report 366/2001 – New requirements for the transport of Explosives by Road

Tom also holds or has held the following positions:-

• Chairman BTEC Firework Committee, 1998-1999
• Member of MSER Quantity/Distance Working Group, 1994 – 2003
• Chairman CBI/Explosive Industry Group Pyrotechnic Section, 1998 – present
• Member of Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances (ACDS), 2000 – 2005
• Member of CBI/EIG Management Committee, 1998 – present
• Member of ACDS: Major Hazards Subcommittee, 1997 – 2005
• Member of ACDS: Explosives Subcommittee, 1999 – present
• Member of CBI Dangerous Substances Working Party, 1998 – 2003
• Member of MoD’s Explosive Storage and Transport Committee, 2004 – present
• Member of Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (MSER) Steering Committee, 1997 – 2005
• Member of Explosives Industry Forum, 1996 – present
• Board member – European Fireworks Association (EUFIAS)
• Secretary, British Pyrotechnists Association, 2002 – present
• Chairman Explosives Transport Working Group, 2004 – present
• Member – UK Pyrotechnics Notified Body, 2007 – present
• UK leader – CEN TC 212 Working Group 2, 2007 – present

Tom is a keen dinghy and yacht sailor (see http://www.helfordriversc.co.uk), photographer (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/davas) and cook and lives with his wife and two children in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire. He has been instrumental in developing IT services at the local primary school and acted as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board at HM Prison Littlehey until spring 2004. He is also a director and is presently the Vice-Commodore of Grafham Water Sailing Club Ltd and holds Regional Race Officer, First Aid, Powerboat L2 and Safety Boat driver and VHF qualifications.

CarnDu Ltd history

In 1998 Tom founded an independent explosives consultancy, Davas Limited, specialising in legal compliance for firework display companies and events. Tom played a key role in London’s Millennium celebration as Production Manager and Safety Officer for the New Year’s Eve firework display. In 2012 the international and other interests were transferred to CarnDu Limited.  Other recent projects have included:-

• Safety Advisor to ERM (Hong Kong) re Disney Development at Lantau, Hong Kong
• Technical advisor to Salisbury Cathedral Fireworks Group
• Site Safety Manager and Adjudicator – Plymouth Fireworks Competition, 1999 and ongoing
• Site Safety Manager and Adjudicator – TESA Regional heats, 2006 – present
• Safety Advisor – Commonwealth Games – Manchester, 2002
• Pyrotechnic Consultant – Olympic Games – Athens, 2004
• Pyrotechnic Consultant – London New Year’s Eve Celebrations, 2003 to present
• Pyrotechnic Consultant – Commonwealth Games – Melbourne, 2006
• Davas Limited acts as retained or specialist consultants for the pyrotechnics and explosives industry including:-
  • Classification/Authorisation issues for fireworks and pyrotechnics
  • Site licensing, Safety Reports and Major Accident Prevention Plans (MAPPs)
  • Risk Assessment, especially for large scale events involving pyrotechnics/fireworks
  • Firework Safety Training
  • Delivery of Kosanke’s “Pyrotechnic Chemistry” lecture courses outside the US
  • Torribles Insurance – pyrotechnic consultant and trainer
  • Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) – All classes by road
  • Expert witness services
  • Publisher of the Journal of Pyrotechnics (www.jpyro.com) and the JPyro archive (archive.jpyro.com)

Recent clients include:-

• British Aerospace (Royal Ordnance) – site licensing
• Martin Baker Limited – explosives licensing
• Ministry of Defence – technical study of e-learning
• Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA) – explosives licensing
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – contract research report
• East Sussex County Council – explosives consultant
• Pyrovision – explosives licensing and sfaety consultant
• Windfall Films – pyrotechnic/safety consultant
• BBC Wildlife (Bristol) – pyrotechnic/safety consultant
• Australian Pyrotechnics – pyrotechnic/safety consultant
• Accolade Events Management – pyrotechnic consultant
• FTF Worldwide – explosives licencing
• Live! – pyrotechnic safety consultant
• Groupe F – Pyrotechnic safety consultant
• Jack Morton Wordwide – safety consultant
• Jack Morton Public Events – pyrotechnic consultant
• Plymouth City Council – risk assessment/management and fireworks site/competition management
• The Event Suppliers Association (TESA) – competition management and risk analysis
• Walker Morris, Peden Reid, Trethowans, Burton Burton & Ho, Warner Goodman, Lupton Fawcett etc – expert witness