ACT Fire Works

Harold Upton - Senior Pyrotechnician

BSc (Hons), Dip Pyrotechnics, Dip FP, Dip FS | Supervising Pyrotechnician & Managing Director

Past President - Australian Fireworks Association

Australian Representative - International Fireworks Association - China

Training Committee - Pyrotechnic Guild International - USA

Harold Upton has been a professional Pyrotechnican since 1992 and has conducted over 1,000 fireworks displays in Australia and overseas.

Pyrotechnic Employment

Jul 92 - Oct 94	KC's Fireworks Displays	Apprenticeship
May 93 - Present	ACT Fireworks	Senior Pyrotechnician & Managing Director
May 93 - Jun 04	ACT Fireworks	Manager Retail Division
Oct 94 - Sep 00	KC's Fireworks Displays	Consultant
Dec 99 - Jun 04	Australasian Spectaculars	Senior Pyrotechnician & Managing Director
Sep 00 - Present	KC's Fireworks Displays	Pyrotechnician
May 01 - Present	Red Back Fireworks Australia	Technical Consultant
Feb 02 - Present	Black Widow Fireworks China	Technical Consultant
Apr 02 - Jun 03	Global Pyrotechnics	Manager & Pyrotechnician

Pyrotechnic & Scientific Training

May 84	Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours, Australian National University, Canberra
Feb 98	Fireworks & Stage FX America Certificate of Achievement to Safely Handle and Discharge Large Caliber Shells
Feb 98	Desert Blast Certificate of Excellence
Mar 98	Display Fireworks Shooters Certificate (Pyrotechnic Guild International Incorporated - PGI) First Australian Graduate
Aug 99	Certified Instructor for the PGI Display Fireworks Shooters Certificate (Only Instructor in Australia)
Oct 99	Fireworks Certificate - Parente Italy

Diploma of Pyrotechnics

In 2000 Harold wrote the Worlds first competency based training standards for the pyrotechnic industry. In 2001 he wrote the Diploma of Pyrotechnics bases on these standards. In April 2002 the Diploma of Pyrotechnics accredited by the ACT Accreditation and Research Council within the Australian Qualification Framework under the auspices of the Australian National Training Authority. The Diploma of Pyrotechnics is the first Competency based training program for pyrotechnicians, and the first accredited qualification in pyrotechnics, in the world.

Safety Management

The Risk Management Practices and Procedures for Pyrotechnic Displays written by Harold Upton are world best practice and form the basis for the Pyrotechnic Guild International Display Operators Certification Program chapter on Risk Management that was also written by Harold Upton

Australian Standards

Harold Upton is a member of the Technical Drafting Committee for the Australian Standards on Explosives- Storage, transport and use, Part 3: Pyrotechnics - Shopgoods Fireworks - Design, performance and testing - AS 2187.3. Harold had considerable input into the technical aspects of this standard.

International Fireworks Conventions

Feb 95	Western Winter Blast, Western Pyrotechnic Association (WPA), Lake Havasu City Arizona, USA
Feb 96	Western Winter Blast, WPA, Lake Havasu City Arizona, USA
Feb 97	Western Winter Blast, WPA, Lake Havasu City Arizona, USA
Feb 98	Western Winter Blast, WPA, Lake Havasu City Arizona, USA
Jun 98	Desert Blast, Nevada USA
Jul 99	Desert Blast, Nevada USA
Aug 99	PGI Convention, Pyrotechnic Guild International (PGI), Fargo North Dakota USA
Aug 00	PGI Convention, Fargo North Dakota USA
Mar 01	Festival of Fire, Gatton Queensland
Dec 01	International Symposium on Fireworks, Orlando Florida USA
Aug 02	PGI Convention, Fargo North Dakota USA
Sep 02	American Pyrotechnic Association Convention, San Diego USA

Licences and Permits Held By Harold Upton or His Businesses

ACT	Licence to Import Licence to Keep Licence to Manufacture Licence to Carry Licence to Sell General Permit to 300 mm Approved Shopgoods Fireworks Tester
NSW	Licence to Import Licence to Keep (including Licence to Sell) Licence to Manufacture General Permit to 300 mm Licence to Carry
QLD	Licence (Shotfirer's Permit) to use to 150 mm Licence to Import Licence to Keep
SA	Licence to Import Purchasers Permit
TAS	Licence to Import Permit to Use
VIC	Licence to Use to 300 mm
NT	Shotfirer's Permit Authorised Shopgoods Fireworks Assessor

Pyrotechnic Presentations

Jun 98	Seminar and demonstration "Manufacture and Use of Gold Fire Rope - A new Pyrotechnic effect"
May 99	"Pyrotechnics, a Combination of Art, Craft and Science", Australian National Science Festival, Canberra
Jul 99	"Conducting a Safe Fireworks Display", Discovery Channel interview & documentary, Nevada Desert, USA
Mar 01	Seminar "Radio Remote firing of Pyrotechnic Displays", Festival of Fire, Gatton, Queensland
Mar 01	Demonstration "Aerial Effects from Chinese Ground Fireworks" Festival of Fire, Gatton, Queensland
Dec 01	Presentation of Paper "A Competency Based Training Program For Fireworks Operators - A Move To World Best Practice In Occupational Health And Safety, 6^th International Symposium On Fireworks, Walt Disney World, Florida
Dec 01	Round Table Discussions "Australasian Spectaculars Risk Management Practices and Procedures for Pyrotechnic Displays" 6^th International Symposium On Fireworks, Walt Disney World, Florida
Sep 02	Presentation of Paper "Training Programs For Fireworks Operators - Risk Management and Occupational Health And Safety, PGI Convention, Fargo, North Dakota USA

Fireworks Competitions

Jul 99	Southbank Fireworks Competition, Queensland, KC's Fireworks Displays - First Place
Jul 00	Southbank Fireworks Competition, Queensland, Australasian Spectaculars - Second Place
Sep 00	Macau (China), KC's Fireworks Displays - Fourth Place
Sep 02	Macau (China), Global Pyrotechnics - Fourth Place

Professional Associations and Journals

American Pyrotechnic Association (Professional Fireworks Companies)
Fireworks Business (USA) (legislation and regulation)
Fireworks News (USA) (Professional & technical)
National Fireworks Association (Consumer fireworks companies)
Pheonix Rising (editor) (Australian Consumer Fireworks Club)
Pyrotechnic Guild International (enthusiasts)
The Fire Maker (manufacture and technical)
Western Pyrotechnic Association (USA) (enthusiasts)