Recovery straps for motor vehicles

Motor vehicle recovery straps
Check Recovery straps for motor vehicles for more information
The mandatory standard for motor vehicle recovery straps was declared on 7 July 2010 and came into effect on 1 October 2010. This page includes information on hazards and how to comply with this mandatory standard.

The mandatory standard requires that motor vehicle recovery straps manufactured or imported after 1 October 2010 (and all recovery straps supplied after 1 January 2011) carry prominent labelling and warnings to promote safe usage of the product.

Recovery straps, also called snatch straps, are used to connect two vehicles when one vehicle is freeing another from being bogged. The straps stretch and release energy under tension to achieve a sharp, jerking action.

The standard does not apply to vehicle lifting slings or tie-down straps, wire cable, chain, rope or straps for conventional towing situations.

Hazards

Death and serious injury

At least two fatalities and one serious injury have occurred in Queensland since 2003 as a result of the unsafe use of recovery straps.  Incorrect attachment to tow bars and tow hooks have resulted in the tow hooks being sheered from vehicles and recoiled at force, striking and fatally injuring onlookers.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that there have been many more incidents involving non-fatal injuries. 

Mandatory standard

The mandatory standard gives national coverage to regulatory requirements which were previously introduced in Queensland. Key requirements are set out below however, for complete information about all mandatory requirements for motor vehicle recovery straps, we strongly advise that you read Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard) (Motor Vehicle Recovery Straps) Regulations 2010.

Does this apply to your business?

Under the ACL supply includes:

  • in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
  • in relation to services - provide, grant of confer. 

This mandatory standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying motor vehicle recovery straps, including:

  • manufacturers
  • importers
  • distributors
  • retailers
  • hirers.

The mandatory standard for motor vehicle recovery straps manufactured in or imported into Australia after 1 October 2010.  The regulation also provides that after 1 January 2011, all motor vehicle recovery straps will need to comply with the safety standard, irrespective of when they were manufactured or imported.

Complying with the mandatory standard

Motor vehicle recovery straps have been associated with serious injury and death. It is an offence to supply recovery straps that do not comply with the requirements of this mandatory standard. For complete information about the mandatory requirements, we strongly recommend you read:

Penalties and consequences

Supplying motor vehicle recovery straps that do not meet requirements of mandatory standards can make you liable for product recalls and fines. For more details, view Penalties and consequences.

Some key requirements

The requirements below are key requirements only. They may help to give suppliers a general idea of the detail they must look up in the regulation. This information may also assist consumers when they are choosing motor vehicle recovery straps

While we provide some advice on this page to help you understand aspects of the standard you can visually check, suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

 Packaging marking

The packaging for a motor vehicle recovery strap must display the following information about the strap in English and in a way that is clearly visible and legible, including, for example, on the packaging or on a label attached to the packaging:

  • its brand name or supplier’s logo
  • the name and contact details of its Australian manufacturer, importer, distributor or other supplier
  • its minimum breaking strength, expressed in metric units
  • a recommendation that the minimum breaking strength of the strap should be between 2 and 3 times the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM)

 Permanently fixed information

 

The following information about a motor vehicle recovery strap must be in English and be permanently fixed to the strap by, for example, stitching a label to the strap so that it is clearly visible and legible when the strap is being used:

  • the name or logo of its Australian manufacturer, importer, distributor or other supplier
  • its batch code or serial number
  • its minimum breaking strength, expressed in metric units
  • a recommendation that the minimum breaking strength of the strap should be between 2 and 3 times the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM)
  • advice that the strap must be suited to the GVM of the lighter of the 2 vehicles used in the recovery process
  • the warning : ‘WARNING — Always follow product instructions. It is important to correctly attach the motor vehicle recovery strap to a motor vehicle. A standard tow ball or vehicle tie down point is not designed for this purpose and may result in the strap or a vehicle component detaching from a motor vehicle and striking and seriously injuring or killing a person. Only attach the strap to a vehicle recovery point or device that is suitably rated for use with the strap. Incorrect use has previously resulted in serious injury and death’.

Accompanying information

 

A motor vehicle recovery strap must also be accompanied by a document, other than the packaging, stating the following information written in English:

  • a recommendation that the minimum breaking strength of the strap should be between 2 and 3 times the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM)
  • advice that the strap must be suited to the GVM of the lighter of the 2 vehicles used in the recovery process
  • how to use and maintain the strap.

 The information to accompany a motor vehicle recovery strap must state all of the following:

  • the warning stated above in section: Permanently fixed information
  • persons intending to use the strap should consider completing a nationally recognised four wheel drive training course or contact a four wheel drive club for comprehensive advice on the proper selection and use of the strap
  • the strap must not be used for lifting or conventional towing
  • persons intending to use the strap must ensure that the strap is not damaged and is in usable condition
  • the strap’s strength and stretch are reduced when the strap is saturated
  • something like a recovery damper, heavy bag or blanket must be draped over the strap during its use to reduce any unintentional rebound of the strap
  • while the strap is being used, persons situated outside the motor vehicles involved in the recovery process must;
      • be kept at a safe distance (recommended as at least 1.5 times the length of the unstretched strap) from either of the vehicles involved in the recovery process
      • never situate themselves within the path of the vehicle performing the recovery.

Publications

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