Injury hazard type

Bruising
Eye injury

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About elastic luggage straps

You can use elastic luggage straps to secure luggage or other objects.

Elastic luggage straps are elastic straps or cords that have:

  • a hook
  • a buckle
  • or other type of fastening device, at each end.

Elastic luggage straps are also called:

  • octopus or occy straps
  • bungee or bungie cords.
An elastic luggage strap with a warning label saying: Warning, rebounding hooks cause blindness. Place hooks with care. Keep face and body out of rebound path.

Risks and injuries from the product

Serious injuries can occur if elastic luggage straps are misused.

The most reported injuries from elastic luggage straps occur to the eyes.

These injuries can happen when the strap is stretched more than it should be. This can cause the strap to unhook and spring back at you at high speed.

Things to look for when buying the product

Serious injuries have happened to people who don’t use elastic luggage straps properly. For this reason there’s a mandatory safety standard that suppliers must comply with.

Only buy and use an elastic luggage strap that complies with the elastic luggage straps mandatory standard.

The standard doesn’t apply to:

  • elasticised cargo nets
  • elasticised straps made to secure a vehicle jack or toolkit within a vehicle.
  • Make sure the elastic luggage strap has a permanent warning label with it.

Marks and labels

Elastic luggage straps must include these words:

WARNING:
Rebounding hooks cause blindness. Place hooks with care.
Keep face and body out of rebound path.
DO NOT overstretch. DO NOT use when strap has visible signs of wear or damage.

Elastic straps warning label. WARNING: Rebounding hooks cause blindness. Place hooks with care. Keep face and body out of rebound path. Do not overstretch. Do not use when strap has visible signs of wear or damage.
Elastic luggage strap warning label

This image is an example of the safety warning label.

The safety warning label must comply with the requirements of the mandatory standard.

Alternatives for elastic luggage straps

You might use rope or tie down straps instead of elastic luggage straps.

How to use the product safely

  • Avoid stretching elastic luggage straps too far as they can rebound and cause serious eye, facial and chest injuries.
  • Make sure hooks at each end are firmly attached.
  • Release the straps slowly.
  • Check your elastic luggage straps for damage before every use and throw them away if you see visible wear and tear.

Next steps if a product is unsafe

When buying a product, consumers have the right to expect the product is of acceptable quality.

Acceptable quality includes that the product is safe, durable and free from defects.

If you bought a product that doesn’t comply with the mandatory standard or is unsafe, you can report it to us.

Report an unsafe product

If a person is seriously injured or needs urgent medical help, call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).

See also

Elastic luggage straps mandatory standard