The mandatory standard prescribes requirements for the information that must be provided with motor vehicle recovery straps, including warnings and information on the strap and packaging.

About recovery straps

The mandatory standard was last updated on 1 December 2017.

Recovery straps, also called snatch straps, are elasticised straps used to connect two vehicles when one is bogged and is pulled out of the bog by the other vehicle.

Exclusions

The mandatory standard does not apply to:

vehicle lifting slings

tie-down straps

wire cable

chain

rope

straps for conventional towing situations.

Mandatory standard

The Consumer Goods (Motor Vehicle Recovery Straps) Safety Standard 2017 sets out the mandatory requirements for motor vehicle recovery straps.

You must consult the mandatory standard for these details.

Key requirements

These requirements aim to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

Information to be permanently fixed to the strap

The Consumer Goods (Motor Vehicle Recovery Straps) Safety Standard 2017 requires the following new warning label to be permanently fixed to it (not to scale):

The following information must also be fixed to the strap:

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 GVM

advice that the strap must be suited to the GVM of the lighter of the 2 vehicles used in the recovery process

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. It can be printed 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).

Instructions for use

A motor vehicle recovery strap must also be accompanied by instructions on how to use and maintain the strap. This must include:

the warning pictured above in the section: Information to be permanently fixed to the strap

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 with water

an object such as a recovery damper, heavy bag or blanket must be draped over the strap during its use to reduce any unintentional rebound of the strap

before attempting the vehicle recovery, passengers of the vehicles involved must: exit the vehicles stand as far away from the vehicles as possible avoid standing in the path of the vehicle performing the recovery

a recommendation that the minimum breaking strength of the strap should be between 2 and 3 times the vehicle's GVM

advice that the strap must be suited to the GVM of the lighter of the 2 vehicles used in the recovery process

More information is available in the Explanatory Statement available on the Federal Register of Legislation website.