LOOKING BACK: FLEETDRIVE ISSUE 13
FLEETDRIVE
A basic safety guide to snatch straps
If you find that you have exhausted all other options and do need to use a snatch strap –
ensure you take extra care to ensure safety and risk management concerns are being met.
STEP 1—FOLLOW THE PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS
By law, your recovery straps must give you: safety warnings, including a minimum breaking
strength instructions for safe use. The minimum breaking strength must be at least double
the gross vehicle mass (GVM) of the lighter of the two vehicles used in the recovery.
STEP 2—CHECK THE STRAP
Make sure your recovery strap isn’t damaged at all. Never use a damaged strap.
STEP 3—ATTACH IT CORRECTLY
Attach the recovery strap to a point on the vehicle that is suitable to use with the strap.
Make sure it has a safety rating to pull that much weight.
You could also use a shackle, as long as it: complies with the legal standards has a working
load limit that’s higher than the strap’s minimum breaking strength. Never attach it to:
a standard tow ball your vehicle’s tie-down point. These aren’t strong enough to pull a
bogged vehicle. They can easily break off and cause injury or death.
STEP 4—USE IT PROPERLY
Only use recovery straps to pull a bogged vehicle to safety. Never use them to lift a vehicle
or tow it conventionally.
STEP 5—REDUCE REBOUNDING
Recovery straps are elastic. They can easily rebound when fully stretched, and this can be a
safety hazard. You can reduce the risk of rebounding by covering the straps with: a recovery
damper, a heavy bag, a blanket.
STEP 6—KEEP BYSTANDERS SAFE
Rebounding straps are deadly. People have died from being struck by rebounding straps.
Have any bystanders move away from the vehicles to a distance of at least 1.5 times the
length of the unstretched strap.
STEP 7—EDUCATE YOURSELF
If you are likely to use recovery straps, sign up for a four-wheel-drive training course. Most
nationally recognised courses will give you instructions about using recovery straps. Check
with the course provider before you sign up.
ISSUE 20 2019 / WWW.AFMA.ORG.AU
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