Storing and handling airbags and seat belt pretensioners safely

This guidance will help all those working in motor vehicle repair to safely store and handle airbags and seat belt pretensioners.

Even though these devices are designed to save lives, if they are not handled correctly there is the possibility of:

  • physical injury
  • poisoning

While the likelihood of an accident involving an airbag or seat belt pretensioner is low, there are a few simple precautions you can take to reduce the risks.

Licensing

Find out from your supplier the UN hazard classification of the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners you may handle.

Under the Explosives Regulations 2014[48], you may need a licence to store them from your local authority if:

  • any are classified for transport as UN Hazard Class 1 (the explosives class) in the packaging in which you receive them – the packaging will have an orange diamond with UN 1.4G of UN 1.4S, and
  • you want to keep them on the premises

If you think you may need a licence you can find out more in HSE’s guidance on storing explosives[49].

The department dealing with licensing the storage of articles like airbags and seat belt pretensioners varies from region to region, but it is usually the:

  • fire and rescue service
  • trading standards, or
  • environmental health

You can find out more about who your local licensing authority is in HSE’s guidance on applying for an explosives licence[50].

When a licence may be needed

If you will be storing airbags and seatbelt pretensioners classified for transport as UN Hazard Class 1 it is recommended that you obtain a licence even if you:

  • only plan to store small quantities of these devices
  • would not normally require a licence

This is because delays in fitting them to vehicles may mean the limit for the quantity requiring a licence is exceeded (5kg where the articles have been classified for transport as 1.4G or 1.4S).

You should keep the airbags or seatbelt pretensioners in their transport packaging when they are being stored.

When a licence is not required

You will not require a licence to store airbags or seat belt pretensioners which are classified for transport as:

  • UN Hazard Class 2, or
  • UN Hazard Class 9

However, it is recommended that you keep them under similar conditions to those classified for transport as UN Hazard Class 1. This is because the hazards to people from airbags or seat belt pretensioners are generally similar regardless of the hazard class.

Packaging

The UN hazard class of airbags and seat belt pretensioners, and therefore the application of the Explosives Regulations 2014 (ER2014), can depend on the packaging they are transported and stored in.

If airbags or seat belt pretensioners which contain explosive substances and have been classified for transport as UN Hazard Class 9 are stored outside the transport packaging they are supplied in, then the requirements of ER2014 will generally apply. Your supplier should be able to tell you whether any of the airbags you receive contain explosive substances.

Equipment supplied within a completed component

Airbags and seat belt pretensioners that are supplied within a completed component (such as a steering column, door or seat) are not generally considered to be UN Hazard Class 1. However, you should check with your supplier regarding any classification or precautions you should take.

Safe storage

In general terms, airbags and seat belt pretensioners should either be kept in a room set aside solely for that purpose or in a substantial container or cage which:

  • has no exposed iron or steel
  • is easy to keep clean
  • can be closed and locked

You should keep the container or cage away from:

  • oils, paints and other flammable material
  • areas where hot work is taking place, such as welding or brazing
  • electricity cables, sockets, distribution boards etc

Also make sure the container or cage is:

  • secured to the wall or floor if possible
  • kept dry at all times

HSE has general guidance on storing pyrotechnics, which applies to managing the risks from airbags and seat belt pretensioners:

Safe handling

It is essential that the manufacturer's or supplier's information is checked before starting work on vehicles containing airbags, as procedural differences will occur from make to make.

Basic precautions

Here are some precautions to take:

  • never place your head or body close to the front of an undeployed airbag, especially when fitting it, or removing it from a vehicle
  • always carry the airbag module with the trim cover facing away from you
  • never place an airbag module, or steering wheel assembly fitted with an airbag, face (trim side) down or with the trim against a hard surface
  • never attempt to repair or modify airbag modules
  • if work is required on an airbag module, for example testing, it must be mounted securely on a bench or jig which allows sufficient space for the bag to inflate freely should it be triggered accidentally

Exposure that could cause damage

Never expose airbag modules to:

  • excessive heat (over 900C)
  • impact
  • electrical current (including static electricity)
  • radio transmitters

Damaged modules

Always use new components. Return any modules which are damaged or appear suspect to your supplier, except where the damage has resulted in the contents of the inflator cartridge being exposed or spilt, in which case obtain specialist advice from your supplier.

Undeployed airbags

Return undeployed airbags to your supplier using the packaging the replacement device is supplied in. If for any reason this packaging is not available, contact your supplier and ask them to provide you with it.

Training

Airbags should only be deployed by appropriately trained personnel working to the manufacturer's’ procedures.

Safe disposal

Seek the advice of your supplier before disposing of any deployed airbags and seat belt pretensioners.

Some manufacturers advise that their deployed airbags or seat belt pretensioners can be disposed of, or recycled, as normal waste; others recommend that they are treated as hazardous waste.

It is illegal to dispose of explosives as normal waste and domestic or commercial waste bins must not be used for disposing of undeployed airbags or seat belt pretensioners of UN Hazard Class 1.

Requirements for supply

The requirements for placing pyrotechnic articles on the GB market and supplying them to the public are set out in the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 (on legislation.gov.uk)[53].

These Regulations categorise pyrotechnic articles for vehicles (including airbags and seatbelt pretensioners) into two types, known as P1 and P2.

  • P1 articles cannot be supplied to members of the general public unless they have been incorporated into a vehicle, or they comprise part of a detachable vehicle part
  • P2 articles should only be supplied to people with specialist knowledge, as defined in the Regulations

Link URLs in this page

  1. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/introduction.htm
  3. Overview - Common MVR topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/index.htm
  4. Benzenehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/benzene.htm
  5. Choosing the correct gloveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/gloves.htm
  6. Cleaning/degreasing substances including valetinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/degreaser.htm
  7. Electric and hybrid vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/electric-hybrid.htm
  8. Falls from heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/falls.htm
  9. Fire and explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fire.htm
  10. Fluoroelastomershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm
  11. General COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/general-coshh.htm
  12. Hand-arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/vibration.htm
  13. Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/dusts.htm
  14. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/manual.htm
  15. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/noise.htm
  16. Safety in the use of two-post vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fallofflifts.htm
  17. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/slips.htm
  18. Storing and handling airbagshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/storing-handling-airbags-seat-belt.htm
  19. Struck by...https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/struckby.htm
  20. Updated guidance on vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/updated-guidance-on-vehicle-lifts.htm
  21. Used engine oilhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/oil.htm
  22. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/transport.htm
  23. Overview - Bodyshopshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/index.htm
  24. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  25. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  26. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  27. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  28. Overview - Mechanical repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/index.htm
  29. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm
  30. Hot work on wheelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/hot-work-on-wheels.htm
  31. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  32. Vehicle exhaust emissions (Diesel)https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/exhaust.htm
  33. Welding and flamecuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/welding.htm
  34. Wheel and tyre explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm
  35. Working under vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/under-vehicles.htm
  36. Overview - Roadside repair and recoveryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/index.htm
  37. Automotive glazinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/glazing.htm
  38. Essential precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/essential-precautions.htm
  39. Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspensionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/buses.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/index.htm
  41. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  42. Overview - Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/index.htm
  43. Ill health statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/illhealthstats.htm
  44. Injury statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/injurystats.htm
  45. Useful external websiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/links.htm
  46. Videoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/videos/index.htm
  47. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/contact.htm
  48. Explosives Regulations 2014https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/new-regulations.htm
  49. storing explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/storage/index.htm
  50. applying for an explosives licencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/how-to-apply.htm
  51. storing and selling pyrotechnic articles safelyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg476.htm
  52. retailers’ risk assessment checklist for pyrotechnicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg476ch.pdf
  53. Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 (on legislation.gov.uk)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1553/contents/made
  54. Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg261.htm
  55. Explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MVR
Motor Vehicle Repair
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2025-02-20