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Hoverboard safety: requirements for selling
Here's what you need to know if you're selling hoverboards on Trade Me.
By Trust and Safety 10 November 2023
Scoot on over and listen to this
Hoverboards, or balancing scooters, are a novel way to get around, a lot of fun and a great gift idea. But it's important to know how to use and sell them safely.
What are the risks?
Fire
Hoverboards have big lithium-ion batteries. Low-quality batteries can overheat and catch fire, posing a significant danger to users. In addition to the batteries, the charging equipment is also a critical component to consider.
In 2015, when they were at the height of their popularity, there were reports of Hoverboards randomly catching fire.
Injury
There are also safety considerations around their operation and use. We encourage sellers to educate buyers about the proper operation and use of hoverboards. This includes emphasizing the importance of wearing protective safety gear.
By promoting responsible use, sellers can help prevent accidents and injuries.
Medium risk articles
WorkSafe NZ has classified these items as medium-risk:
- self-balancing personal transport device (commonly called a hoverboard)
- charger used for the charging of a battery-powered self-balancing personal transport device.
Applicable safety standards:
- Hover Boards: AS/NZS 60335.2.82 including 60335.1.1 Edition 5.1
- Chargers: AS/NZS 61558.2.16 or AS/NZS 61558.2.6
Listing requirements
Any of the above medium-risk items must have:
- a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
- a test report that this document relies on.
The NZ manufacturer or the local importer must complete these.
All sellers must have the SDoC and test report before listing on Trade Me.
WorkSafe NZ audits sellers and may ask for:
- an SDoC for both items
- a test report on electrical safety for the self-balancing personal transport device
- a test report on electrical safety for the charger, proving that the charger is safe to use with the item.
We may also request these documents and they must be supplied within 24 hours.
What if I don't have these documents?
If you don't have this documentation, you can't list these items onsite.
Sellers who can't or don't provide the correct documentation will have their listings removed.
To ensure your product is compliant, contact an electrical test lab such as Spectrum Labs.
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