Safety of items offered

This page is about the safety of items offered. For personal safety, see Sample Admin: Keep safe.

If an item isn't illegal, it's OK to offer or request it on Freegle. But some items need care if members intend to use them for their original purpose, rather than upcycling or repurposing them. It's up to each community to decide whether to disallow certain items on safety grounds, or leave that decision to members.

Freegle's disclaimer is clear about where responsibility lies, for both Freegle and members.

If a post is in pending, you could add a mod edit pointing out the risks of using an item. Some warnings are built into the system - see a February 2025 discussion on this.

Here's some information about specific items.

Fire labels

Furniture and upholstered items used indoors: see page 4 of this government advice on fire safety:

"In the Department's view, the simple distribution of second-hand furniture by a charity in pursuance of its charitable objectives to needy persons, either free of charge or at a nominal amount only, would be unlikely to constitute a supply in the course of business. On the other hand, shops selling furniture to raise funds for charitable purposes would constitute a business activity and the Regulations will apply to the furniture sold in this case. Individual charities should take legal advice."

This guidance suggests Freegle is OK to facilitate gifting upholstered items that might contain POPs (persistent organic pollutants), because the transaction between members is for 'non-waste products'.

Edward researched this in January 2024. The conclusion was that these are OK:

• individuals freegling without fire labels
• councils and other agencies freegling through our website without fire labels

But it wouldn't be OK if Freegle, or someone working on Freegle's behalf, was being paid to dispose of things without fire labels - that would then be covered by the business regulations.

FIRA is a credible industry source. The conclusion above draws on their advice to consumers:

"Q4. Can I donate furniture to charity without permanent flammability labels? - It's illegal for charity shops to sell furniture without permanent flammability labels, as such they will not accept donations without correct labelling.

Q5. Can I sell my old furniture without permanent flammability labels? - Yes, as an individual you can sell your old furniture privately on eBay etc. without flammability labels."

This matches typical freegling - we're in the same position as eBay. It's reasonable to assume that if this applies to sales by private individuals, it also applies to gifts by private individuals.

FIRA's guide for businesses indicates the regulations wouldn't apply to a business (or council) giving items away. Setting the law aside, there's obviously a reputational risk if a council donated an item that was later involved in a fire.

But these regulations probably do apply to Freegle, or a Freegle representative, if we were being paid to do this - that would put it in the course of business or trade.

Cot mattresses

The Lullaby Trust recommends buying a new cot mattress, or - if using a second-hand one - carefully checking that it's clean, dry and free from cracks or tears. A cot mattress should be firm, with no sagging, and fit the cot snugly with no gaps.

Helmets for motorcycles or bicycles

See this for motorcycle helmets, and this and this for bicycles.

Car seats and restraints

It isn't illegal to offer or reuse car seats or booster seats, so it's a local decision to add an extra rule to cover these or not.
For more information, see childcarseats.org.uk and this "Which?" article. Government legal requirements can be found here regarding the age & height of children needing to use a car seat.

The latest Discourse conversation about this was here. The main points for users of second hand seats were:

• Hidden crash damage: seats are supposed to replaced after a crash, but if the source doesn’t know this and doesn’t say, invisible hairline fractures could be present within the plastic which won’t protect a child a second time round.
• Plastic degrades naturally over time, and manufacturers recommend disposing of car seats after 6 to 10 years. Labels showing the expiry date may be missing, but seats should have a manufacturer’s stamp that states when they were made.
• It’s incredibly difficult to track if a used seat has been recalled for a safety defect, or if the previous owner washed the harness straps incorrectly (e.g. some brands say machine-washing, submerging straps in water, or using harsh chemicals can weaken the webbing fabric).

Some advice for members, based on the discussion on Discourse referenced above:

Important safety notice: Second-hand child car seats & restraints

When giving away or receiving a second-hand child car seat on Freegle, please prioritise the safety of the child. The level of caution required depends heavily on the type of restraint being offered.

1. Seats with built-in harnesses (infants & younger children)

Please exercise strict caution with these items. We strongly advise both parties to review these critical safety checks before completing the handover:

• Accident history: Never pass on a harnessed car seat if it has been involved in any kind of collision, even a minor one. Unseen structural damage can completely compromise its safety. Receivers should only accept the seat if they completely trust the history provided.
• Completeness: Ensure the seat has all its original parts, including the harness, chest pads, and the manufacturer’s instruction manual.
• Visual inspection: Before using, thoroughly inspect the seat under the fabric cover for cracks in the plastic shell, frayed harness straps, or weakened buckles.
• Age and lifespan: Check the date of manufacture, which is usually embossed onto the plastic on the back of the seat. Most plastics degrade over time, and safety experts recommend retiring these car seats after 6 to 10 years.
• Size & vehicle limits: Ensure the seat is strictly appropriate for the child’s weight and height. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure the seat can be installed securely in the specific vehicle.

2. Booster seats & cushions (typically ages 6–12)

While these are generally considered lower risk than harnessed seats because they rely on the vehicle’s built-in seat belts, they are still vital safety devices. Structural integrity remains very important.

• Visual inspection: Check thoroughly for any cracks in the plastic base or backrest, and ensure the plastic seat belt routing guides are fully intact and not weakened.
• Accident history: As with all car seats, it is highly recommended not to pass on a booster that has been in a collision.
• Regulations & sizing: Ensure the seat still clearly displays an approved UK/European safety label (ECE R44/04 or R129). Please note that backless booster cushions are legally restricted to children weighing more than 22 kg and taller than 125 cm.

N.B. If there is any doubt about the history, structural integrity, or safety standard of a car seat or booster, it is always safer to dispose of the item at a local household waste recycling centre rather than passing it on.

Used car tyres

There are similar safety issues to car seats with using second-hand tyres for their original purpose. The sale of second-hand tyres is regulated, and they must be tested to ensure they remain safe. However, they can be freegled for other uses, e.g. as garden planters.

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