New furniture safety standard after WA child deaths
Issue Date: - Thursday, 19 November 2009
Consumer Protection is welcoming a new Australian standard to test the stability of furniture, which has been developed following the deaths of two children in WA.
Standards Australia has published details of new testing methods for tall items like freestanding bookcases, chests of drawers and wardrobes because they can potentially seriously injure or kill if they topple over onto a person, especially climbing children.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll hopes the development of the new standard can prevent future tragedies.
“About 200 small children end up in hospital each year as a consequence of falling furniture in Australia and in WA we had the devastation of two child deaths several years ago,” Ms Driscoll said.
“Our own product safety officers helped with the research that led to this new standard and we now want consumers to check for labels when buying furniture. Those labels should indicate whether the product complies with the standard, if it needs wall brackets etc to make it safe or if it should not be put on certain surfaces like carpet.”
The following practical tips are suggested for consumers:
- Look for furniture that complies with the Australia Standard;
- Choose storage furniture with a broad and stable base instead of legs, and make sure the drawers do not fall or roll out easily;
- Road-test furniture in the shop – when buying a chest of drawers, pull out the top drawers and apply a little pressure to see how sturdy they are;
- Secure tall furniture (over 1 metre) to a wall using braces or brackets;
- Install locking devices on drawers to prevent children opening them and using them as a step ladder;
- Select tables that will not tip if you sit on them. Glass tables should be made with thick, toughened glass;
- Choose stable chairs with non-slip legs;
- Look for tables and other furniture with rounded edges, or use corner protectors on sharp edges
- Keep unstable furniture away from where children play; and
- Supervise children at all times.
END OF RELEASE
Notes to media:
- According to the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit, almost 200 children under five are taken to hospital emergency departments in Australia each year as a result of furniture falling on them.
- The Standard was developed by Standards Australia’s Commercial and Domestic Furniture Committees CS-088 and CS 091, comprising representatives from:
- Australian Postal Corporation
- Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Australian Industry Group
- Australian Retailers Association
- Business New Zealand
- Department of Commerce, Consumer Protection Division, WA
- Ergonomics Society of Australia
- Furnishing Industry Association of Australia
- Furnishing Association of New Zealand
- Furntech-AFRDI
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs, New Zealand
- National Occupational Health & Safety Commission
- National Supply Group
- New Zealand Ergonomics Society
- Plastics and Chemical Industries Association
- Plastics New Zealand
- The Standard became available from Standards Australia’s distributor, SAI Global, as of Tuesday 17 November, 2009.
(Consumer Protection is a division of the Department of Commerce)
Media Contact: Alina Cavanagh 9282 0679 or 0423-846397 alina.cavanagh@commerce.wa.gov.au