Australia | Furniture suppliers will be required to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture hazards.
Furniture, such as chest of drawers, wardrobes, bookshelves, TV units and other tall items, are at risk of toppling over when young children attempt to climb or pull themselves up on these items.
Since 2000, 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia as a result of toppling furniture. Children aged up to four years old are the most at risk, with older Australians also vulnerable.
The Assistant Treasurer made the toppling furniture information standard at the beginning of May, following a recommendation by ACCC.
“A mandatory information standard is a critical step towards reducing the injuries and deaths involving toppling furniture,” said Mick Keogh, deputy chair of the ACCC.
“We know that young children and the elderly are most at risk of toppling furniture injuries, and the most common cause of death is head and crush injuries and asphyxiation.”
The standard requires suppliers to provide safety warnings and advice about reducing toppling furniture incidents to consumers before, during and after purchasing furniture.
The information standard will require suppliers to attach a permanent warning label to furniture, including safety information and advice about anchoring furniture in manuals and assembly introductions, and provide warnings about the hazards of toppling furniture in stores and online.
The standard will apply to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and sideboards with a height of 68.8 centimetres or more and entertainment units of any height.
“The new information standard will help increase awareness about toppling furniture risks, including by warning consumers to anchor furniture securely to prevent tip-overs,” said Keogh.
Suppliers will have a 12-month transition period to implement the new information and labelling requirements.
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