Parents and carers can get the latest, most reliable information on best practices to keep young children safe from toppling furniture, as part of a new ACCC initiative.
Launched last month, the ACCC has been working to implement strategies to prevent injuries and deaths caused by toppling furniture.
Since 2000, 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia from toppling furniture, and each year more than 900 Australians suffer injuries requiring medical assistance from toppling furniture. Children aged up to 4 years are most at risk, with older Australians also vulnerable.
Red Nose supports ACCC’s toppling furniture consumer safety messaging and is working with the ACCC to recommend taking steps to prevent unstable furniture, like TVs, freestanding chests of drawers, wardrobes, hall tables and bookcases from falling on young children.
Red Nose’s National Education and Health Promotion Manager, Loren Rushton, recommends following Product Safety Australia’s tips when buying furniture, especially if you have young children in your home or who might visit.
“Look for the safety and warning labels on furniture and attach, anchor, mount, bolt or otherwise secure furniture and televisions to walls and floors,” said Ms Rushton.
To further prevent accidents at home, Ms. Rushton urges parents to take proactive measures.
“Discourage small children from climbing on furniture and avoid placing tempting items, such as favourite toys, on top of furniture where children might try to reach them.
“Additionally, do not put heavy items on top shelves of bookcases and avoid placing unstable furniture near areas where children play,” Ms Rushton said.
Product Safety Australia provides the following things to look for when buying freestanding household furniture:
- Pull out any top drawers of a chest of drawers or open doors on other furniture items and apply a little pressure to see how stable the furniture is.
- Make sure the drawers don’t fall out easily.
- Look for built in drawer stops that limit how far drawers can be extended or interlocks that prevent more than one drawer being opened at a time.
- Look for furniture with sturdy backing material which increases stability.
- Look for low-set furniture, or furniture with a sturdy, stable and broad base. It’s less likely to tip over.
The ACCC is preparing guidance for furniture suppliers about the new information standard and is currently engaging with the furniture industry during a 12-month transition period to assist complying with the new requirements from 4 May 2025.
The toppling furniture information standard will require suppliers to:
- attach a permanent warning label to furniture;
- include safety information and advice about anchoring furniture in manuals and assembly instructions; and
- provide warnings about the hazards of toppling furniture in furniture stores and online.
For further information on the new requirements and consumer advice, please visit: