Ikea has launched a safety awareness campaign after its Malm chest proved unsafe, with two children in the US being killed when the bedroom furniture fell on top of them. A two-year-old in West Chester, Pennsylvania, died after he was pinned against his bed in February 2014 when a Malm six-drawer chest fell on him, and a 23-month old boy from Snohomish, Washington, also died when he was trapped underneath a three-drawer Malm chest after it tipped over.
Gerard Bos, Ikea UK and Ireland customer relations manager, says: “Product safety and quality are top priorities for Ikea. Furniture tip-over is a serious safety risk in the home – however, Ikea chests of drawers and dressers are safe to use when assembled according to the assembly instruction and attached to the wall using the restraints provided in the packaging of these products.
“Ikea is committed to raising awareness of the hazard of furniture tip over and in many Ikea markets we are running a safety awareness campaign called “Safer Homes together - Secure it!” in order to raise awareness of this issue. As part of the ongoing campaign, Ikea US, in co-operation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, yesterday announced a free wall-anchoring kit programme."
Ikea states that it provides tip-over restraints and instructions with all floorstanding units that are purchased, which are required to be fastened to the wall. Warnings about the importance of using the tip-over restraints provided are included in the assembly instructions which give step by step instructions for their use. Information about furniture tip-over restraints is available on the price tag on display units, in Ikea store signage and online.
“The best way to help prevent furniture tip-over accidents is to secure furniture to the wall. Ikea urges customers to inspect their Ikea chests of drawers and dressers to ensure that they are securely anchored to the wall. Should any customer here in the UK be concerned about their furniture, they are welcome to contact us on 0203 6450010 (UK) or 01 5413302 (ROI) to also request a free restraint kit if the original one was disposed of.”
