Furniture suppliers are now required to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture after the mandatory information standard for toppling furniture came into effect on 4 May 2025.
Since the year 2000 at least 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia from toppling furniture and televisions.
Each year more than 900 Australians suffer injuries requiring medical assistance from toppling furniture. Children aged up to four years are most at risk, with older Australians also vulnerable.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe says a mandatory information standard is a critical step towards reducing the injuries and deaths involving toppling furniture.
“The impact of furniture tip-over can be tragic, with young children and the elderly most at risk. The information standard raises awareness about the risk of furniture tip-over and empowers consumers with the knowledge they need to safeguard their homes.”
The new standard applies to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and sideboards with a height of 686mm or more, and entertainment units of any height.
If not properly secured, tall or unstable furniture can topple over when young children attempt to climb on them or pull themselves up. Elderly people with reduced strength or mobility are also at greater risk because they are more likely to rely on furniture for support and are more likely to suffer severe injury if furniture tips over.
The information standard requires suppliers to attach permanent warning labels to furniture, provide warnings, safety information and advice.
When you’re out shopping, the ACCC offers these tips to help you choose safer furniture:
– Look for required warning labels displayed in store, online and on the furniture.
– Examine the furniture to make sure it is stable.
– 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.
– Look for low-set furniture, or furniture with a sturdy, stable and broad base. It’s less likely to tip over.
– The best way to prevent furniture from tipping over is to secure it to the wall or floor with an anchoring device.
What you’ll need depends on what your wall or floor is made of, and what kind of furniture you’re working with. There are different kinds of wall and floor anchors available.
If your furniture doesn’t come with anchoring hardware, ask about anchors and buy what you need from a furniture retailer, hardware store or a specialty retailer selling baby and toddler products.
As well as securing furniture and TVs, here are some things you can do to use furniture safely:
– Place furniture on a flat and stable surface.
– Keep heaviest items at the bottom of your drawers or shelves. Furniture that is top-heavy is easier to tip over.
– Don’t place heavy items such as TVs or items that are attractive to children on top of furniture.
– Put locking devices on all drawers. They help prevent children from opening them and using them as steps.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. It is our pleasure being your real estate agents in Brisbane.
If you would like any assistance or advice, please feel very welcome to get in touch with our Brisbane real estate agents, Brisbane property management team, or Brisbane buyers agents.
