Contact Consumer Protection
Tel: 1300 304 054
consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au
From a child’s point of view, your home looks like a big playground. But there are hidden dangers they don’t recognise. Unstable furniture can tip over when a child climbs or pulls on it. This can cause serious injuries if it lands on top of them. It can even be fatal. At least 14 children under nine years old died in Australia between 2000 and 2015 after domestic furniture fell on them. This is around one death per year.
Of these injuries half were to children four years old and under and 80 per cent of incidents occurred in the home.
The three most common furniture items were chairs, chests of drawers/tallboys and tables/benches/desks and the most common electrical appliance by far was the television.
Think safety first with these helpful tips:
In Western Australia property managers and landlords must allow tenants, who submit a request form, to attach furniture to a wall to prevent a child, or a person with a disability, from being hurt or killed.
The request can only be refused in very limited circumstances, such as when the home is heritage-listed or if the walls contain asbestos.
In the case of furnished rental properties, landlords should affix furniture prior to tenants moving in.
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