27 million IKEA chests and dressers recalled due to fall hazard

IKEA is offering US consumers a free wall anchoring fix kit for use with Malm chests, children’s chests and dressers taller than 23 ½ inches, and adult chests and dressers taller than 29 ½ inches. Also, in June 2014, a 23-month-old child from Washington died after he became trapped beneath a 3-drawer MALM chest. The kit contains replacement tip-over restraints for use by any consumer who has not secured their IKEA chest or dresser to the wall.

Concern over the safety of children has IKEA urging anyone who has bought certain dressers and drawers to take immediate steps to anchor the furniture to the wall.

Since 1989, IKEA is aware of three additional reports of deaths from tip-overs involving other models of IKEA chests and dressers. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the first death was reported in February 2014 when a two-year-old boy from West Chester, Pa. died after a six drawer chest tipped over, fatally pinning him against his bed.

What do you think of this recall from Ikea? In both incidents neither of the furniture pieces were secured to the wall.

IKEA has announced that it’s now offering free wall anchoring kits for many of its children and adult furniture that are available online and at any IKEA stores. The kit also includes complete wall anchoring hardware, instructions and warning labels to be affixed to the furniture. Meghan Agnes Beck died at three years old in 2004 when a dresser, not made by IKEA, fell on her while the rest of the family was asleep.

The MALM chests targeted in the fix program were sold beginning in 2002 and are priced between $80 and $200. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. “And the reality is that five dollars and fifteen minutes could have saved her life”.