A class action investigation has been launched against certain furniture companies, after numerous consumers reported sustaining furniture injuries from their products.

This investigation was launched after a 2016 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that over 30,000 Americans had to visit the emergency room due to serious furniture injuries.

According to statistics, almost 500 people died from furniture injuries and tip over accidents between 2000 and 2015. The majority of these incidents involved children, with the second highest fatality group being senior aged consumers.

The CPSC launched a public safety campaign in early 2015 called “Anchor It”, which was launched to educate the general public against furniture injuries and furniture tip over incidents that can cause serious injury or death.

This risk is especially prevalent in young children, who may be prone to climbing on heavier furniture. The CPSC recommended that parents with young children confirm that their furniture and appliances are not at risk for tipping, and recommends that anchors be used to attach furniture and appliances to walls.

The furniture injuries mentioned in the report included incidents of televisions, appliances and other furniture tipping over and reportedly causing serious injuries. The manufacturing companies of these furniture pieces may be held responsible for these incidents for allegedly failing to warn consumers against potential tipping and serious injury.

Consumer advocates have pointed out that there are currently no mandatory standards in regards to furniture tipping risks.

Overview of Furniture Injuries and Tipping

Furniture injuries have been most primarily linked to tipping incidents involving freestanding dressers, cabinets, bookshelves and other heavy pieces of furniture that can cause serious damage.

There is currently a voluntary standard applying to dressers taller than 30 inches, which states the furniture pieces should stand straight with over 50 lbs of weight hanging off an open drawer. However, this is not a mandatory rule. Independent furniture manufacturing companies like IKEA have their own industry standards.

However, big box retailers require furniture companies to meet the voluntary standard. Consumer Reports conducted an additional study on the voluntary furniture standard and compared it to a higher standard, concluding the voluntary standard is insufficient.

Overall, experts state that the furniture industry should be held to a higher standard, which will help reduce the number of furniture injuries. The concern of furniture injuries has spread throughout the furniture industry, with IKEA and other furniture manufacturers recalling furniture pieces at risk for tipping.

IKEA conducted a market recall of millions of chests and dressers on June 28, 2016, after the deaths of several young children were allegedly caused by tipping IKEA dressers.

In addition to dressers and similar pieces of furniture, furniture injuries have also been linked to falling televisions and appliances. According to the CPSC, it is recommended that consumers should mount flat screens on walls and older televisions should be placed on short stable surfaces.

Experts state that flat screen televisions, especially top heavy designs, could increase the likelihood of injury. Furthermore kitchen appliances could cause serious injuries like burns or cuts, which also adds to the concern of furniture injuries.