Revealed: The staggering number of children injured by furniture inside their own homes – as IKEA shoppers prioritise cheap prices over their kids’ safety
- A third of Australian children have been injured by furniture in their home
- IKEA Australia commissioned ‘Safer Life at Home’ report released on Wednesday
- Report found 46 per cent of Australians prioritise price over safety with furniture
A third of children have been injured by furniture in their home, as it’s revealed Australians prioritise bargains over safety.
The ‘Safer Life at Home’ report, commissioned by IKEA Australia, found 46 per cent of shoppers make decisions for their home based on price, rather than safety.
One in three households said there are multiple safety hazards present in a home – including sharp edges on furniture and items not secured to the wall.
In the findings almost half of people admitted they’ve kept furniture even though it wasn’t deemed safe.
The ‘Safer Life at Home’ report, commissioned by IKEA Australia, found 46 per cent of shoppers make decisions for their home based on price, rather than safety
About 70 per cent of respondents said they were more likely to improve the safety conditions in their home if they had a personal experience with an accident.
Research by the ACCC also reveals about 2,600 Australians are hospitalised annually for injuries caused by toppling furniture and televisions.
Children under three years old are at the greatest risk of falling furniture.
Jan Gardberg, IKEA Country Retail Manager said: ‘The home is where Australians want to feel safe and secure and, while we can’t prevent every accident in the home there are certain precautions Australians can take to lower the risk of it occurring.’
‘Safety at home is our utmost priority at IKEA, which is why we want to raise awareness of the risks associated with furniture in the home.
‘We want to encourage the many Australians to make their home safer for a better everyday life.’
A third of Australian children have been injured by furniture in their home
Almost one in two respondents would like to be educated on the safety risks in their homes, the report also found.
Amid the findings, IKEA has unveiled a set of draws which they say cannot fall over.
The GLESVÄR range was designed with safety in mind and includes three stability features; interlock with an unlock function, a forced wall attachment and a two-legged feature that needs to be secured to the wall to stand upright.
‘We are always thinking of ways we can provide better and safer solutions for our customers,’ Mr Gardberg said.
‘However, if you already have a chest of IKEA draws at home, you can use your IKEA Secure it! kit, which is provided with every purchase to attach them to the wall.’
Research by the ACCC also reveals about 2,600 Australians are hospitalised annually for injuries caused by toppling furniture and televisions. Children under three years old are at the greatest risk of falling furniture