CONSHOCKEN, Pa. - Ikea will pay $50 million to settle liability claims of three families whose toddlers were killed when dressers tipped over and crushed them. Ikea, which sources 70 percent of its U.S. offerings from domestic manufacturers, recalled the dressers after the third death was reported in February.
Ikea recalled 29 million dressers in June. A fourth fatality linked to dresser tip overs, which took place in 2011, was announced last month by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. The settlement news was reported by multiple media outlets and attributed to Reuters. Working with the CPSC, Ikea issued the following release in June:
IKEA is voluntarily recalling all chests and dressers that do not meet the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard (ASTM F2057-14)
The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children. You can contact IKEA at 1-866-856-4532 or email: [email protected] to discuss how to participate in the recall.
We are pleased by the overwhelming response to our recall announcement. However, as a result, we are experiencing extremely high call volumes and long on-hold wait times in our call center. Please review the frequently asked questions. If you need to contact IKEA regarding the recall, visit your local IKEA US store or email [email protected]. If emailing, please include your name, mailing address, phone number and photos of your chests and dressers. Thank you!
The recall affects children’s chests and dressers taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches that do not meet the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard. The recalled MALM chests and dressers were manufactured and sold through June 2016 and include the 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and 6-drawer models. Other IKEA chests and dressers in this recall were sold at various times through June 2016.
Ikea also recalled 8 million dressers in Canada. Ikea also issued a recall in China, after consumers there complained through social media that a recall had not been issued.
On July 22, 2015, CPSC and Ikea announced a repair program for the chests and dressers that included a free wall-anchoring repair kit for the MALM chests and dressers and other IKEA chests and dressers. The dressers were sold as far back as 2002. "CPSC and IKEA were aware of two tragic fatalities involving MALM chests and dressers that occurred prior to the announcement of the repair program," according to a joint release issued at the time:
In February 2014, a 2-year-old boy from West Chester, Pa. died after a 6-drawer MALM chest tipped over and fatally pinned him against his bed.
In June 2014, a 23-month-old boy from Snohomish, Wash. died after he became trapped beneath a 3-drawer MALM chest that tipped over.
Subsequent to the July 2015 announcement, CPSC and IKEA learned of additional tip-over incidents, including a February 2016 incident in which a 22-month-old boy from Apple Valley, Minn. died when a MALM 6-drawer chest fell on top of him.
Most recently, CPSC has identified and provided to IKEA a fourth report of a fatality that reportedly occurred in September 2011. A 2-year-old boy from Woodbridge, Va. died after an unanchored MALM 3-drawer chest tipped over, and trapped the child between the dresser drawers.
None of the chests or dressers in the above-listed incidents had been anchored to the wall. In addition to the three deaths, IKEA received reports of 41 tip-over incidents involving the MALM chests and dressers, resulting in 17 injuries to children between the ages of 19 months and 10 years old.
The MALM chests and dressers are constructed of particleboard or fiberboard and are white, birch (veneer), medium brown, black-brown, white stained oak (veneer), oak (veneer), pink, turquoise, grey, grey-turquoise, lilac, green, brown stained ash (veneer), and black. A 5-digit supplier number, 4-digit date stamp, IKEA logo, country of origin and “MALM” are printed on the underside of the top panel or inside the side panel.
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