Today, the Commission voted 3 to 1 to issue a final rule to establish a safety standard for clothing storage units (CSUs) to protect consumers, especially young children, from horrific injuries and deaths caused by unstable furniture.
Over the past twenty years, nearly 200 children have been killed, and many others injured, from dressers that fell on top of them. These tragedies have gone on for far too long. CPSC has been working to address this hazard by warning consumers about the dangers from tip-overs, encouraging that furniture be anchored to the wall, recalling unstable CSUs, participating in voluntary standards efforts, and developing this mandatory safety standard.
I started working on the issue of furniture tip-overs about 15 years ago as staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee. Despite the work and dedication of parents who lost their children, change has come far too slowly, which is why I am particularly pleased that the Commission is taking such a huge step forward today toward making furniture safer.
This rulemaking could not have done without the tremendous work of a team of CPSC staff who put together an extensive package that provides the basis for this rule. They deserve our recognition and our thanks.
I would also like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the dedication and efforts of members of Parents Against Tip-overs who have drawn from their personal tragedies and made it their mission to ensure others do not suffer their same loss and pain. Also, there are so many others in the consumer product safety community, including consumer advocates and Members of Congress, who have worked tirelessly to push for solutions to this hazard pattern.
Our efforts today are just the beginning – we will vigorously enforce this rule and continue our efforts to remind the public to anchor the furniture that they currently have in their homes.