Since 2000, more than 470 U.S. children have died from furniture tip-over accidents
Casey-led STURDY Act passed last December, goes into effect today
Parents should visit AnchorIt.gov to learn how to protect their children from unstable furniture
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s (D-PA) legislation, Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act, is going into effect, requiring furniture companies to ensure their products meet safety and stability requirements before being sold. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, furniture tip-overs cause an average of 22,500 emergency room-treated injuries each year as children are crushed, trapped or struck by furniture, TVs and appliances. Since 2000, more than 581 deaths have been associated with tip-overs; of those, 472 deaths (as of 2020), or 81%, were of children.
“I passed the STURDY Act because too many families have faced unimaginable tragedy due to inadequate safety standards for furniture at risk of tipping over,” said Senator Casey. “This law requires furniture manufacturers and retailers ensure the safety and stability of their products, so that parents can finally rest assured that new furniture they buy has been specifically manufactured with their kids’ safety in mind. Simply put, because of this legislation, fewer children will die.”
The STURDY Act changes the stability standard for manufacturers of clothing storage units from voluntary to mandatory. That standard goes into effect today, meaning that all furniture manufactured from September 1, 2023 onward must comply with the new stability standard. While the mandatory standards created by STURDY are a significant accomplishment and will help prevent tip-overs, Casey is urging parents to be diligent about anchoring new and existing furniture to their walls. For more information on how to anchor your furniture and keep your children safe, please visit AnchorIt.gov.
The law received the support of a robust coalition of organizations, including consumer groups and Parents Against Tip-overs, and manufacturers and retailers like IKEA, the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Room & Board, Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma.
Read more about the STURDY Act here.
