Ikea reissues recall of 29 million dressers in North America as eighth child dies

An eigth child has died after being struck by an Ikea dresser, forcing the budget furniture business to reissue a recall in the US and Canada for the dressers.

Ikea's Malm dresser

Ikea's Malm dresser Source: AAP

Ikea has relaunched a recall of 29 million chests and dressers after the death of an eighth child.

On Tuesday, chief executive Lars Petersson said Ikea wants to increase awareness of the recall campaign for several types of chest and dressers that can easily tip over if not properly anchored to a wall.

The death of a California toddler, who was found trapped underneath an Ikea Malm dresser in May, has raised questions about whether Ikea has effectively spread the word about the recall, which was first announced in June 2016.

The Swedish retailer and the federal safety regulators are asking customers to take immediate action to secure the dressers, or to return them.
Petersson said Ikea has had an "extensive communication" campaign through social media, its website and television and print ads. The company emailed 13 million people about the recall two months ago, he said.

The recall, which applies only to customers in the US and Canada, is for children's chests and drawers taller than 60cm and adult chests and dressers taller than 75cm. Customers should contact Ikea for a free wall-mounting kit. The company is also offering to send crews to attach them in the home.

Ikea is offering full refunds for anyone who no longer wants the furniture.

At least eight children under the age of three have been killed when an Ikea dresser fell on them, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The first death occurred 28 years ago and the others occurred after 2002.

A team of lawyers represented the families of three toddlers who died when Ikea dressers fell on them. Ikea reached a $US50 million ($A70 million) settlement with the families last December.

Petersson said that more than 1 million dressers of have been returned for a refund or have been secured to walls.



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2 min read
Published 22 November 2017 6:14am
Updated 22 November 2017 1:28pm


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