(1) An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 victims are treated annually in hospital emergency rooms in the United States for injuries associated with the tipping over of furniture or appliances, and more than 100 deaths have been reported since 2000. Approximately 80 percent of the injuries were incurred by children under age 5.
(2) These injuries and deaths frequently occur when children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on such items as shelves, bookcases, dressers, bureaus, desks, chests, television stands, and television sets.
(3) ASTM International, a voluntary consensus standards organization, has issued a voluntary standard to prevent furniture tipping accidents. However, many furniture manufacturers do not abide by the voluntary standard.
(4) Glass tables without safety glass injure more than 15,000 people a year.
(5) The European Union requires that glass table tops be made of safety glass, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued standards for the use of safety glass in doors, storm doors, bathtub doors, shower doors, and sliding glass doors, but not in tables and other furniture.
(6) The issuance of mandatory safety standards to prevent accidents related to furniture tipover and glass furniture would greatly reduce the risk of injuries associated with these products.
U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.4266 as Introduced in House Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act
