This Tuesday, Ikea calls on all American and Canadian holders of “Malm” dressers to return their furniture. The latter, not properly fixed to the wall, caused the death of five children.
At Ikea, unfortunately, it’s not just the prices that are staggering … Last March, a young American child was killed after being crushed by the Ikea “Malm” dresser; the latter had fallen on him. And this is unfortunately not the first victim. Between 2003 and 2014, five other children died under similar conditions. Following the controversy caused by these accidents and as a preventive measure, Ikea recalls this Tuesday all these “Malm” furniture, but only in the United States and Canada. An exclusive measure that could well save the group from legal action if a new incident occurs.
Nearly 30 million pieces of furniture are recalled, estimates the world leader in furniture. Over the past thirteen years, 78 million Malm dressers have been sold worldwide. In most cases, this dresser is not wall mounted, so it is likely to tip over when younger people try to grab onto it.
” We are recalling all the furniture from the Malm range in the United States ”, announcement on his Ikea twitter account
We’re recalling MALM & other chests & dressers in the US. Recalled product types found here: https://t.co/o1Xcy1OCK9 pic.twitter.com/5MnztBNePd
– IKEA USA News (@IKEAUSANews) June 28, 2016
No incident in France
In France, “no incident was noted”, underlines to Why actor the management of Ikea France. And to eliminate all risks, just one recommendation: “Fix the chest of drawers to the wall”. Because, as the management points out, the fixing kits are obligatory and delivered with the chest of drawers. And if customers have misplaced them, “they can find them on our website or in stores”. As for the five tragedies that have occurred in North America, the group’s spokesperson, Kajsa Johansson, reminds AFP that the dressers “were not attached to the wall”, while the fixing is supposed to be mandatory.
In 2015, in view of the recklessness of many customers, Ikea even launched a campaign to encourage DIY enthusiasts to fix their furniture to the wall. But the latter does not seem to have been heard by everyone.
” Help prevent injuries and deaths from overturning furniture by sharing these tips with your friends ”, encourages the group on their Twitter account.
Help prevent furniture tip-over injuries & deaths by sharing these tips with friends. https://t.co/8im3o71PgR pic.twitter.com/QqD49aVAHO
– IKEA USA (@IKEAUSA) June 27, 2016
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