by This most recent 12-month period eclipsed 2023 in the total number of units recalled and injuries reported
WASHINGTON — At a glance, 2024 shaped up to be a bigger year for furniture and bedding recalls than a year earlier, both in number of injuries and the number of units recalled.
A review of 2024 reports from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed there were 978,305 individual units recalled across 21 individual furniture and bedding recalls. In addition, there were 67 reports of injuries associated with these recalls. There was also one child death reported resulting from a collapse of a bookcase unit sold by Dania Furniture.
By comparison, there were 736,358 units recalled across 23 furniture and bedding recalls in 2023. These recalls resulted in 37 reports of injuries, according to the CPSC. No deaths were reported as a result of these recalls.
The largest number of injuries reported in 2024 were tied to the failure of platform beds sold by Home Design. According to the CPSC, there were 128 reports of the bed frames breaking, sagging or collapsing during use, resulting in 36 injuries. The actual Jan 18 recall involved nearly 530,000 units, along with 55,857 sold in Canada.
Another recall of some 137,000 platform beds sold by Malouf parent CVB — along with 890 sold in Canada — resulted in 18 injuries that also occurred as there were 245 reports of the bed frames sagging or collapsing.
Beds, or more specifically wall beds sold by Dorel, were tied to 10 injuries that occurred as the units reportedly detached from the wall, potentially resulting in both impact and crush hazards, the CPSC said. The recall involved 69,300 units.
Note that bedroom furniture was the culprit in each of these cases. In another recall announced in late December, some 800 Gikpal dressers sold at Walmart were recalled because of tip-over and entrapment hazards related to alleged non-compliance with the STURDY (Stop Tip-Overs of Risky Dressers on Youth) Act. In May, another 200 dressers sold at Rooms To Go were recalled, for tip-over and entrapment hazards, again related to alleged non-compliance with the STURDY Act.
No incidents or injuries were tied to either recall, perhaps thankfully because they were caught before something terrible occurred.
Another recall announced June 20 that was tied to alleged violations of the STURDY Act involved some 400 dressers sold at Rooms To Go. Again no incidents were reported, thankfully, as they were caught sooner rather than later.
Other recalls involved mirrors detaching from the wall, which posed a laceration hazard by some 3,300 mirrors produced by Homewerks Worldwide and some 27 sold by Origin 21. These hazards serve as a warning to those bedroom producers that still sell mirrors as part of their lineup. Without the proper construction and assembly, they too can pose a danger to consumers, adults and children alike.
Other recalls involved cribs posing an entrapment and/or suffocation hazard to infants. These included 1,200 recalled in November by South Shore and 480 recalled by RH in August. Another 3,400 cribs were recalled by Crate & Barrel in April related to a fall hazard related to the construction of the unit. Fortunately, in each of these recalls, no incidents or injuries were reported.
Nor were there any incidents related to a recall involving some 750 crib mattresses sold by Bubble Bear that posed a fire hazard as they allegedly did not meet the requirements of a federal flammability standard for mattresses, the CPSC noted. Other violations related to the federal flammability standard resulted in recalls from GhostBed (1,250 units), Adven (117,200) and Sleep Technologies (84).
Fall hazards involved some 4,600 swivel chairs sold by Article and some 5,670 chairs from Grand Rapids Chair Co. Fall hazards were also tied to a recall involving some 46,750 floating wall theater entertainment centers sold by Manhattan Comfort that are prone to detaching from the wall. The wall units resulted in three minor injuries while the chairs were involved in a number of incidents where the frame collapsed, but fortunately there were no injuries.
While some may not like to read about or hear of these types of recalls, they alert the industry to the dangers involved in poorly constructed product or product that simply doesn’t meet federal standards. Our hope is that the industry pays attention for the benefit of their customers and consumers all over. Knowledge of the pitfalls can prevent these types of things from happening and save time, money and perhaps even lives now and in the future.
