Topple Risk

Household furniture items like bookshelves, tallboys and entertainment units can be attractive to children for climbing, which can lead to furniture toppling over, resulting in serious injury or death.

Our recommendations to help prevent toppling:

Discourage children from climbing on furniture

Use drawer locks to prevent children from using drawers as climbing steps

Attach, mount, bolt or otherwise anchor topple-risk furniture to a wall or other suitable surface

Avoid placing child-appealing items such as toys or televisions on top of furniture, unless they are anchored

Place heavier items as low down in the furniture unit as possible.

Do not put heavy items on top shelves of bookcases

Do not place unstable furniture near where children play

Check anchors regularly