Requires the consumer protection division to develop an unsecured furniture, television, and appliance public awareness campaign

1 Co-sponsor

• Leroy Comrie

BILL NUMBER:S4543

Title of bill

An act requiring the consumer protection division to develop an unsecured furniture, television, and appliance public awareness campaign

Purpose

To increase consumer awareness of the hazards of unsecured furniture, related tip-over incidents, and the dangers unsecured furniture pose to young children

Summary of provisions

Section 1 requires the consumer protection division to develop, establish, and implement a public awareness campaign related to the dangers of unsecured furniture, televisions, and other appliances. The division must prepare an annual report to the governor and legislature disclosing the actions taken by the division in carrying out the campaign and an assessment of the necessary appropriations for the division to meet the needs of the campaign in the next fiscal year.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

Justification

Every two weeks a child dies when a television, piece of furniture, or an appliance falls on top of them. In an effort to prevent tip-over related incidents, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged parents and caregivers of young children to anchor and stabilize televisions, furniture, and appliances. Young children are using dressers and tables as climbing devices to reach a toy, TV or game remote, or other desired item, and the results are tragic. New Commission data shows that 349 consumers were killed between 2000 and 2011, when TVs, furniture or appliances toppled over onto them. 84% of these fatalities are attributable to children less than 9 years of age.

The Commission estimates that more than 43,000 consumers are injured each year in tip-over incidents. More than 25,000 or 59% of those injuries are suffered by children under the age of 18. Falling furniture accounts for more than half of the reported injuries. However, falling televisions are more deadly, as they are associated with 62% of reported fatalities.

Small children simply cannot escape a falling dresser, wall unit, or 50- to 100-pound television. Children involved in these tip-over incidents often sustain severe head and bodily injuries as a result of being crushed by the product or trapped under its weight. In 57% of the reported fatalities and 39% of injuries, the victim was struck in the head by the falling item.

Unanchored televisions placed on dressers, bureaus and tables not intended to be used as a TV stand have been associated with many

tip-over incidents involving both the TV and the furniture. Some reports indicate that as families purchase or transition to flat screen televisions, older and often heavier televisions are moved into bedrooms and other rooms in the house. Over half of the reported fatalities occurred in bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms.

To help prevent tip-over tragedies, this bill requires the NYS Consumer Protection Division to conduct a public awareness campaign through the Internet, radio, and print advertising, notifying parents and consumers of the dangers of furniture tip-over incidents. By making parents and caregivers of young children aware of the risks associated with unanchored furniture and the propensity of these incidents to result in severe injury and death, New York State protect the lives of so many children. For all of the forgoing reasons, it is imperative that this bill is enacted.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.