Tip-Over Risks Lead To Homestar Dresser Recall

More than 30,000 Homestar dressers have been recalled due to the possibility they may tip-over, placing consumers at risk of serious injury or death, especially small children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Homestar Finch dresser recall on March 12, after determining the dressers pose a tip-over risk if not properly anchored to the wall.

The recall impacts approximately 33,300 three-drawer dressers sold in maple with model number EB10873BA, black with model number EB108738Q, torino walnut with model number EB108738TW and white with model number EB108738W. Model numbers can be found on a label placed to the back of the recalled dressers.

The contemporary style dressers measure 28-inches high, 27.5-inches wide, 16-inches deep and weigh about 47 pounds and were sold either individually or as part of a matching bedroom collection.

The dressers were manufactured in the United States by Homestar North America of Dallas, Texas. They were sold online at Amazon.com, Hayneedle.com, Overstock.com, Walmart.com and other online retailers from January 2016 through May 2019 for about $90.

Customers are being asked to stop using all recalled dressers immediately and place them in an area that is not accessible to children.

Homestar will be contacting all known customers directly to offer a free tip-over restraint kit and a one-time free in-home installation of the kit. Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall should contact Homestar toll-free at 877-353-5999 or email CPSCanti-tip@homestarltd.com for additional information.

Furniture Tip-Over Concerns

Furniture tip over accidents have gained substantial attention from federal regulators in recent years, following a number of incidents involving young children who were severely injured or killed when pinned beneath a heavy furniture piece that tipped over.

According to CPSC data, furniture and TV tip-over accidents have caused 430 deaths over the last 13 years, and account for roughly 38,000 emergency rooms visits annually. As part of recent efforts to raise awareness about the risk of furniture tip over accidents, the commission indicated that at least one child dies every two weeks and another child is injured every 24 minutes in the U.S. from heavy furniture or televisions tipping over.

Children are inherently more susceptible to tip-over accidents from climbing and reaching for items at the top of dressers, or television stands, whether it is for a remote, gaming equipment or toys. The CPSC recommends parents never leave items desirable to children on dressers and other top heavy furniture which would entice the child to try and climb or reach for them.

Ikea has been at the center of several major furniture tip-over recalls in recent years, with tens of millions of various MALM series dressers being recalled due to not meeting the voluntary safety standards to prevent tip-over incidents.

In January 2020, the Swedish furniture giant Ikea has reached a $46 million settlement with the family of a two-year-old boy, who was killed after being crushed when an unstable Malm series dresser tipped over on him in May 2017.

In December 2016, IKEA agreed to pay $50 million to settlement three wrongful death claims brought by the families of three other children who were killed by recalled MALM dressers.