On behalf of the undersigned consumer and parent organizations, we write to you regarding ASTM F2057-23, the safety standard for dressers and other clothing storage units, whose requirements become mandatory on September 1—one month from today—under a new federal law, the STURDY Act, which will be enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). All dressers and other clothing storage units manufactured on or after September 1 must comply with ASTM F2057-23. We strongly urge all retailers and the furniture industry to prioritize children’s safety and ensure you are prepared to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2057-23 as soon as possible.
Too many families have already been harmed by unstable dressers and dangerous furniture tip-overs. According to the CPSC, at least 234 people died from clothing storage unit tip-overs from January 2000 to April 2022, and approximately 5,300 people are sent to the emergency department every year. Tragically, we continue to hear of fatal tip-over incidents, including the death of a three-year-old boy in May, and a one-year-old girl and a twenty-two-month-old girl in July.
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