IKEA Singapore says drawers safe if wall-anchoring kit installed

IKEA Singapore on Friday (Jul 24) said its dressers are safe if an anti-toppling kit is installed, following two deaths from accidents involving the furniture giant’s MALM chest of drawers in the United States.

Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, IKEA Singapore said the anti-toppling kit - an L-shaped bracket which anchors the drawers to a wall - is provided when customers buy the furniture. Customers may also pick up the anti-toppling kit for free at IKEA stores in Singapore, subject to availability, the company added.

The last reported incident in Singapore involving IKEA’s MALM chests of drawers was about 10 years ago, the furniture giant revealed. A child was injured as the dresser toppled when she tried to climb into the bottom drawer, said IKEA.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday said IKEA North America would provide free wall-anchoring kits for its MALM drawers, after two children died in separate incidents when the furniture tipped over on them.