The Consumer Council appeals to parents to be mindful on the safety of folding tables. Toddlers may treat the folding table as a toy, and try to turn it over. However, they may be trapped between the foldable legs and find it difficult to get out from them.
Recently a 2-year old boy was trapped at by a folding table. He was subsequently certified dead in hospital suspected to be due to rib fracture.
A folding table is a common potential household hazard. The Consumer Council has long been concerned with the safety regarding folding tables and has been advising consumers to purchase folding tables which are equipped with safety locking devices.
Most of the fatal accidents happen when a folding table is turned over. A young child may get between the table legs, and sit on one of the horizontal bars of the folding table. If the table legs are not properly locked, they will easily fold up and catch the child between the bars, leading to subsequently strangulation to death. Once trapped by the table legs, it is almost impossible for the child to extricate himself from the grip of the table legs, as it will get tighter when the child struggles harder. If there is no adult around, the chance of the child being rescued is slim.
According to Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, all folding tables are required to comply with the general safety requirements, which need to be equipped with safety locking devices to ensure the legs of the table will not accidentally fold up.
The Consumer Council recently conducted a random survey in the market on whether folding tables were equipped with safety locks. It was found that 2 models did not come with safety devices. The Council has informed the Customs and Excise Department about the survey results.
The survey also found that some small folding tables, though installed with safety devices, do not have necessary instruction labels on how to use the safety devices while in other cases user instructions or safety warnings were found missing.
The Council urges manufacturers or suppliers to improve the safety of the folding table and label the product with appropriate user instructions as a safety reminder to consumers.
Consumers are advised to take heed of the following for the safe use of folding tables:
- Choose a sturdy folding table which has a reliable safety lock, and always activate the safety device when the table is open for use.
- Teach children not to climb onto the table, and not to put too much weight on one side to avoid overturning the table.
- Inform children not to overturn the folding table for play and never crawl or hide between the foldable legs of the table.
- If you have toddlers at home, always fix the folded table securely close to the wall, so that it will not fall down and hurt the toddler.
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