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Key safety factors - Product design
1. What safety features are incorporated into the furniture and televisions that you design, manufacture or supply to reduce the risk of toppling?
Please provide your answer below
Canohm is the largest distributor of TV mounts in Australia and the exclusive importer of Vogel's.
The safest solution for preventing TVs from toppling over is to use a quality TV bracket that is UL approved. To attain a UL approval, the mount must be rated to 4 times the load weight.
There are additional issues that can cause failures, such as poor installation (i.e. not installing mount on to studs), lower quality accessories (i.e. wall anchors) and poor movement on articulated brackets. The best brackets also have smoother bearing to again reduce stress on the wall.
The safest solution for preventing TVs from toppling over is to use a quality TV bracket that is UL approved. To attain a UL approval, the mount must be rated to 4 times the load weight.
There are additional issues that can cause failures, such as poor installation (i.e. not installing mount on to studs), lower quality accessories (i.e. wall anchors) and poor movement on articulated brackets. The best brackets also have smoother bearing to again reduce stress on the wall.
2. Are there any limitations to addressing safety risks through the design and manufacture of furniture and televisions and how might they be overcome?
Please provide your answer below
The largest challenge is communication. Too many retailers fail to discuss safety when selling large TVs. Our estimates suggest that around 25% of TVs are supplied with brackets. Retailers report that 75" TVs are currently the largest sellers in terms of dollars. At this size, safety should be the highest priority, yet presumable consumers become aware of the risk after a scare or an event.
3. Have you received or made any complaints about furniture or televisions being unstable or tipping over? If ‘yes’, please provide details.
Please provide your answer below
We receive advice with Europe. Vogel's is a Dutch manufacturer and the most recognised name in TV mounts. Their number one priority is safety. They should be able to supply metrics from Europe .
We also receive safety advice from mass retail channels and from professional installers.
One common challenge is that TVs are increasing in size, requiring TV mounts to keep pace with ever increasing demands on the brackets and quality of installations.
We also receive safety advice from mass retail channels and from professional installers.
One common challenge is that TVs are increasing in size, requiring TV mounts to keep pace with ever increasing demands on the brackets and quality of installations.
Key safety factors - Anchoring
4. Are anchoring or mounting kits provided with furniture and televisions you supply/purchase? If ‘no’, are kits available at the point of sale? How are consumers made aware of their availability?
Please provide your answer below
Yes. All our brackets include wall anchors. These are designed to be mounted into studs, so retailers should communicate this to consumers.
5. Are the anchoring or mounting kits provided with furniture and televisions you supply tested to ensure they are fit-for-purpose? Please provide the reasons for your response.
Please provide your answer below
Yes.
6. In your experience what are the main obstacles to anchoring furniture and televisions and what more could be done to facilitate this?
Please provide your answer below
Understanding that TV mounts often need to be secured to studs. Some mounts require a single stud, while others require 2 studs. These can have up to a 600mm separation, meaning the specification to the correct mount is required.
7. How effective are state and territory tenancy laws in enabling tenants to anchor furniture and televisions to walls in rental properties? What more can be done?
Please provide your answer below
We find that most tenants of rental properties will not mount TVs. The tenancy act now allows tenants to mount TVs, though this excludes brick walls. Furthermore, tenants are also reluctant as it can be costly and might affect their relationship with the landlord.
8. Have you received or made any reports or complaints from consumers about anchoring or mounting kits? If ‘yes’, please provide details.
Please provide your answer below
Yes. Unfortunately TV manufacturers will change the screw requirement for the back of their TVs. Our TV brackets are supplied with the common screws, though as an example, Samsung recently released a new model TV requiring longer bolts (M8 45mm for memory). These issues are an inconvenience, though it shouldn't affect safety.
Key safety factors - Consumer behaviour and awareness
9. Do retail staff receive training about the risk of toppling furniture and televisions? Please provide details.
Please provide your answer below
There's no required training from our mass retailers, though we would be happy to present the training if it were to become a requirement.
10. In your experience, are the risks associated with toppling furniture and televisions communicated at the point of sale and how? How could messaging be more effective?
Please provide your answer below
I don't believe it is effectively communicated
We see a large disparity in the 'attachment rate'
Some suggestions are that it could be rolled into the compulsory OH&S training and signage or prompts could encourage a discussion on the safety aspects
We see a large disparity in the 'attachment rate'
Some suggestions are that it could be rolled into the compulsory OH&S training and signage or prompts could encourage a discussion on the safety aspects
11. In your experience, do the safety features of furniture and televisions influence purchasing decisions? If ‘yes’, which features are most important?
Please provide your answer below
No. Customers need to be prompted.
Fatalities and injuries
13. What do you think are the main contributing factors in relation to these incidents?
Please provide your answer below
There are some unknowns, though these issues all appeared to be installation issues.
The wrong bolt used at the back of the TV, incorrect drill holes in the wall (too large), over tightening.
The wrong bolt used at the back of the TV, incorrect drill holes in the wall (too large), over tightening.
Voluntary standards
14. If you are a supplier or manufacturer of toppling furniture or televisions, do you adhere to the requirements of any Australian or international standards or regulations? How have you implemented these?
Please provide your answer below
As a bracket supplier, for peace of mind, we supply only UL approved product
This isn't a requirement in Australia
This isn't a requirement in Australia
15. To what extent do these standards or regulations address the safety risks associated with toppling furniture or televisions? Please provide the reasons for your response.
Please provide your answer below
The UL approval is to guarantee the quality of the product. This is particularly important for swing arm TV brackets.
Poor quality brackets that have insufficient reinforcement or thin metal have common issues such as warping and sagging, which further reduces the integrity of the bracket
Poor quality brackets that have insufficient reinforcement or thin metal have common issues such as warping and sagging, which further reduces the integrity of the bracket
Possible risk controls
16. What regulatory or non-regulatory option(s), listed at page 17, would be appropriate to address issues associated with toppling risks and why?
Please provide your answer below
Including education within OH&S training
17. What other options do you consider may be effective in reducing the risks posed by toppling furniture and televisions?
Please provide your answer below
Staff training