Published
Parents and carers have been urged to check children's sleepwear after Big W's recall of 27 styles incorrectly labelled as low fire danger.
"Children can suffer serious burns when nightwear they have been wearing catches fire," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair, Peter Kell, said today.
"While parents and carers must always take care to ensure children are kept away from fire hazards, accidents can occur. That is why it is crucial to know that the nightwear they are buying will minimise flammability in the event of a fire."
Woolworths Pty Ltd has undertaken an urgent voluntary recall of 19 styles in the Pink Sugar and Bed Bugs Girls Single Nighties range and eight in the Selected Sleepwear Nite Club Boys Nightwear range. The recall follows ACCC market checks that revealed while the nightwear is labelled 'low fire danger', reports showed it failed fabric flammability requirements of the mandatory standard for use of this label.
"Since becoming aware of test results that so far seem to confirm the ACCC's view, I am pleased to see Woolworths has acted promptly by withdrawing these garments from sale and instigating a voluntary recall," Mr Kell said.
"I urge the public to cooperate fully with this recall. Anyone who has purchased these garments should follow the company's warning to stop using them immediately.
"Woolworths has also asked any affected customers to return recalled garments to a Big W store where they will receive a full refund."
Mr Kell noted that the ACCC is not aware of the products being involved in any accidents or injuries to date. But there is an increased risk of severe burns and death associated with sleepwear that is loose fitting or fails requirements for low fire danger labelling.
"While these garments are more likely to ignite and burn more quickly than those that meet the low fire danger requirement, no sleepwear is fire proof," Mr Kell said. "It is always important to install and maintain smoke detectors, keep children away from heaters and any open flames and implement other home fire safety measures."
Advertisements for this recall have appeared in newspapers, online and in store.
Details are also available at www.recalls.gov.au where consumers and suppliers are welcome to register for alerts about any new recalls.
Contact details
Ms Lin Enright, Media, (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520
Release # NR 239/09
General inquiries
Infocentre 1300 302 502
Responsible regulator
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
