The shocking truth: How many Australians die from unsafe products every year?
- Replies 1
It's no surprise that Australians take their consumer rights very seriously. After all, we've seen how the marketplace has evolved over the years, and we know just how important it is to ensure that the products we purchase are safe and functioning as intended.
Unfortunately, recently released data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reveals that not all products on the shelves adhere to these expected standards. In fact, the statistics are quite stark.
An average of 780 Australians lose their lives each year due to unsafe products–about 32 per cent perishing due to burns, 29 per cent from falls and 27 per cent from issues with breathing, including choking and suffocation.
A staggering 52,000 people are seriously injured each year as well.
Accidents related to these unsafe products also take a huge financial toll on society, with the ACCC estimating the total cost of deaths and injuries to be at least $5 billion each year.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said they are ‘extremely concerned’ by these figures, saying in an official statement: 'We urge suppliers to protect consumers by taking steps to ensure the products they supply are safe'.
The commission works with various brands to issue public recalls when risks associated with unsafe products are identified to safeguard consumers.
Those recalled by the ACCC range far and wide, from mislabelled alcohols to baby toys with choking hazard parts and even waffle makers that have spat out aerosol-hot waffle batter and caused severe burns to unsuspecting buyers.
‘The broad categories are electrical products, recreational vehicles and off-road bikes like quad bikes or ATVs, car parts and accessories and bicycles,’ Lowe said.
‘We also focus on products that are intended for babies or young children because obviously babies and children are amongst the most vulnerable consumers,’ she added.
So, what should we do to protect ourselves from hazardous products?
The ACCC recommends that people always check the advertised safety information of any product before buying and keep up-to-date with any product recalls by signing up for email alerts.
If you doubt your purchase, it's also worth heading to the ACCC website or social media pages, as this safety information may not be available on some international sites.
‘It does continue to be the case that people suffer injuries due to products that have been the subject of recalls,’ Lowe mentioned.
‘Sometimes that's because of awareness, but sometimes even when consumers are aware, they will choose to accept the risk. There can be challenges in achieving complete compliance with a recall,’ she pointed out.
Product Safety Australia and Food Standards Australia New Zealand also regularly issue recalls over substandard and dangerous consumer items.
Sadly, an online survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2021 indicates that 87 per cent of recalled products are still being sold online.
‘So many times products sold online will be outside the regulatory frameworks that apply to bricks and mortar stores,’ Lowe said.
She also reminded consumers to check their website and take advantage of the advice the ACCC's Shopping Guide offers, covering consumer rights and product safety risks.
‘And we continue to advocate for a change in the law to prohibit the supply of unsafe goods in an online environment,’ she declared.
While we all must stay vigilant to protect ourselves and our loved ones from unsafe products, don’t forget that Australian Consumer Law provides us with an extra layer of security since it covers us when products don't meet expected standards.
In an ideal world, we wouldn't need laws and regulations to adhere to the basic standards of consumer safety because manufacturers, retailers and distributors would voluntarily comply with the universal expectation of providing safe products.
Until we reach such a state, however, let’s remember that it’s ultimately up to us to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Identifying and avoiding dangerous items is the best way to stay safe.
What are your thoughts on these figures, dear members? Share them in the comments below!
Unfortunately, recently released data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reveals that not all products on the shelves adhere to these expected standards. In fact, the statistics are quite stark.
A staggering 52,000 people are seriously injured each year as well.
Figures are approximate and based on annual averages.
Accidents related to these unsafe products also take a huge financial toll on society, with the ACCC estimating the total cost of deaths and injuries to be at least $5 billion each year.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said they are ‘extremely concerned’ by these figures, saying in an official statement: 'We urge suppliers to protect consumers by taking steps to ensure the products they supply are safe'.
The commission works with various brands to issue public recalls when risks associated with unsafe products are identified to safeguard consumers.
Those recalled by the ACCC range far and wide, from mislabelled alcohols to baby toys with choking hazard parts and even waffle makers that have spat out aerosol-hot waffle batter and caused severe burns to unsuspecting buyers.
‘The broad categories are electrical products, recreational vehicles and off-road bikes like quad bikes or ATVs, car parts and accessories and bicycles,’ Lowe said.
‘We also focus on products that are intended for babies or young children because obviously babies and children are amongst the most vulnerable consumers,’ she added.
The ACCC focuses on products intended for young children because they’re among the most vulnerable consumers. Credit: Lukas/Pexels
So, what should we do to protect ourselves from hazardous products?
The ACCC recommends that people always check the advertised safety information of any product before buying and keep up-to-date with any product recalls by signing up for email alerts.
If you doubt your purchase, it's also worth heading to the ACCC website or social media pages, as this safety information may not be available on some international sites.
‘It does continue to be the case that people suffer injuries due to products that have been the subject of recalls,’ Lowe mentioned.
‘Sometimes that's because of awareness, but sometimes even when consumers are aware, they will choose to accept the risk. There can be challenges in achieving complete compliance with a recall,’ she pointed out.
Product Safety Australia and Food Standards Australia New Zealand also regularly issue recalls over substandard and dangerous consumer items.
‘So many times products sold online will be outside the regulatory frameworks that apply to bricks and mortar stores,’ Lowe said.
She also reminded consumers to check their website and take advantage of the advice the ACCC's Shopping Guide offers, covering consumer rights and product safety risks.
‘And we continue to advocate for a change in the law to prohibit the supply of unsafe goods in an online environment,’ she declared.
While we all must stay vigilant to protect ourselves and our loved ones from unsafe products, don’t forget that Australian Consumer Law provides us with an extra layer of security since it covers us when products don't meet expected standards.
In an ideal world, we wouldn't need laws and regulations to adhere to the basic standards of consumer safety because manufacturers, retailers and distributors would voluntarily comply with the universal expectation of providing safe products.
Until we reach such a state, however, let’s remember that it’s ultimately up to us to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Identifying and avoiding dangerous items is the best way to stay safe.
What are your thoughts on these figures, dear members? Share them in the comments below!
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