CPSC Warns About Tip-Over Hazard With Folding Mobile Tables

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today a warning program for folding mobile school tables that can tip-over and seriously injure or kill children. During the last week of November, 1989, every school district in the country received an order form in the mail for a free supply of warning labels for these tables, commonly found in school cafeterias and conference rooms.

CPSC has reports of 6 deaths and 14 injuries that occurred when children moved or played with mobile folding tables and the tables tipped over on them. Many of the injuries happened when an adult asked a student to move a folded table. One of the table's wheels may have hit an obstruction on the floor or other obstacle and the heavy folded table tipped over and crushed the student.

Recognizing this problem, the six manufacturers of these tables have voluntarily joined with the Commission in a program to place permanent, uniform, warning labels on all tables (50 inches or higher when folded) in elementary, junior, and senior high schools. The manufacturers are sending to each school district in the country a postage paid form (reproduced below) for ordering a free supply of these warning labels. The Commission urges school administrators to take advantage of this important program by ordering the warning labels and notifying all school personnel about the tip-over hazard.

To order warning labels contact one of the companies listed below. If you send a letter, please state that you are ordering the labels and specify how many you need for your folding mobile tables.

Midwest Folding Products Mfg. Corp., 1414 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608, (312) 666-3366

Sico, Inc., 7525 Cahill Road, Edina, MN 55440, (952) 941-1700