Committee to improve safety of window blinds

A COMMITTEE has been established by the National Consumer Agency in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland to improve safety with window blinds.

Representatives of leading window blind manufactures, suppliers and retailers gathered in Dublin yesterday for the inaugural meeting of the National Committee on Internal Window Blind Safety.

The meeting was organised by the National Consumer Agency which is pushing for a revision of the existing EU standard on window blinds which was adapted in November 2008 to further improve their safety.

Unsafe window blind cords have led to the death of a number of children in recent years, including the deaths of four infants in Ireland. Most have died as a result of being strangled by the cords after getting entangled in loops.

Safety experts have warned that children can climb on window sills or furniture to access the cords while accidents can also happen when beds or cots are placed near windows where cords are within reach of children.

A NCA spokesman said the aim of the committee was also to develop a code of practice for the trade at national level and to improve ways of educating manufacturers, suppliers and consumers about the safety of window blinds.

Research has shown that most accidental deaths involving blind cords happened in the bedroom and occur in children aged 16-36 months.

The NCA will outline its actions on the issue of window blind safety to date in Brussels later this week at the invitation of the European Commission.

A nationwide check on 97 retail outlets earlier this year by NCA inspectors showed a high level of compliance about warning notices and safety devices.

However, there were some deficiencies in relation to the absence of instructions for correct installation and fitting safety devices as well as on the manufacturer’s details.