Data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shared with 9News.com.au shows that on average, 780 people die each year because of products that are found to be unsafe due to a design or manufacturing flaw.
A further 52,000 people are hospitalised with serious injuries because of the products, on average, with the combined deaths and injuries costing the Australian economy at least $5 billion a year.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe told 9News.com.au the commission was “extremely concerned” by the numbers of deaths and injuries.
“We urge suppliers to protect consumers by taking steps to ensure the products they supply are safe,” she said.
The majority of the deaths – about 32 per cent – are due to the users suffering burns, while around 29 per cent are from the users having a fall, according to the data.
About 29 per cent of the deaths are caused by issues with breathing, including choking and suffocation.
Falls account for the majority of the serious injuries – more than 45 per cent – while being hit, crushed or cut accounts for about 8000 of the injuries, and poisoning accounts for about 7000.
The ACCC works with brands to issue public recalls for these unsafe products as soon as risks associated with them are discovered to prevent future deaths and injuries.
“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.”
As the ACCC does its bit to try to minimise deaths and injuries caused by unsafe products, Lowe has urged Australians to be vigilant about their purchasing and to monitor – and follow – ACCC advice.
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“It does continue to be the case that people suffer injuries as a consequence of products that have been the subject of recalls,” she said.
“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.”
To increase awareness about recalls, Lowe said people thinking about purchasing an item – particularly online – should check the ACCC website to see if the item was the subject of a recall.
“People can also follow product safety on Facebook and Twitter and get alerts as to recalls.”
Lowe warned many recalled products that have been pulled from Australian stores were still being sold online, with Australian laws unable to be enforced for many online suppliers.
“So many times products sold online will be outside the regulatory frameworks that apply to bricks and mortar stores,” she said.
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An online product safety sweep by the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2021 found that 87 percent of 1196 recalled products were still being sold online.
Lowe said the ACCC’s online shopping guide offered tips for how customers to be aware of product safety and their rights generally.
“And we continue to advocate for a change in the law to prohibit the supply of unsafe goods in an online environment,” she said.
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