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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

IKEA injured my child

136 replies

Bretonbabe · 15/04/2023 08:44

A shelving unit fell on my 3yo child at IKEA through no fault of his own, (confirmed by them with CCTV) it hit him in the head and pinned him against a wire basket by his neck. I was with him so it was mere seconds he was pinned. The shelving unit grazed & bruised his cheek, and the wire basket bruised his shoulder blade. He cried at first, then went into shock for a good 6hrs, then slept for a very long time due to the stress I think. He received first aid at the store, in the form of an ice pack. They also gave him cola moose sweets. An accident form was filled in, I asked for a copy, this was denied. I was polite but firm that I was understandably unhappy and wanted a full investigation into why this happened. I was told they would ring me the following day to check on my child’s well-being. They didn’t. Finding no way of contacting the individual store, I started a case with Resolver, said I wasn’t happy, no one had checked on my child’s well-being, etc. I then received a phone call a few days later from the same staff member who did the first aid. He asked after my child, agreed that he had suffered bruises & was clearly in shock. This was also when he told me CCTV had been reviewed & that it confirmed my son had not caused the shelving unit to fall. I asked why it had fallen, his answer “we don’t know” so I asked that they find out and give me an answer because how is it safe to go there for anyone!? It’s been a month & I’ve not heard anything. I’ve escalated the case with Resolver, but if nothing happens, or I just get an apology, should I just leave it? Is duty of care not a basic thing, or AIBU? His injuries were superficial but It could have been so much worse, it was so close to his eye. Witnesses were very distressed at the time. It was a horrible experience. We’ve not been back since.

OP posts:
Babelfishfingers · 15/04/2023 09:13

Ooh, please do send links/info about this epidemic of falling shop furniture.
I hadn't realised it was so widespread

DuesExMachina · 15/04/2023 09:14

electriclight · 15/04/2023 09:12

To pursue a personal injury claim for compensation you'd need to prove that the accident was due to negligence and that there was some sort of injury - I am not sure whether the incident you describe does constitute 'injury.'

You know that they have reviewed cctv footage and ascertained that your son was not at fault. Presumably, they have now established what happened and dealt with it. I don't think they are obliged to talk to you about that.

If you actually work in PI you need to learn to read details.

EsmeSusanOgg · 15/04/2023 09:14

SunnySaturdayMorning · 15/04/2023 09:07

YABU. They are a business - they do not have a duty of first aid to a customer.

They also do not have to make you aware of any outcome of their investigations.

What nonesense are you spouting!? They have a duty to make sure their displays are put together and secured in such a way as they do not fall onto children. If an incident occurs, they are legally obliged to note it in an incident report/ accident book. If they do not, they are in breach of the Health and Safety Act, which is why people are saying OP should contact the HSE who investigate breaches.

BlackFlyChardonnay · 15/04/2023 09:15

All the "well you clearly just want money" comments are missing the point (and are annoying).

This could have killed a child or baby or elderly person. Ikea should be investigating and take steps to ensure it wrong happen again. And the op should be assured that is what will happen.

ReadersD1gest · 15/04/2023 09:16

Was he running about, op? When you say "no fault of his own' do you mean it literally catapulted from the ceiling as he passed by without him touching it at all?
If you were by his side it's odd you weren't pinned beneath it too.

BlackFlyChardonnay · 15/04/2023 09:16

*won't happen again

Beneficialchampion2 · 15/04/2023 09:16

SunnySaturdayMorning · 15/04/2023 09:07

YABU. They are a business - they do not have a duty of first aid to a customer.

They also do not have to make you aware of any outcome of their investigations.

Incorrect

They have a duty of care to the health and safety of the employees and the public

DuesExMachina · 15/04/2023 09:16

ReadersD1gest · 15/04/2023 09:16

Was he running about, op? When you say "no fault of his own' do you mean it literally catapulted from the ceiling as he passed by without him touching it at all?
If you were by his side it's odd you weren't pinned beneath it too.

You have a vivid imagination

electriclight · 15/04/2023 09:17

"If you actually work in PI you need to learn to read details."

I'm really sorry if I missed something important. What was it?

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 09:18

I think OP means he was shocked, rather than went into shock. A lot of people don't realise the true medical implications of what ' went into shock' actually means.

If I was worried about further incidents, I would probably have written to their customer complaints team and asked if they could let me know what they're going to do in future to prevent this happening again.

You are very unlikely to get compensation if you haven't taken your child to a doctor, they only have minor injuries, and you've continued in your lives as normal afterwards.

What response are you hopeful for?

Sorry this happened and I understand your anger. I'd be very upset if this happened to my son.

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/04/2023 09:19

I think this is worth pursuing as IKEA have not handled this incident well at all. Where are the lessons learned and the procedural changes? Do they exist? Thank goodness your ds is ok!

Backtobed · 15/04/2023 09:19

American suing culture is really rubbing off on some people.

Accidents happen, your child is now fine and they have apologised. What more do you want?

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 15/04/2023 09:21

SunnySaturdayMorning · 15/04/2023 09:07

YABU. They are a business - they do not have a duty of first aid to a customer.

They also do not have to make you aware of any outcome of their investigations.

You aren't trained in health and safety are you?

SalmonEile · 15/04/2023 09:21

I guess if it was me I’d hope IKEA would say “we’ve reviewed the incident and discovered that the wrong size screw was used to put the shelves together/wrong type of wall bracket/whatever, we’ve implemented extra training for our staff members”
or something along those lines

HarlanPepper · 15/04/2023 09:22

BlackFlyChardonnay · 15/04/2023 09:15

All the "well you clearly just want money" comments are missing the point (and are annoying).

This could have killed a child or baby or elderly person. Ikea should be investigating and take steps to ensure it wrong happen again. And the op should be assured that is what will happen.

Which is why she should report the incident to the HSE, as many posters have pointed out.

Mephisneon · 15/04/2023 09:22

People are being dicks about compensation.

I'd be really angry about this. I had an experience where my food from a supermarket had a foreign object in it. It wasn't followed up properly. It could have been very dangerous. I didn't want or get money. But I did want them to act like they actually gave a shit about safety and for it not to happen again or to somone else.

Maybe people on here are hyper individualised in their Outlook. I do see this a lot here! But I definitely have a stong feeling of justice and if really want them to explain how it happened and what they would do to make it better so you're not unreasonable to want more.

Also people dismissing it as a freak accident probably wouldn't feel like that if it killed or badly hurt someone.

Crazykatie · 15/04/2023 09:23

Before you go any further you need to check the instructions that came with the shelving unit
Manufacturers are usually very careful to state that shelving should be fixed to a wall and although they may provide fixings it’s up to you to decide if they are adequate in your wall ( masonry fixings don’t hold in plasterboard)

DuesExMachina · 15/04/2023 09:23

Backtobed · 15/04/2023 09:19

American suing culture is really rubbing off on some people.

Accidents happen, your child is now fine and they have apologised. What more do you want?

Where does she mention suing?

It's definitely rubbed off on you tho 😁

Bamboux · 15/04/2023 09:23

Babelfishfingers · 15/04/2023 09:13

Ooh, please do send links/info about this epidemic of falling shop furniture.
I hadn't realised it was so widespread

Why are you being so unpleasant? It is a frequent and horrible thing.

I was in Colchester a couple of years ago and on the day I arrived they had closed one of the big high street stores because a mirror had fallen on a little boy. He died.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-five-year-old-killed-24904051

Here's another one that happened in Reading which killed a 10 year old.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ten-year-old-boy-dies-furniture-falls-topshop-oracle-shopping-centre-reading-berkshire-a7578751.html

IKEA paid out 40 million dollars after three toddlers were killed in separate incidents by Malm furniture falling over.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ikea-pay-50-million-families-of-three-toddlers-crushed-to-death-flat-pack-furniture-chest-a7490186.html

Why do you think this is so funny?

Mum of boy, 5, killed when shop mirror fell on him says 'he had so much to give'

Freddie Farrow, from Essex, suffered a head injury when a mirror fell on him in the Fenwick department store in Colchester High Street on July 27 - he later died in hospital

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-five-year-old-killed-24904051

Lou670 · 15/04/2023 09:23

Went into shock, rather than was shocked makes it sound like your child required medical assistance. I would choose your words carefully when lodging a complaint with resolver and don't over exaggerate to make it sound like your child was hospitalised.

The store may not have called straight away as they were still investigating the incident in question. Accidents do happen and this was an unfortunate accident. Yes, it could have been much worse, but it was not. I am sure the store will now be carrying out checks on their free standing furniture to ensure that this cannot happen again. I'm not sure what a desirable outcome would be for you.

Bamboux · 15/04/2023 09:24

Crazykatie · 15/04/2023 09:23

Before you go any further you need to check the instructions that came with the shelving unit
Manufacturers are usually very careful to state that shelving should be fixed to a wall and although they may provide fixings it’s up to you to decide if they are adequate in your wall ( masonry fixings don’t hold in plasterboard)

They were in the shop.

HazyDragon · 15/04/2023 09:25

Backtobed · 15/04/2023 09:19

American suing culture is really rubbing off on some people.

Accidents happen, your child is now fine and they have apologised. What more do you want?

I would want a full investigation carried out on where their safety procedures went wrong and to know what they were going to do to ensure this won't happen again.

They could have killed her 3yo. I'm sure this was awful for the OP and the kind of accident that keeps running through your mind with 'what if'.

A unit falling off a wall isn't just 'an accident' like a display of cups falling down, someone hasn't done their job properly.

purpledalmation · 15/04/2023 09:26

Isiteveningyet · 15/04/2023 09:00

Shock for 6 hours is extensive and very extreme. There would indeed be doctors reports

shock in a child of this age requires immediate emergency care.

  • Cold, clammy, pale or mottled skin
  • Weak and rapid pulse
  • Lightheadedness or fainting
  • Irregular, rapid and shallow breathing
  • Chills
  • Extreme thirst
  • Pinched and vacant expression
  • Glassy or dull eyes, with enlarged pupils and a staring gaze
  • Restlessness, agitation or groaning without experiencing pain or exhibiting obvious injuries
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control

I’m very surprised they were giving a child in shock sweeties and filling in a form.

I'm sure mum didn't mean medical shock, which is life threatening, but upset, quiet, tired and needing to sleep to get over the emotional event.

Mischance · 15/04/2023 09:26

HSE should be contacted to hopefully prevent further incidents.

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