Public Defender: Chair cuts off woman’s toe after being declared safe

THE firm said it was safe, but another customer has lost a toe to a style of chair which had previously drawn the anger of consumer advocates. Warning: Graphic image

Jamie Kemp of Bradbury had part of her right middle toe cut off by a Fantastic Furniture Worx chair. Picture: Supplied

A POPULAR cheap chair sold by a major furniture chain has cut off yet another toe — despite the public being promised the threat had been neutralised.

The latest lopping has cast doubt on the effectiveness of Australia’s product safety regime and triggered an investigation by consumer protection authorities.

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Fantastic Furniture recalled its Worx chair in January 2016 after two incidents.

It had sold nearly 100,000 reproductions of the classic 1934-­designed cafe chair, originally known as the Tolix. Several ­retailers of similar replica seats followed suit.

In April last year Jamie Kemp, of Bradbury in southwest Sydney, bought six Worx chairs.

Because her purchase was after the recall, the $39 chairs should have been safe. But they weren’t.

Jamie Kemp’s injured toe just after the incident.

Ms Kemp with the offending chair. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In December, while carrying items she had just used to do her nine-year-old daughter Kahlen’s makeup for a dance concert, she ­attempted to push in one of the chairs with her knee. She lost her balance.

The middle toe of her right foot ­became trapped inside one of the chair legs. As she fell, the sharp metal edge sliced it off.

Her other daughter Tanna, then 13, called the ambulance.

Ms Kemp was taken to hospital and operated on that night. Initially it was thought the toe had been saved but it turned black and had to be partially amputated a month later.

“I just want them to stop selling these chairs. They are dangerous,” Ms Kemp said.

Ms Kemp’s daughters Kahlen and Tannah witnessed the painful event. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Her lawyer, Shine’s Chad Farah, said the fact the incident happened after the recall “creates a greater ­degree of culpability on Fantastic Furniture’s part”.

Jaclyn Gross, whose son Trae lost part of a toe to a Worx chair in 2015, yesterday said: “I am shocked. This is ­absolutely disgusting. Fantastic Furniture needs to take more ­responsibility.

“These chairs shouldn’t have been on the shop floor without modification.”

A spokeswoman for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which oversees product safety, said it “is always concerned when there is an allegation that unsafe products are being sold.

This is particularly the case if those products are subject to a recall.

“Any response to this type of conduct would be determined by an ­investigation into all the circumstances of the particular event.

“The ACCC is contacting the nominated supplier to confirm all relevant details of this report.”

Fantastic Furniture failed to respond to repeated requests for comment. However, it is understood it will be inspecting the chair at Ms Kemp’s home today.

Fantastic’s January 2016 ­recall involved making plugs available to put inside the legs — but only if requested by owners — as well as supposedly ensuring chairs sold from that point did not pose a risk.

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