Toy Safety

Toy Safety

Commitment to Safety

The Australian Toy Association (ATA) is proud of our significant accomplishments in the area of toy safety. The ATA continues to work with the various regulators, both state and federally, Standards Australia, consumer groups and industry to continually advance product safety, both in Australia and around the world. 
  
ATA represents more than 280 manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys, accounting for about 90% of all toys distributed in Australia. Our intention is simple: to help you keep your child safe during play. 
 

Toy Safety Process

  • Safety is fundamental to the development and manufacture of toys.
  • Strict safety standards for toys have been developed over the years.
  • Toys are tested to ensure their compliance to these standards.
  • The toy safety process also allows for the possibility of a recall should a faulty toy be detected.
  • Recalls are a critical part of the toy safety chain. They are the “safety net” used in a robust testing system if an issue is identified with a product that has passed all safety tests and yet may still have the potential to cause damage.
  • In the case of a recall, the toy company who has supplied the product, the federal government and retailers who stock the product work together in a coordinated manner to get the affected products off shelves as soon as possible.
  • Check here for the Australian recall list http://www.recalls.gov.au/

 

How do I keep my play environment safe?

  • Age ratings – never mix toys meant for children of different ages. It can be dangerous for younger children to get hold of toys that are too old for them.
  • The toy box – have a regular clear out of your toy boxes to check loose fur, ripped seams, sharp or rough edges, loose eyes and noses, broken parts that may cause choking. If you find broken or damaged toys, throw them away. Please don’t pass them on – you may be handing on an accident to another parent’s child.
  • Tidy up! – it may sound obvious, but toys left on the floor or the stairs can cause accidents for the entire family.
  • Cot toys – take string toys out of the cot when your baby is about five months old to prevent strangulation. Remove activity centres as soon as your baby can pull to stand.
  • Battery toys – always change all batteries at once. New batteries can cause old batteries to get dangerously hot.
  • Garden toys – fix garden toys over grass or soil, never concrete. Make sure there is plenty of room to walk around a swing to avoid being hit by the swing seat. Empty paddling pools after use and store them deflated or upside down.