The New Zealand Safety Council

25/09/2025

NZSC spoke with Leah Panapa today on The Platform talkback about Foam Filled Furniture (FFF). You can listen to the segment on rewind here:

24/09/2025

It’s heartbreaking that tragedy had to bring this issue to light.
This RNZ article details how a 16-year-old, Lizzy Marvin, died after toxic fumes from a foam-filled sofa caught fire in her home — and a coroner has since ruled that past inaction on regulating foam furniture safety contributed to her death.
https://lnkd.in/g-R2PcDC

For years, the New Zealand Safety Council Trust has warned of exactly this risk. We have called on successive governments to act — to require safer materials, enforce clear labelling, and hold manufacturers and importers to account.

This isn’t just about furniture: it’s about preventable harm. It’s about turning good intent and guidance into enforceable standards. It’s about ensuring that families don’t unknowingly bring fire hazards into their homes.
We stand with NZSC Project lead Andy Loader and Lizzy’s family, and we recommit ourselves to pushing for reform. The time for protective regulation is now.

What needs to happen next:
• Mandatory product safety standards for foam-filled furniture
• Clear, mandatory labelling of flammability risk
• Accountability for importers, manufacturers, and retailers
• Better alignment between consumer safety policy and real risk

If you believe safe homes should be a right—not a hope alone—please share this post and join the conversation. Let’s work together to make this change real.


https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/573935/advocacy-group-says-it-repeatedly-warned-governments-of-fire-risk-caused-by-foam-furntiure-before-death-of-teen

Lizzy Marvin, 16, died from inhaling toxic fumes from a foam filled sofa bed when it caught fire in her Burnham home last year.

17/09/2025

We're excited to hear from our guest speaker tomorrow on Occupational Hygiene. Join the lunchtime session.