Large letter retailer Big W has made a deal with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) after it was found it had breached aspects of the ‘children’s nightwear code’.

Big W will make a contribution of $200,000 to the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick and $200,000 to a major research program into the mandatory safety standard, following a major recall of children’s nightwear by its parent company Woolworths Limited and supplier Vinetex & Co.

According to the ACCC, the company was investigated for children’s nightwear that had incorrect warning tags labelled as ‘low fire danger’, when flammability testing showed they should have been labelled ‘high fire danger’.

After being advised of the breach, Woolworths acted promptly and undertook a voluntary recall across dozens of styles across its nightwear range, including 19 styles from the Pink Sugar and Bed Bugs Girls Single Nighties range and eight styles from the Selected Sleepwear Nite Club Boys Nightwear range.

“Although there has been a significant reduction in hospitalisation rates due to burns from nightwear since the late 1970s, when the standard was introduced, burns from nightwear can and still do occur. There is considerable research which shows that clear labelling helps minimise the risk of these injuries, which is why the ACCC regularly monitors compliance,” ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell said.

“Suppliers and retailers alike should be particularly vigilant when selling products that are subject to mandatory safety standards. Care needs to be taken in checking the details contained in test reports to ensure products meet all requirements. Keeping consumers safe should be the top priority.”