A coalition of consumer advocacy organizations is warning about the danger posed by unstable kitchen ranges.

Ranges manufactured since the early 1980s are often made with lighter-gauge steel and therefore weigh less than older models, creating a danger that they can tip when weight is applied to the open oven door, according to a news release from Public Citizen, the Consumer Federation of America and U.S. PIRG, a federation of state public interest research groups.

Because of that instability, people could be burned by hot foods or liquids spilling from the stove top or injured by the falling range, the group said.

Ranges manufactured after 1991 come with an anti-tip bracket, but they’re often not installed when a range is delivered, the organizations said.

To check whether your range is stable, open the oven door and push down on the edge of it with your palm, said Joy Howell, a spokesperson for the coalition. If the range starts to lean, you should secure it with a bracket, she said.

Howell recommended checking the printed materials that came with the appliance. The L-shaped bracket might be enclosed with that literature. If not, ask the retailer that sold you the range for a bracket, or request one from the manufacturer. Some home centers might also be able to supply you with one, she said.

The bracket attaches to one of the range’s feet and can be attached to either the wall or the floor using hardware appropriate for the surface.