LEGO minifigure heads have a hole on top to prevent choking.

The LEGO Group introduced the hollowed-out head design for its iconic minifigures in 1978. This design choice was a proactive response to safety standards regarding small parts that could pose a choking hazard to children. By including a recessed hole at the top of the head, the company ensured that a small amount of oxygen could still flow through the piece if it became lodged in a child's windpipe.While the primary purpose of the hole is to allow the head to be attached to other LEGO elements, the specific dimensions were optimized for safety. This design adheres to international toy safety regulations, such as the EN 71 standards in Europe and ASTM F963 in the United States. These regulations require manufacturers to minimize the risk of suffocation from accidental ingestion of small components.Medical experts note that even a small passage of air can buy critical time for emergency responders to arrive. Without this hole, a solid plastic piece would create a complete seal in the trachea, leading to rapid asphyxiation. The LEGO Group continues to test all components for 'bite-force' and 'tension' to ensure they do not break into smaller, sharper fragments during play.Interestingly, not all LEGO heads have this hole today. Some newer designs and specialized characters use solid heads if they are large enough to fail a 'small parts cylinder' test. However, the standard minifigure head remains one of the most famous examples of life-saving industrial design in the toy industry.