To wonder why the dangers of socket covers are not well known

[TinylittleElf]

Just watched a video of how dangerous they can be on fatally flawed website, i had no idea and am really suprised have promptly removed all the covers from around the house. Why is this not better known id always read that they should be used in baby books etc

So this is a UK-plug issue and may not be the same in other countries, right?

Those asking questions would probably do well to read the website that has been linked to several times now.

It is common for small children to be able to remove covers more easily than adults, they are well positioned to see them clearly, and small fingers seem more adept. FatallyFlawed has a couple of nice videos of babies removing them.

If you have socket covers which are difficult to remove it will be because the pins are too fat.

The MK endorsement is here: www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/#MK

cogito there is not one availible in the uk that a baby of about 10 months couldnt remove.

there is also not one availible in the uk that does not allow small things to be jammed in the live hole even when fitted correctly.

inserting a safety cover over rides the built in very safe safety feature and exposes the live bit.

there is a reason why places that sell plug sockets wont sell child safety covers its because they make a plug socket less safe.

My kids who were into everything never managed to remove them.

RedHelenB - Please tell us what brand this was?

I work at a SureStart Children's Centre and we have removed all of ours, about 12 months ago because of the latest guidelines.

it still shocks me that social workers and health visitors advise people to use them.

I used them for one day but DS1 (then 9 months) spent all morning pulling them out. He hadn't given the sockets any notice until I used the covers. I promptly threw them in the bin.

Socket covers are still seen as essential by some ofsted inspectors, ridiculously enough.

In my last room rent the topic came up as we had them because of their two year old, I explainedand showed the landlady the website and she got extremely offended and told me I had no clue what I was talking about. Matter was left. A few weeks later the child managed to get a few of them out and made a game of it and yet she still didn't get it

I will add that I explained nicely and only even mentioned it because she asked about them. Which makes her reaction even more ridiculous!

Ofsted policy is as follows: "Inspectors should not set actions or make recommendations in relation to the use of socket covers and should not refer specifically to these in their reports."

If you have been advised to use them by an inspector, complain!

Taken from this document, page 11:
www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/other-publications/e/Early%20years%20September%202011.pdf

Carolines: I haven't been told by ofsted personally as they cannot inspect my working premises (nanny) but know that many have been told that by inspectors (threads on here discuss it even). Should have added that I know Ofsted do have a policy on it somewhere, which I discovered from the aforementioned threads

It's like with HVs, up-to-date knowledge on things like this isn't always shared, so some are left behind the times. Bit silly really but I suppose that you can only rely on people keeping their own knowledge up to date in these circumstances.

My dad has been saying this for years, sockets became safe when they brought in the ones with flat pins after the war. My first flat had round pin sockets, they did not have protection, but no one sold socket covers for them. Stupid really.

YANBU. I wish it was more widely known so FIL would stop ranting at me me that I'm wrong for not getting socket covers. He refuses to listen to my explanation because he had children first and advice NEVER changes.

I'm a foster carer and on my last H&S check I told my SW I wouldn't be using them and explained why. She had never heard of the dangers. SS are still promoting the use of socket covers to carers.

I would like to see a different tack where parents are reassured that sockets are safe without any tampering, and don't feel the need to shove anything else into them

From the Fatally Flawed site cited above:

When BS 1363 was defined in the 1940s the designers wanted to make sure that the socket was very safe. One of the things they did was to make the pin holes too small for a child to put their finger in.

I assumed that the danger was not so much a child putting their fingers in but poking something else in. I can't remember the brand as my youngest is 6 now.

I can see that perhaps there's no need for them but the website everyone is linking to looks like a load of rubbish. Doesn't make me take anything it says seriously.

I can totally see the point of the website, but it does read a bit Chris Morris?!

Wow, I didn't know this at all.
Will remove mine tonight. Thanks.

I'd not heard anything about this! Will be removing mine tonight (will get my3 year old to held take them out!)

On two points people have raised... Fristly plug in air fresheners can be an issue see here. Also, in other countries you may have to use socket covers. In Canada they are recommended because sockets are 'on' all the time, unlike UK sockets (safest in the world)

i dont give a monkeys what the website looks like but i know that i can fit several different items into the live bit of a plug when it has 7 of the leading brand safety covers fitted correctly and i cant when the cover is not used.

Thank you for highlighting this.