to remind everyone that socket covers are dangerous!

[insertrandomnamehere]

Did a search and couldn't find a post on this topic for a couple of years so in case people still don't realise...

If you use Child safety socket covers, get rid of them! They are dangerous and they actually make sockets more dangerous not less.

Socket covers are completely unnecessary and could potentially cause a fatal accident. UK plug sockets are designed with shutters to prevent anything except a UK plug being inserted into the socket. It is extremely unlikely that a young child would be able to open these shutters, as the child would have to insert something of exactly the right size into the earth pin. This is not possible with real plugs. But socket covers hold these shutters open and introduce a range of new dangers.

Unlike real plugs, the various design faults of socket covers allow a curious child to insert them (upside down) into the earth pin only. On many sockets this opens the safety shutters and allows children access to the live contacts!

If you have these at home, please take a few minutes to read the national campaign calling for the banning of socket covers: //www.fatallyflawed.org.uk

[Fairylea]

What if you don't have shutters on the plug? None of ours do and our house isn't particularly old at all.

[PixieofCatan]

I was about to google the whole socket covers but realise Rusty has already. Those attach to the wall or slip in behind the whole socket plastic bit, so do the same job without any way of enabling a child to activate the earth pin.

[tmae]

Thank you for the information, I had no idea and would have bought them.

[insertrandomnamehere]

Your sockets don't have shutters? They were introduced in 1927... ...so maybe time for a rewire!!

In all seriousness, I hope you're mistaken. Shutters are a requirement for all UK sockets and if you somehow do not have them then you must have some dodgy fake sockets. It's illegal for UK sockets to be sold without shutters.

If somehow you're correct, I suggest you get a competent person to change the sockets. A 2gang socket costs less than £2 at B&Q

[insertrandomnamehere]

For the avoidance of doubt - the shutters are in the socket, not on the plug. It will be hard to tell without removing the socket and having a look inside, but they will be there.

[PixieofCatan]

It could be a 'hidden' shutter of sorts. IIRC the shutter's purpose is to complete the circuit, so a shutter wouldn't need to be obvious in order to move enough to complete a circuit.

[VisualiseAHorse]

We live in tied housing - our sockets don't have on/off switches either. Which is precisely why we got covers, because they are 'on' all the time. Maybe I'll mention it to the estate handy man next time I see him.

[PixieofCatan]

Obvious from looking in through the socket as it stands I mean. As some are.

[Pooka]

I had a long discussion with my health visitor about this after ds fell down the stairs and she was making sure my house wasn't a death trap. She had a checklist including wanting to make sure I had socket covers. It was at the surgery/clinic (I took him post fall). I drew a diagram showing why I didn't have the covers.

[VisualiseAHorse]

You're right, I just double checked - they do have shutters! I'm a twat, please excuse me.
But - they still don't have on/off switches. Pain in the arse.

[Pooka]

Even if the sockets are 'on' all the time, the shutters within the socket in UK are the fail safe safety feature. If you don't have shutters, I would imagine that your electrics are completely unsafe and that whoever is letting the property to you needs to sort it pronto (don't landlords need an electrical safety certificate, just as they do for boilers)?

[Pooka]

Sorry - xpost.

By having the covers you're actually potentially making the socket less safe than it already is.

[insertrandomnamehere]

Obviously it depends on the conditions of your lease, but might be worth asking about new sockets if it's bothering you - changing sockets is very easy for an electrician to do and as I said the sockets themselves are very cheap.

[specialsubject]

landlords don't need an electrical safety certificate, although it is good practice. As noted, unless the property was last rewired in about 1930 there will be shutters.

and somewhere not refurbished in that time would be un-rentable however low the price. Also, while there's a lot of whining here about no standards for UK landlords, actually there are and you can get in deep trouble for letting out somewhere dangerous.

but as noted, this one wouldn't happen.

[insertrandomnamehere]

But there's no safety problem with unswitched sockets as such. Not sure I'd want them in my house though..

[insertrandomnamehere]

But only in the same way that I have double pole sockets rather than single, because why not!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Yanbu!!

I was surprised and shocked when I saw the video demo online.

These things should be taken off the shelves

[insertrandomnamehere]

Pooka is correct, if you don't have switches on the socket then that arguably makes using socket covers even more dangerous, because the shutters are the only thing preventing contact with 240V AC! (Not fun by all accounts)

[VisualiseAHorse]

ooo. that's scary. Hmm.

What about those three pin sockets that have round pins? I think they're American? There's a few of them in our house too.

[insertrandomnamehere]

Not necessarily a problem - round pin sockets/plugs are still in use for lighting circuits sometimes. Obviously depends on the age, but they are still permitted under the regulations, if a little rare.

British not American.

[danceponydance]

Fatally flawed website explains why socket covers are dangerous

[redandchecker]

Thank you for this I had no idea. You see something in the baby/child safety section and assume you need it to keep your children safe. They should definitely be removed from shops!

[youmakemydreams]

The shutters are the reason that even things without an earth wire have an earth pin on them. Look at your mobile charger. It has a plastic earth pin. Snap that off then try and charge your phone. It won't because it's sole purpose is to override the installed safety feature in sockets.

I have no idea why on earth socket covers are allowed to be sold.

[NormHonal]

Good thread, OP, well done!

I did know about it but every time I mention it to someone IRL they tell me they didn't know, so it's worth repeating.

[JadziaSnax]

Thanks OP, always worth a reminder. I still see socket covers in various places and point people in the direction of Fatally Flawed.