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

[insertrandomnamehere]

NetworkGuy - pretty sure you're right, the line/neutral terminals are active whenever the switch is on.

Because of course, with SP sockets the neutral terminal is always active.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I used to work at a nursery and OFSTED insisted on plug socket covers. I did know they were not safe but they were quite insistent that they were needed.

[PixieofCatan]

Chaos: they used to. Individual assessors don't talk know that its not compulsory anymore though and have been known to downgrade people for it. It cane up as an advisory for my mum or nan.can't remember which now. Still happens fifteen tears later though.

[HannerHet]

I had no idea about this, I don't have any now as children are older but will keep in mind, thanks

[insertrandomnamehere]

I'd totally recommend having switches on sockets, and even on sockets of extension units (both the types, ones with a cable from mains plug, and the "all in one" plug with 4 sockets, that can go into the wall socket), of course.

Although as pointed out, the switch is arguably of secondary importance to the shutter. Ie, an in switched socket is not inherently dangerous. A socket with no shutters is.

[PixieofCatan]

Candy: that would have been an inspector weather thanoOfsted themselves.you can contest it though. It's what happened for us.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I didn't mean that the socket shuts down,I meant the holes.i apologise for using the incorrect wording.

A socket without the earth pin in will not allow you to put something into the other holes where as one with will.

I probably should have said will not allow contact with the live bit where as the 'safety' cover makes the live bit accesable

[insertrandomnamehere]

^ unswitched not in switched

[Mim78]

I have never used them because they struck me as unnecessary with the earth pin as you say. But had n't realised they were actually dangerous.

[WanderingAway]

I for one will be keeping my socket covers. In the 20 years that i have been around children i have never seen a child taking out a cover, replacing it upside down and then putting something else into another one of the holes.

I have seen children trying to put pencils among other things into sockets without covers.

[PigletJohn]

"I have seen children trying to put pencils among other things into sockets without covers."

in many countries, that would be dangerous. However, UK sockets, they can't do it so it is not dangerous. The risk of using socket covers is higher than not using them.

However, if you want to use them, nobody is going to search your house and prosecute you. You will only have to put up with people sniffing disapprovingly.

[mumofboyo]

I remember reading this website a few years ago when I was searching for ways of childproofing our home. I didn't buy the socket covers.

When the health visitor came around she told me I needed socket covers on all visible sockets and asked if I had seen the damage done to children who have been electrocuted after having played with plug sockets.

Ds, my 1st child, was only a couple of months old and I was knackered and overwhelmed so couldn't form my argument properly when I tried to tell her about the dangers I'd read about. She cut me off mid-sentence with a haughty, "Well I've not seen that particular article of research so I can't comment on it. I suggest you get some socket covers." I never did get any and she never came to my house again.

[PigletJohn]

I would just love to see one of these people put their recommendation in writing so that their employer could be put right.

[specialsubject]

interesting stuff, so I found the page I knew I had seen before. The actual standard was introduced in 1947 so still quite a while ago.

inserting a plug in the earth pin opens the shutters. Only then can the live contact be reached. And NOT by a child's fingers which are too big, even for a baby. You might just do it with a newborn, but the newborn isn't going to do it by itself.

so it needs two separate actions to touch the live connection by inserting a conductor - or putting the socket cover in upside down will make it a lot easier.


www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

[specialsubject]

ps UK only. If you live elsewhere (as also discussed on the website) where standards on this are lower then socket covers may be a good idea.

[elliejjtiny]

I got rid of mine when DS1 was pulling them out and putting them on the floor pins up and I was fed up of accidently standing on them. Later I found out about the risk of putting them in upside down. But when I explain to the HV when she visits she just does this face and tells me to get socket covers.

[KumquatMay]

I'm interested in this as I recently bought a load for our house - my main concern was that we had alot of exposed sockets in our kitchen and due to high humidity with boiling pans etc I was concerned about damp/water buildup in the sockets - particularly those on the extension lead.

Is this a legitimate concern or not? Are socket covers only dangerous with regards to children getting hold of them? We don't have kids so if they are otherwise ok am wondering whether we can keep them.

any info would be appreciated!

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

They can break the safety shutters, they an overheat the socket and it can burn.

Has anybody had enough guts to ask a HV if they got hit with the stupid stick and why they give out such dangerous advice or if they would put it in writing so they can address the dangerous advice?

[PigletJohn]

A UK socket has shutters that prevent you touching any live parts.

[specialsubject]

kumquat throw the covers away or take them back. UK sockets are designed to cope. BUT if your kitchen is that humid, you are damaging your property - open a window or fit a decent extractor fan.

also what is on the extension lead? You should only use those as a temporary measure. Get more sockets fitted (subject to your installation of course)

[insertrandomnamehere]

KumquatMay - really you're making the sockets less safe if you use the covers. If you're concerned about moisture, all the covers are doing is holding open the shutters to allow moisture in. They really aren't necessary.

As I showed in the earlier pictures, some covers can be fatally dangerous even when used 'correctly'.

Practically, the biggest risk is that the covers can damage sockets. Sockets and plugs are made to very exact standards and they fit together perfectly. Covers are not made to any standard. Compare a proper plug to a plastic cover. The cover is just a lump of plastic that's vaguely plug shaped. They can and do damage sockets. A damaged socket can cause a fire.

I wouldn't worry about moisture anyway, in a well ventilated kitchen it won't be too bad.

[insertrandomnamehere]

WanderingAway - "I for one will be keeping my socket covers. In the 20 years that i have been around children i have never seen a child taking out a cover, replacing it upside down and then putting something else into another one of the holes.

I have seen children trying to put pencils among other things into sockets without covers."

Yes, the risk is small. But the point is that sockets are designed to legally enforceable standards and are very effectively child proof. Socket covers bypass these protective measures. You've taken a deliberate step to make the socket less safe than it already was. It's madness.

[insertrandomnamehere]

As has been said, it is not possible for a young child to contact the live terminal with a pencil or other implement, no matter how hard they try.

[insertrandomnamehere]

You might not have seen a child turn it upside down, but it could have happened. I actually remember doing it when I was young. I don't remember my parents being present to tell me off.

With the cover upside down, it is then possible to stick an object into the live terminal. It is nowhere near as easy, if not impossible, to insert real plugs upside down in this way.

[fifi669]

My house is full of socket covers. I'll be keeping them. Big uncovered holes are a lot more attractive to a child than a covered socket.

My covers have to be removed using another cover (or long nails). A small child couldn't just pull them out.

I can see the worry with the ones with the small gap, but what are the odds that a child with have a small piece of conductive material and find the tiny hole beside the socket? Surely a lot less than sticking objects in much bigger holes?