To remind people of the danger of socket covers

[FannyFeatures]

I've seen these mentioned in a few threads recently regarding baby proofing/safety equipment and worse, are still sold by many reputable retailers.

Placing a "plug" into the socket opens up the safety latch and activates the circuit.

Information on the dangers here www.fatallyflawed.org.uk

They are no longer authorised for use in child/health care services for this reason.

We had these on our sockets with our first child a few years ago. Then I watched a video a bloke made, he was some sort of tradesperson, we got rid of every single one right away.

Found it...
www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/you-use-electric-socket-covers-13942757

I'm so glad you posted this OP I had no idea and we have them in the playroom. Removing now! Thank you

It’s ridiculous that this was official guidance.

I wouldn't have been able to stop myself telling them their guidance was wrong. Absolute madness that they are making people buy a product which makes it a bigger risk.

Those who know about electrics, are the covers that flip down like a lid over the whole socket rather than plugging in ok or are there problems with them? Just thinking they might reassure people who want something. Personally we have bare sockets - as well as the fact the plugs make UK sockets live and dangerous, I had read that because they are a tight fit they can actually force the safety mechanism in the socket wider than it should be so the socket then becomes dangerous even when the cover isn't in it.

There does seem to be a lack of awareness of the safety of UK sockets and the problems with covers. At my NCT classes, the leader advised buying them - I tried to explain that they weren't needed (politely) but it seems to have become so engrained in general mentality as a required safety measure that I don't think either the leader or the rest of the group believed me.

So you can't turn to safety cover cap upside down and insert just 1 pin into it. True. The issue is that small kids worry at them, especially where the edge overlaps the screws. The cap will ping off, often leaving just the top pin in place... open circuit and easy access for paperclips, nappy and hair pins all sorts of interesting thin objects. There are lodaso fvisoes on Youtibe of very small children getting the caps off, or patially off, very, very easily!

The only one I am personally aware of was a toddler and a biro. He used the pen end to lever up the edge of the socket. He got no further as the scribble on the wall alerted his mum to what he was doing.

We simply do not need the bloody things. They add a level of danger to a system that was designed to prevent the incidents the manufacturers claim to protect against. Those manufacturers are PEFECTLY AWARE of this too! Even Mothercare.

It isn't even news. In 1947 the BS 1363 standard was introduced for all 13-amp plugs. This means that for more than 70 years they all have an internal safety shutters designed to stop children poking things into them and causing the plug to go live. 70 YEARS!!!!!!

You have to wonder why they are still being sold in the UK... it certainly isn't for the safety of your kids!

Poking anything into the 'Earth' (larger) hole can possibly open the shutters of the live and neutral.
In the UK the neutral pin in nominally safe as it is joined to earth at the mains 'fusebox'.
The live contacts, normally covered by the aforementioned shutter are live if the switch is 'on' or all the time if there is no switch.
In the industry I work it is unfortunately common to 'trick' a socket to open up so a plug can be inserted 'upside down' (usually on extension cables).
For those with very inquisitive small children I would suggest getting an electrician to remove some sockets and fit a 'blanking' plate, until they are old enough to be taught properly, or I think you van get safety covers that actually screw into position, so unless your youngster can handle a screwdriver the sockets would be safe.

Thank you for sharing this. I wasn’t aware of this and we have plug socket covers. I haven’t yet read the article thoroughly but will do so today. I’m worried about DS sticking something in a socket (not just his fingers) but assume this is saying no cover is still safer than that risk.

It should really be obvious that this is the case from basic school science, but I have seen them mentioned for in articles / threads about preparing a house for a baby. I don’t have children, so I wonder what percentage of parents are actually fully compliant with advice such as wall brackets for free-standing furniture. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wall bracket in my life, but obviously I don’t make a habit of looking round my friends’ bedrooms!

Yes I am shocked you can even buy them in this country too and more people don’t know this .

Messaged at the same time as the other two posters. I’d say DS qualifies as a very inquisitive and persistent small child (15 month old).

Oh my gosh,I never knew, thank you for this post

Oh gosh! I was planning on buying some more in town. Thank you for posting this and making me aware of the bigger dangers.

My health visitor told me off for not having them with a 6 day old baby and refused to acknowledge the advice not to have them as ‘she didn’t trust the internet’ 😂

I didn’t buy any.

Perhaps this is something MNHQ could do a campaign on?

It's shocking how few people are aware of the dangers, and think they're making their homes safer by buying them.

I have these everywhere. Is there an alternative? My toddler is always trying to touch plug sockets and flicking the switches. She's too young to understand when I tell her no and its impossible to be beside her 24/7 if I need the toilet etc. Really worried now.

Just saw the post from 1tisILeClerc I will look into the screw covers.

Didn't know this. Had them all the time when ours were little.

Thanks for the heads-up!

I’ve found a cover that goes over the whole thing and you can still plug things in if necessary. It’s a bit bulky and I’ve only used it on the one that’s right next to the bed to stop any fiddling. It’s called Clippasafe Socket Protector.

Having a baby nearly crawling this is brand new information for me and so glad I found this thread!!

If you want to test this for yourself, get an extension that is unplugged from the mains, and try poking things into it. They have the same safety shutters and you can see for yourself how they work without any danger.

I live in a Surestart area and had a Homestart visitor come out once a month for a while.
Every single visit she told me I needed to get these covers urgently.
It was one of the reasons I told her I was moving and not to come any more.
Thanks for sharing.
Total racket.

U.K. electrical sockets are probably the safest in the world. I had a row with health visitor when mine were small because she kept insisting I should have socket covers and I disagreed. (I’m a chartered electrical engineer - she still insisted she knew better)

Annoyingly when we were being approved for being adopters we were told we must have socket covers in our house so I had to buy a load to prove readiness.

We were told the same. I sent them the guidance and the agency changed policy. I would guess some idiot put it on a safety assessment and that one got copied to lots of agencies.

I have these everywhere. Is there an alternative?

Yes. Take them out and bin them. UK plugs are safe.

My toddler is always trying to touch plug sockets and flicking the switches.

That's not a risk, unless you have a plastic thing stuck in the plug.

So you can't turn to safety cover cap upside down and insert just 1 pin into it.
True.

That isn't what PP meant. You can do this (depending on design of socket and cap) but they meant that the extra safe MK sockets solve that risk.

For those who really want something safer than UK standard, the MK ones sound a good idea, but unnecessary in my opinion.

We unplug everything unless it's actually being used, especially at night although the fridge and broadband box are deemed safe somehow 🤔

A socket enclosure box is safe enough, it's only when covers are inserted into the safety mechanism that it's an issue.

I didn't know this. We're passed the baby age now but still useful information.