Probably just need to get out more but there you go.

Am not yet registered had the pre pre registration visit from support officer the other day and she gave me a few tips of things to change. One of the things she said was 'of course you will have to get some socket covers'. Told dh (who works in physics/electronicy type stuff) and he said there is no way he would allow them in the house, they are really dangerous. Basically the plug socket on the wall is a registered safety device, socket covers are not and actually make the safety device ineffective. There is a whole campaign to ban them. But what do I tell ofsted? Will they insist on covers? Or can I give them all this info and they will agree?

He got a load of info from http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/ incase anyone wants to know more.

I have had this from my ex dh for many many years.

He is an electrician as well and he was absolutely horrified when I said I had to use socket covers.

He has wired everything so that if so much as an ant crawls into a socket, the system just shuts down.

Unfortunately, Ofsted (and social services before them) did not listen to me and refused to accept his and my explanation... so socket covers it had to be :rolleyes:

You could always have sockets in use so there are no sockets that need covers.

I have not heard of this but it is worrying :eek:

Is there not a piece of plastic that fits over the whole socket and not just plugs in ?

If there is not would someone please invent one - thank you :thumbsup:

what happens then if you use them as i do? i have never heard about them being a danger?

I have a plastic box thing to cover one of my double sockets. Got it from Betterware or something similar.

Just had a look it says Pro-Activ Products Ltd

Got it so little ones would not switch off PC in sitting room! Has a plastic key to open it if I want access. Would work to cover empty sockets too.

Don't know if they do single ones and depends where you need to put it with size.

Any good ?

Is there not a piece of plastic that fits over the whole socket and not just plugs in ?

If there is not would someone please invent one - thank you :thumbsup:

yes my friend has one because her son can pop off the other type,
not sure where she got it or how much sorry,

but i am now shocked about plug covers i gone and pluged the lamp back in and just turned it off lol not enough plugs in my house had double addapters all ova till had some re-wriring done x

Look on Amazon - more fancy than mine. :)

£6.49 double
£5.49 single
£11.98 for one of each

all with postage to add, sounds like a good idea

Me again !!

'insight security' make them

we have the ones that pop over the whole socket as like Jen we did not want the children to switch of the computer etc.

we got ours from safetots.co.uk

there £5.99 for a double and £5.49 for a single

the ones with the keys are £8.99 but i think they only do a double in this type

cathy

Giggling goblin, thanks for the link. Just been checking my socket covers and even when put in upside down the shutters don't retract. So mine are relatively safe.
And anyway, the whole house has RDS, so even if you threw a hairdryer in the bath you could not electricute yourself, but it means that if a bulb blows you have to re-set that circuit.
But it's great for our peace of mind :)

I like the idea of the full socket cover, my 1yo is constantly turning things off so they sound incredibly useful! Good compromise for dh aswell.

If I wrote to ofsted and asked them to clarify would that put a huge great black mark next to my name? I know there are different ways of phrasing it so as to not sound too much like I am causing trouble but I would really like to ask if it is a requirement that I tamper with my safety devices and make them unsafe to fulfill their guidelines (I probably wont put it like that) :laughing:

Yeah best word it differently :D

Don't think it would be an issue if you go for the full socket covers, would dh be happy with that ?

Hello, I hope that you do not mind me joining your forum but I am one of the founders of FatallyFlawed.org.uk - a campaign formed by professional electrical engineers who are very concerned about the dangers of plug-in socket covers.

My daughter is a qualified nursery nurse and one of our advisors is the owner of several nurseries, so I have some insight into the issue of inspectors and socket covers. I have been in discussion with the relevant inspecting authorities about this. Ofsted (England), Care Commission (Scotland), Estyn (Wales) and the Northern Ireland Education and Training Inspectorate have all confirmed to us (in writing) that, whilst they do require sockets to be safe, they do not mandate the use of socket covers. As undamaged UK sockets are required by law to be safe then this should not be an issue. If this becomes an issue for you please draw the attention of the inspector to the safety provided by BS-1363, and the information provided on our website www.fatallyflawed.org.uk Should you find that an inspector is encouraging you to put children at risk by encouraging the use of plug-in socket covers we would appreciate hearing about it, see website for contact info.

We invite you to watch the video we have made on socket covers, it is available at http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/html/videos.html

Thanks for reading this.

David

Don't mind at all David, thanks for the info, makes very interesting reading :)

Hello, I hope that you do not mind me joining your forum but I am one of the founders of FatallyFlawed.org.uk - a campaign formed by professional electrical engineers who are very concerned about the dangers of plug-in socket covers.

My daughter is a qualified nursery nurse and one of our advisors is the owner of several nurseries, so I have some insight into the issue of inspectors and socket covers. I have been in discussion with the relevant inspecting authorities about this. Ofsted (England), Care Commission (Scotland), Estyn (Wales) and the Northern Ireland Education and Training Inspectorate have all confirmed to us (in writing) that, whilst they do require sockets to be safe, they do not mandate the use of socket covers. As undamaged UK sockets are required by law to be safe then this should not be an issue. If this becomes an issue for you please draw the attention of the inspector to the safety provided by BS-1363, and the information provided on our website www.fatallyflawed.org.uk Should you find that an inspector is encouraging you to put children at risk by encouraging the use of plug-in socket covers we would appreciate hearing about it, see website for contact info.

We invite you to watch the video we have made on socket covers, it is available at http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/html/videos.html

Thanks for reading this.

David

Thanks for the explanation and the website link. Have printed off some info for my Ofsted file

I knew nothing about the internal shutters and have been using socket covers like those in your video :blush:

Miffy xx

It's very worrying , I've always used socket covers thinking I was doing the right thing. Not any more. I'm going to get the covers for them.

I am the other founder of the campaign behind "fatallyflawed" and I'd like to add a comment if I may.

Although we have assessed all the plug-in socket covers we can find we have not tested any of the overall covers. Before buying and using these, please consider that they could delay access to a socket to switch off or unplug and appliance in an emergency.

Please examine any BS1363 socket, preferably one this is not connected to the mains, and look at the shutters. These really do give excellent protection already and have had to be rigorously type tested in an engineering laboratory before they could be sold. We especially like the MK variety whose current design needs all three pins inserted before the shutters can be opened. (We have no connection in any way with MK other than as customers).

Our campaign concerns British BS1363 sockets as used in the UK, Eire and other countries which follow UK practice. Sockets from other territories have varying designs and we have not assessed the merits of covers for these.

I have just watched the video and I can't believe I have been usind socket covers. I have just gone round the house and took them all off. I was using the ones which snap when pushed in upside down! So how do we stand with Ofsted now when we are inspected do we need to have anything printed off to show them or are they still going to insist on socket covers. I will be directing all my parents to the fatallyflawed website so they will undertsand why I have taken the decision to remove my socket covers.

does any one have any info on how many children are injured each year from sockets because I cant seem to find any thing.

All my children are taught how to plug things in correctly and regularly plug/unplug the hoover for me and so I don't use those socket covers. We did have some free in a home safety pack but ds took them out to use for something else and they are worse than lego bricks when you accidentally stand on them.

So how do we stand with Ofsted now when we are inspected do we need to have anything printed off to show them or are they still going to insist on socket covers.

I'm not sure Ofsted have ever insisted that we have socket covers, all they want to know is how you plan to keep children safe. I think if you can argue your point as to why you will not be using socket covers then they shouldn't have a problem with it and if they do then you ought to appeal and make it known why.

I'm so concerned about this I am going to post the link and details in the 'useful websites' page for a permanent reminder for us plus any future members/readers.

Very interesting, i think il use socket covers when ofsted come and then take them out.

I have just watched the video, and yes i'm shocked to say the least, and a little upset i didn't know it sooner, just been out and bought lots never mind. I have aded a link to the video on my laptop, so when i have my pre reg I will show them when they ask.

Thank you very much for this!!!
:clapping:

I do remember the electrian telling me that socket covers are a waste of time, but i still have them & will keep them until i'm told offically not to have them because Ofsted look for them and i'm not an expert so i doubt they would listen to me:(

I've watched the clip and read the comments and tried to get my socket covers off- yep, they're just a difficult to remove as they've always been, I have to use my fingernails to prise them off. I was shocked to see that a pin poked into the socket when a safety cover is in place would result in an electric shock, and i can see that it is a danger -but- i'm here to supervise and the last thing a child should have here is a pin or other small sharp metal object :eek: I do not allow children to remove socket covers or tamper with sockets- and i teach children to be safe. But thank you for bringing this to my attention because it is important that we all know the risks.:thumbsup:

The question of how difficult socket covers are to remove is an interesting one. What we demonstrate in the video is a particular combination of cover and socket where both covers are completely incompatible with that socket. The ease with which covers can be removed varies enormously, some being tight and others hopelessly loose, and you may ask why that should be?

The first thing to understand is that actual plugs and sockets are very tightly regulated, the dimensions and shape of the pins on a plug are precisely defined, and all plugs must conform. For good practical reasons there is a bit more leeway with the design of a socket, but all sockets must be able to mate properly and safely with standard plugs.

There are absolutely no regulations which apply to socket covers other than the ones which apply generally to things like plastic toys, so they cannot be of a size which can cause choking, and they must not be made of toxic material, but other than that just about anything goes.

This is what enables socket cover manufacturers to ignore the regulated dimensions of both pins and cover plates. If you make a cover with pins which are shorter than the socket is meant to take, then the results become impossible to predict, you can be fairly certain that socket cover designers do not try all possible combinations of their cover with the many different models of sockets which are available. Some covers do engage properly with some sockets, some covers have pins which are so short that they cannot possible reach the contacts. Others are in between which is the worst case and can resulting in the pushing out shown in the video. If the cover does not engage with the lower contacts then it is only the friction of the earthpin which holds the cover in at all.

The cavalier way in which cover manufacturers ignore the real dimensions of a plug is pretty indicative of their lack of interest in safety, it appears that would rather save a small amount of material than make a product which can be guaranteed to work safely!

The same lack of regulation is why there is no requirement for electrical testing of socket covers. No manufacturer has been able to provide us with any test information on their covers! Why would anyone wish to replace the very rigorously tested insulation safety of a socket, with an untested cover?

i've got to say while i am in no doubt about the authenticity of the video and what its saying - it doesn't concern me in the slighest. my socket covers are a nightmare to get out, i supervise all children anyways so if they got too close to a socket they'd know about it - and heaven forbid there be a pin or paperclip on the floor where children are crawling!!! there's only so much you can worry about, and this is for me one thing too many!!! i see socket covers as a way of detering kids from playing with plugs, thats it if they are old enough to know what a plug is then they'll be deterred, if they're not then they'll be being watched anyway!

Just watched the video about the danger of socket covers, wow what a eye opener:eek: . Thank you socketman for this information. I am going to make sure all my sockets are in use when ofsted come to avoid a row.

Just watched the video about the danger of socket covers, wow what a eye opener:eek: . Thank you socketman for this information. I am going to make sure all my sockets are in use when ofsted come to avoid a row.

But there won't be a row! Ofsted don't say that you have to use socket covers, all they want to know is how you keep children safe from electrical things and that could be teaching them that electricity is dangerous, ensuring that nothing is available for them to poke into sockets etc. :)

i have watched the video....

what a load of rubbish. what childmindee would allow a child to have pins!!!!!!

let a lone allow them to stick them behind a socket cover.

we always do our safetly checks every day to ensure we have correctly inserted them

and its it up to the goverment safety standards to ensure that we have british standard safety items. . its a joke... !!!!!!!!!

i have always used socket covers and will continue to.

No childminder worth their salt would allow a child to have pins but accidents can and do happen - things can get stuffed into socket, especially little fingers!!!!:rolleyes: (can remember as youngsters my brother - bless his heart not, encouraging me to stick my fingers in a socket:eek: ). Its not just pins that kids try to stick into a socket either though is it..... bits of lego, something from a toybox, pencils, fingers.....

It comes down to RA's doesn't it and that is what Ofsted what to see

All my children could get the blasted socket covers out, whereas I struggled to prise the darned things out. TBH, never have used them much anyway - especially when I realised the kids could get them out anyway (and yes they tried reinserting them the wrong way up) and they appeared to be more of an attraction then deterrant.

One of the things that we have noticed is that children tend to find it easier to remove covers than adults, and they seem to have a much higher motivation to do so!

If you are interested in more background there is a report by the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute for ANEC (European Association for Consumer Representation in Standardisation). The report is called “Child protective products – protective function of socket protectors, hob guards, locks and locking devices” and is available online at http://www.anec.org/attachments/r&t005-04.pdf

The report addresses most of the issues which concern FatallyFlawed. In particular para 3.4: “the protective function should not be reduced through normal or foreseeable use and misuse." This addresses our fundamental concern affecting all socket covers, that of inverted insertion by children. The current terms of reference under which UK Trading Standards operate prevent them taking into account dangers caused by misuse. How easy do you find it to explain that to a small child? The test probe reccomended by the report is actually smaller than ours (and therefore would access the live parts more easily than ours).

Remember, until the Government take notice of FatallyFlawed there are NO specific safety standards in force for covers. You can be reasonably sure that they are not poisonous, or swallowable (unless broken) but that's all. Nothing so useful as that they should actually protect against electrocution!

Those of you who think that we are right might like to bring the subject to the attention of your MP.

i have watched the video....

what a load of rubbish. what childmindee would allow a child to have pins!!!!!!

let a lone allow them to stick them behind a socket cover.

we always do our safetly checks every day to ensure we have correctly inserted them

and its it up to the goverment safety standards to ensure that we have british standard safety items. . its a joke... !!!!!!!!!

i have always used socket covers and will continue to.

Calm down Donna!! :eek:

No one is suggesting that a childminder would ever allow such a thing to happen. Don't forget this is aimed at everyone, not childminders in particular, and some parents/carers need help and guidance as they are not so up to date regarding dangers as we are. :)

No childminder would allow a child to have anything small enough to poke into a small hole but some parents would! The things my mindees come to my house with both in their hands or in their pockets is amazing! All I get from the parents is ' I couldn't get them out of the house without it ' Parents make me so mad sometimes.

I'm still using socket covers, I have since my own daughter, now 20, was a baby because I thought I was doing the best thing to keep her and all the children after her safe :(

This is very worrying, Im going to buy the full covers.

Is there not a piece of plastic that fits over the whole socket and not just plugs in ?

If there is not would someone please invent one - thank you :thumbsup:

Coming to this late but there is something like this a type of plastic box type thing. You loosen the whole thing that you plug into (okay I am a woman and don't do techy words) then screw it back on and hten you click itinot place oer your sockets with or without plugs in. Absolutely useless I couldn't unfasten it but hte children could!!!!1

Added
REad others mentioned these and htey may well be better ones than the one I had bought

I bought clippasafe socketsafe covers after seeing this, they cover the entire socket and can be used with plugs in place although tbh I wouldn't want to do that in case I needed to remove a plug in an emergency (my whole house is on a feather sensitive trip thingy though so shouldn't need to as the power will just cut out but even so... - can't remember the right name for is but its like the RCB things that you use with lawnmowers etc).

Amazon also sell some that you just push in buttons at both sides but I had some like this for my older kids and they go out of shape quite quickly and then become very easy to undo...

Calm down Donna!! :eek:

No one is suggesting that a childminder would ever allow such a thing to happen. Don't forget this is aimed at everyone, not childminders in particular, and some parents/carers need help and guidance as they are not so up to date regarding dangers as we are. :)

i wasnt sugguesting a childminder would!!!!!! not good when writing things down.. the way the video was stating to me was that we let them stick pins in them, as thats the way they become dangerous.... hope thats more sense...