Why socket covers should NOT be used

[Socketman]

Hi, I am one of the founders of the FatallyFlawed campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of plug-in socket covers.

There have been several recent references to the use of socket covers in these threads, so as it is almost three years sicnce Ofsted policy on socket covers changed (as a result of the FatallyFlawed campaign) I hope you do not mind me bringing the issue to your attention once more.

• British 13 Amp sockets have built in automatic shutters to protect against children poking things in them.
• First introduced more than 60 years ago, they are considered the safest in the world and do not require external covers.
• No responsible national body recommends using socket covers.
• That includes the UK Government, RoSPA, Ofsted, Child Accident Prevention Trust and Electrical Safety Council.
• Sockets are made to accept plugs which meet very exact requirements. Anything which is not a standard plug MUST be made to the same dimensions as required for plugs. No socket covers which meet those dimensions are available!

Please note, ALL UK power sockets (three rectangular pins) have shutters, even those which are 60 years old!

Socket covers introduce a variety of dangers; they make sockets less safe, not more.

Some socket covers have many faults, some just a few, but none makes sockets safer than they already are.

www.fatallyflawed.org.uk has lots of detail on socket covers, the dangers they create, and reviews of many different types.

Ofsted does not require you to use socket covers!

In the interests of safety you shopuld regularly check the condition of your sockets, and you may want to include that in your risk assessment. Make sure that the socket shows no signs of damage and check the operation of the shutters. There is a guide to checking the shutters on our FAQ page.

I hope that you will find this information of interest.

[rickysmiths]

Hi. I have had your info in my parent folder for 2 years now. I haven't used socket covers for a long time, I found that the new ones I bought from a large well known baby store, didn't klip into the socket securely anyway.

I have campaigned on here several times for childminders not to use socket covers so it is good to see you here.

[boxtree7]

so do we have to use socket covers or not as i will gladly take mine away

[Pauline]

so do we have to use socket covers or not as i will gladly take mine away

I don't and no Ofsted inspector should tell you that you should. You need to show how you keep children safe and protect them from the risks involved in having plug sockets in a childcare setting.

Adding it to your risk assessment is a good idea.

[rickysmiths]

I have the info above in my Risk Assessment Folder and in my Parent Info Folder.

[ajs]

At last some sensible information that we can use against the use of socket covers
my hubby has always said that they are unsafe and not to use them but it's hard proving to ignorant people that he is right and they aren't
his arguement has always been that by putting socket covers in you are opening the pins and allowing the potential for things to be poked into the holes and causing shocks

I will print the info off and keep it in my RA folder

[Pauline]

There have been several recent references to the use of socket covers in these threads, so as it is almost three years sicnce Ofsted policy on socket covers changed (as a result of the FatallyFlawed campaign) I hope you do not mind me bringing the issue to your attention once more.

Don't mind at all David, you are always welcome here.

I often find your previous posts for members who are not aware of the risks involved with socket covers.

[Socketman]

Don't mind at all David, you are always welcome here.

I often find your previous posts for members who are not aware of the risks involved with socket covers.

Thanks Pauline, it's good to know people find our information useful. Interest in the site just keeps growing!

It does make me angry that suppliers of socket covers continue to mislead people by falsely claiming that they are essential. What makes it worse is that they cannot be bothered to actually make them to the correct size! It just shows that they have no interest in safety, only profit.

Best wishes,
David

[Mouse]

I stopped using them a couple of years ago after reading the fatally flawed info and have pointed lots of people in the direction of the website

I think it's good to have information that is easy to understand and makes sense!

[Sara T]

I did not even know this about socket covers, thanks and I will keep the information for my safety policy and risk assessments.

you really do learn something new every day!

Sara

[Pipsqueak]

Thank you for the reminder.

However a word of caution;

I have used your information and shown it Ofsted during inspection, its in my RA's and parents know I do not use socket covers HOWEVER I was marked down on my inspection because I choose not to use socket covers. The inspector believed I did not adequately protect children from socket covers - bearing in mind only TWO sockets in my whole house are potentially accessible to children. One of these two is in a place that we rarely are... and the other is more often than not in use.


just a word of caution.... Ofsted may not require you to use covers however this may not have filtered down to all their inspectors nor may they agree with it.

[miffy]

Hi, I am one of the founders of the FatallyFlawed campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of plug-in socket covers.

There have been several recent references to the use of socket covers in these threads, so as it is almost three years sicnce Ofsted policy on socket covers changed (as a result of the FatallyFlawed campaign) I hope you do not mind me bringing the issue to your attention once more.

• British 13 Amp sockets have built in automatic shutters to protect against children poking things in them.
• First introduced more than 60 years ago, they are considered the safest in the world and do not require external covers.
• No responsible national body recommends using socket covers.
• That includes the UK Government, RoSPA, Ofsted, Child Accident Prevention Trust and Electrical Safety Council.
• Sockets are made to accept plugs which meet very exact requirements. Anything which is not a standard plug MUST be made to the same dimensions as required for plugs. No socket covers which meet those dimensions are available!

Please note, ALL UK power sockets (three rectangular pins) have shutters, even those which are 60 years old!

Socket covers introduce a variety of dangers; they make sockets less safe, not more.

Some socket covers have many faults, some just a few, but none makes sockets safer than they already are.

www.fatallyflawed.org.uk has lots of detail on socket covers, the dangers they create, and reviews of many different types.

Ofsted does not require you to use socket covers!

In the interests of safety you shopuld regularly check the condition of your sockets, and you may want to include that in your risk assessment. Make sure that the socket shows no signs of damage and check the operation of the shutters. There is a guide to checking the shutters on our FAQ page.

I hope that you will find this information of interest.

Thanks for this and the link - very useful

Miffy xx

[JCrakers]

Wow I didnt know this..I have emailed Ofsted to ask and when they reply I will have written evidence to show the inspector who is due here soon

Becky

[Chimps Childminding]

June brought this subject up with our Improvement Officer when she made her first visit last week! She was going away to research it!!!

[Pauline]

I've added some policy writing help to the free downloads, there is a variety of information put together by myself, Sarah and David from Fatally Flawed, hopefully it will assist you in writing a policy on why you don't use socket covers.

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/fr...downloads.html

down on the left under 'Policy Writing Ideas'

[JCrakers]

I contacted Child Accident Protection Trust and ROSPA, they both said more or less the same thing



The advice we have one of our websites is as follows:

- Electrical sockets do not pose a significant threat to young children. Legislation requires all sockets to meet stringent safety requirements. Young children are unlikely to have the dexterity or patience needed to be able to access live parts inside the socket, as they are protected by a shutter. Little fingers wont fit.
- Socket covers may stop young children plugging in heaters, hair straighteners and other appliances that can cause nasty burns – or even start a fire – but don’t rely on them as socket covers are not regulated. It’s much better to make sure the appliances are safely put away!

When one looks at injury statistics, one finds that electrocution is extremely rare among children and is almost never associated with sockets.

One problem you may have is that OFSTED seems to insist on socket covers for no good reason.

[green puppy]

Thanks for that Bexc, I don't use socket covers and teach the children what they should not play with and why, it has worked so far. Afterall, many places that children go to with or without me do not have socket covers so it is better to teach them the risks. I wonder if nursery's have socket covers? If it isn't a requirement in the eyfs and I can show that I have balanced out the risks of not having them then I think ofsted should have to prove a case for using them before they can justify marking anyone down for not using them.

[allinatiz]

Thank you for reminding me about this. I stopped using socket covers when I read about this a while ago but never got round to changing my policy. Now it's all done and dusted

[Smiley]

I had my inspection 6 weeks ago and haven't used socket covers for several years. The inspector didn't mention anything about them although I have an I formation sheet from the fatally flawed website in a file. I also gave all the parents one a long time ago

[rickysmiths]

I was the same in Sept. I have risk assessed and have info with this and the inspector didn't even mention or question that I have no socket covers anymore.