Plug Socket Covers - Should They be Used in Schools?
Does this safety measure make the plug socket more dangerous?
Estates and Facilities alert
In June 2016, the Department of Health issued an Estates and Facilities Alert which stated: In certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories), can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets.
The Guidance went on to say that 13A electrical socket inserts should not be used in health or social care premises, nor supplied for use in a home or residence and any socket inserts currently in use should be withdrawn and responsibly disposed of.
Fatally Flawed
The FatallyFlawed campaign and website was founded by two professional engineers: Peter M Munro CEng MIET and David Peacock IEng FIET who said: We are from different parts of the country and came together in an attempt to raise awareness after we had each encountered the use of “safety socket covers” in our respective churches. As engineers we were horrified to realise that ignorance of actual electrical safety was leading to parents and carers making flawed decisions in what they thought was the best interests of children in their care.
The website analyses in depth how a plug and socket operates and how a socket cover, when misused can be very dangerous and expose the live elements of the socket. The site also points out that no socket covers have been approved for use in UK BS 1363 sockets. As there are no mandatory guidelines on how these covers must be made, the pins on socket covers are never quite the same size as a plug, so they cannot properly fit into sockets. Although very small children may find it difficult to remove covers, they are often so loose that it can be done easily, and a cover which is tight in one socket may be very loose in another. They claim that babies of just 5 months have been known to remove socket covers!
Ofsted's position
In a document from September 2011, Ofsted stated:
Some inspectors are continuing to make judgements about risks to children when inspecting childcare settings where the provider has decided not to use electrical socket covers on exposed sockets.
Our position on the use of electrical socket covers has not changed. We neither encourage nor discourage the responsible use of socket covers as part of a risk-assessed approach to electrical safety. In line with the relevant requirements for registration, it is up to each individual registered provider to demonstrate to us that the environment is safe for children and meets legal requirements. It is for the provider to decide, as part of the risk assessment they carry out at their premises, how best to protect children from any dangers associated with electric sockets and appliances.
Inspectors should not set actions or make recommendations in relation to the use of socket covers and should not refer specifically to these in their reports. If a provider is unsure whether or not to use socket covers and asks our advice, we should refer them to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and Child Accident Protection Trust websites for information to help them make a decision about the use of socket covers and the type of sockets considered as ‘safe.’
Technical specifications
It is a requirement of the IET Wiring Regulations - BS7671:2008 (2015), that socket outlets have shutters and preferably be of a type complying with BS1363. Electrical sockets that are manufactured to BS1363 (13A wall socket-outlets, multi way adaptors and flexible extensions) must have an interlocking shutter mechanism to stop the insertion of foreign material into the socket tubes. The BS1363 standard also sets a distance which a plug pin has to be inserted before coming in contact with live parts.
Socket covers are not constructed to any electrical or other safety standard. The pins on the socket covers may be larger than the socket tubes which can cause damage to the socket and defeat the safety design of BS 1363. In certain circumstances the insertion of socket covers, or their breakage whilst in use, can allow foreign objects to be inserted directly onto live parts within the socket, thus presenting a high risk of electric shock
RoSPA
RoSPA recommends that all electrical equipment is stored safely away when not in use and children are supervised and warned to keep away from plug socket outlets until they are capable of understanding the risks and are able to use them safely.
13-amp power sockets made to BS 1363 incorporate a shutter mechanism, which prevents inappropriate access to the live connectors. RoSPA therefore does not consider it necessary to recommend the use of socket covers.