A reminder to everyone - FatallyFlawed - Child Plug Socket Covers Campaign

[DPG]

The sockets are shuttered already though. They don't add any benefit. Daz

 

[Spoon]

They are not needed shanky, simple as that. Its a bit like teaching women to wash up, no need, its already in their genes...

 

[shanky887614]

They are not needed shanky, simple as that. Its a bit like teaching women to wash up, no need, its already in their genes...

true, i dont think half as many people would moan if they were not dangerous though.

 

[FatallyFlawed]

would any of you complain if they changed them so the earth pin wasnt long enough to open the shutter? at the moment most just circumvent the built in protection aka the built in shutters.

The only things which are safe to plug into sockets are those which have the exact dimensions of a real plug, as specified in BS 1363. There are NO socket covers which do!

Shanky, if the earth pin is too short to open the shutters, then you could not put the damn thing in anyway, except that there are people out there who so stupid they would use a hammer! There are Amazon reviews of the Clippasafe cover, which has an odd pointed "earth pin", which say that it is OK providing you "push strongly" and that you have to "hammer them in".

I think that you are also forgetting that opening by the earth pin alone is just one method in use, for many years MK sockets were opened by the line and neutral pins only, and modern MK Logic Plus sockets require all three pins to be inserted simultaneously. Both Legrand and Hager make sockets which also require all three (correctly sized and shaped) pins to open the shutters (all three manufacturers using different a patented designs). All these are fully consistent with the standard.

A shutter being opened by an inverted cover is just one of the things which make the dangerous, it is important to remember that socket covers also damage socket contacts, and, if "hammered in", smash the shutters.

 

[FatallyFlawed]

For those who would like to distribute information to customer's etc, there are some new leaflets/posters published by Barnardo's, the UK’s leading children’s charity. You can find these, along with our own FatallyFlawed fact sheets, on our Fact Sheets page.

 

[UKMeterman]

If anyone asks why they are no good, this video might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUqaU5OlJ4E

 

[mogga]

It is realy scary how people react when you ask them about this I do every time I see them " why do you have that there?" get the normal responces WHY are they still on sale ffs

 

[Dranok]

Re: Fatally Flawed

...
Here is the Clippasafe product at Amazon:
Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: Clippasafe UK Socket Covers (4-Pack)

I returned to this after many years and found them still on Amazon and this thread worryingly quiet. Time to revive it! Come one guys, start banging the drum again! I just posted a review there and will look for some similar products to review and start spreading the warnings again.

 

[littlespark]

I returned to this after many years and found them still on Amazon and this thread worryingly quiet. Time to revive it! Come one guys, start banging the drum again! I just posted a review there and will look for some similar products to review and start spreading the warnings again.

Thanks for bringing this issue back to the forefront.

I still notice them subconsciously wherever I go, but admitting i don't say anything to the management of these places.

You would think after the 11 years this thread has been active, thee would have been movements from the powers that be to ban the sale of them??

 

[pirate]

I noticed these items installed in many sockets in my local health club. I spoke to a member of the reception team who promised to tell the management.
Subsequently I saw the covers had been removed. I'm wondering if that was just local action or if the other clubs in the chain have removed them too.

 

[UNG]

I always make a note ( in red ) on an EICR if they are being used and put a link to the fatalyflawed website in the note in the hope it will discourage there use

Groups like Electrical Safety First and BSI should be doing more to stop their use and more importantly manufacture IMO

 

[brianmoooore]

Always advise customers (and friends and relations) to remove and dispose of these things, explaining why, every time I come across them

 

[UKMeterman]

You might like to give them

 

[Spoon]

I still tell people not to use them whenever I see them.
Got my kids school, after school club & dentist to remove them. I printed off the FatallyFlawed sheet and gave it to them along with other info.
I haven't seen any in a bit, but them I work in an office and I'm ant-social.
Good to see that people are still thinking about these stupid covers.

 

[ipf]

In general, still duping the public, though.....in that some are still making money out of manufacture and sales.
I don't think FatallyFlawed are having much effect on Amazon, for instance.
Obviously, not through lack of trying.
Although, just been going through some of the 'comments from customers' on Amazon....I've yet to find one later that 2016, so here's hoping.

 

[Dranok]

Although, just been going through some of the 'comments from customers' on Amazon....I've yet to find one later that 2016, so here's hoping.

Thanks for saying that -- Gush, water surprise! My comment has been deleted within 24 hours. Or possibly they take a long time to be approved... ;-)

 

[westward10]

Thanks for saying that -- Gush, water surprise! My comment has been deleted within 24 hours. Or possibly they take a long time to be approved... ;-)

None of your posts have been deleted nor are there any awaiting approval.

 

[littlespark]

None of your posts have been deleted nor are there any awaiting approval.

I think he means on Amazon comments… or somewhere else these things are for sale.

 

[Dranok]

I think he means on Amazon comments… or somewhere else these things are for sale.

Yes, I rather hoped that was obvious, however...
And it turns out I was being pessimistic: got the standard Amazon email at lunch time, my post has been approved!

 

[Simon47]

A while back I emailed ASDA to ask why they were selling dangerous items - with a link to the fatally flawed website. Got waffle back that basically said "blah, blah, suppliers says they are safe - and in any case we are stopping this product shortly anyway". I just haven't got around to emailing them about the replacement - also non-compliant on dimentions.
Problem with dealing with large companies like this is that the buyers are not technical (in general) - for them it's a case of "customer says X, their supplier says it's rubbish and the product is safe", so why should they believe random customer over the supplier's technical people ?
I suppose I could point out that once they've been told of a danger, in any subsequent court case they'd have naff-all defence ...

The other tack I've considered, but SWMBO tends to restrain me on such matters, is to go in at a busy period, and ask loudly at the service desk to speak to the duty manager about the dangerous items they have on sale.

 

[littlespark]

I’ve mentioned these bloody things to my wife who says they are prevalent in the school she works in….
Is there an official HSE document about these or only the Fatally Flawed page?

 

[Simon47]

Check the FF web site - both NHS and Dept. for Education saying "do not use". So absolutely no excuse for any school to be using them.
In fact, you could point out that a school using them would need to have a very robust risk assessment in place to justify explicitly going against expert advice on this matter - and be able to defend that risk assessment in court when facing a a serious charge (which could include corporate manslaughter). If that doesn't get the head and governing body to have a twitchy bum then nothing will.

 

[littlespark]

during my research, I’ve been through the FF website and any links to official government departments such as DoE or NHS come back with dead links.
I’m looking for an official stance on these things rather than a campaign group against them.

I am in no way condoning the use of these. I, as an engineer, understand why they are dangerous and why they shouldn’t be used, but I would like an official government stance before contacting the school head. He may not see them as a problem without official guidance.

It’s the same as places like Amazon still selling them…. They haven’t been banned yet, so they have no reason not to sell them.

 

[UNG]

during my research, I’ve been through the FF website and any links to official government departments such as DoE or NHS come back with dead links.
I’m looking for an official stance on these things rather than a campaign group against them.

I am in no way condoning the use of these. I, as an engineer, understand why they are dangerous and why they shouldn’t be used, but I would like an official government stance before contacting the school head. He may not see them as a problem without official guidance.

It’s the same as places like Amazon still selling them…. They haven’t been banned yet, so they have no reason not to sell them.

On here there was this thread back in 2016

 

[littlespark]

On here there was this thread back in 2016

Another dead link to nhs page I’m afraid.

I’m going to contact the head of the school myself, as an expert in the field….