NHS issues safety alert on socket covers requiring removal from NHS premises!

[FatallyFlawed]

The NHS has just published a safety alert about socket covers which requires them to be removed from all NHS premises!

It says: "This Alert is issued to highlight how, in certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A (13 amp) electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories) can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets.13A electrical socket inserts should not be used in health or social care premises, nor supplied for use in a home or residence. Any socket inserts currently in use should be withdrawn from use and responsibly disposed of."

There is a full explanation here.

 

[Spoon]

An update from HSE (Health and Safety Executive)


With reference to your query re the Safety Alert issued regarding socket covers.

There are no Health and Safety regulations that either require or ban the use of socket covers and therefore HSE has a neutral position on their use.


3-pin sockets of the type referred to should be manufactured in accordance with British Standard (BS) 1363. Compliant modern domestic and general equipment will have a shutter system that prevents access to live parts when the socket is not in use. When a 3-pin plug is offered up to the socket the earth pin (which is the top pin that is slightly longer than the two below in a standard plug) will push the shutter from its usual position and allow the live and neutral pins to enter the socket. The risk of anyone accessing live parts of such a socket is considered to be low due to this feature and there should therefore be no need to use a socket protector on this type of equipment. It is however a matter for the duty holder at the premises to consider the particular circumstances to determine the most appropriate means of protection. The ‘safe construction’ and maintenance of the socket outlet is the most important factor from our perspective. The Safety Alert provides advice about the risk within the NHS environment but we would see it as useful information to reference as part of any risk assessment.


There is no British Standard for socket covers that sits as part of, or alongside the requirements for the wall socket held within BS 1363. Therefore we would not advise directly on the use or otherwise of the covers. What we would advise is a Risk Assessment (RA) is done that considers whether extra measures are required. If the RA identified that extra measures were needed to reduce risks further, then care is needed so that any extra measures should not create more risks. The guidance provided by the alert appears sensible and contains further links to The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) guidance which HSE has referred people to previously. It also has links to the Fatally Flawed site which includes links to other information, in particular a written submission to a Consumer Rights Bill Committee in 2014. I have also added links below to references about socket protectors by ROSPA and the Child Accident Prevention Trust. You may also be interested in the response from OFSTED to a parent enquiry on the topic (via mumsnet) in the final link I have included below.


http://www.rospa.com/home-safety/resources/policy-statements/electricity/


http://www.capt.org.uk/safety-advice/keeping-children-safe-electric-shocks


http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childminders_nannies_au_pairs_etc/946800-Ofsted-policy-on-Socket-Covers


With regards to the "There are no Health and Safety regulations that either require or ban the use of socket covers...." I am going to give them some electrical standards that will apply, when I have some spare time to look through the regs. First ones are 133.1.1, 133.1.3...
Can you guys help me out with this and post some.
They have also replied by using a 'no-reply email address'.... Do you ever get the feeling that some people just love putting their heads in the sand and just ignoring everything....

 

[Richard Burns]

Possibly 553.1 in that the sockets are not shuttered in compliance with BS1363 once a cover is inserted.
However BS7671 will not cover much as this is an item plugged in not part of the fixed installation.
Health and safety legislation at work covers identified dangers for which the risk must be minimised preferably by removing the source of danger.

 

[Spoon]

Hi People, an update from DfE below.

I’m sorry about not responding to your earlier emails.


We have been considering what is the best way to advise the childcare sector about the potential dangers of using socket covers/inserts and that they can use the DH alert when considering the risk of using them.

We expect to publish something shortly. I will send you an update when it is published and where to find it.

I am still questioning them. I'm sure they are going to hire a hit squad to take me out, so that I stop pestering them.....

 

[Spoon]

See below an update from HSE (Health and Safety Executive)

Thank you for your comments following the reply that HSE’s Advice Team sent you in response to your earlier query.


It is not the case that HSE has not made a comment, the original HSE reply included the statement that “there should therefore be no need to use a socket protector on this type of equipment”. We would certainly anticipate in most cases that socket covers would not be required. However a principle of the Health and Safety at Work Act is that it is non-prescriptive and gives flexibility to duty holders to decide what measures need to be put in place to control health and safety risks. This is based on a risk assessment which will be specific to a particular duty holder/premises etc.


Childcare providers will need to carry out risk assessments. HSE is not a training provider. We provide advice and guidance on risk management and completing risk assessments on our website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm .


Again, I am still questioning them but you can only contact them by filling in a form, the response can take up to 30 days via a "noreplyadvice" email. It's virtually impossible to have a discussion with them.

 

[Spoon]

I think HSE don't like me. Just got this.

HSE are unable to add anything further to your enquiry and a specialist inspector has provided a response to your questions in regard to safety sockets.

The NHS Safety Alert provides advice about the risk within the NHS environment but this has come from the NHS and is in regard to their particular environment.


HSE have not produced any safety alerts on this matter.


If you have any further questions on the NHS Safety Alert I would suggest you contact taking into account the information is for risks within the NHS environment.

I appreciate that this is not the response you were hoping for from the Health and Safety Executive, however we are unable to assist you further in this matter.


Please note it is our policy to responded to enquires via the no-reply account. All follow up and new questions can therefore be audited and monitored via our internal systems when put onto the Advice form. All requests (either new or follow up questions) for advice should come into HSE via this route.

I am still questioning them.

If anyone else would like to question them about this then their link to the form if below:

HSE - Advice Web community - Advice form - http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/connect.ti/advice/answerQuestionnaire?qid=593891

 

[sunray]

It would appear that many sparks here do not like the MK brand. For the reasons given, this is my selling point for using MK socket outlets, in my opinion they are second to none for safety in this regard. Worth the extra pennies.

I have two issues with the MK sockets of this design;
1) They are harder to insert than many other styles and people tend to locate the plug then give it a bash. this results in damaged sockets, especially the 'very safe mechanism' which often jambs open. Oh perhaps that's why we need the safety plugs after all.
2) I have replaced more MK sockets than any other brand where they have overheated and burnt or welded to a plug. I had some discussion on 'the other site' on this topic and one year i kept all of the faulty items with the intention of photographing and posting. Sadly I never got around to it and dumped them but the final count must have been around 50-70 and about 70% MK 30% other makes.

When I replaced my kitchen about 10 years ago I decided to go for MK with neons, I have 7 DSSO's so purchased 2 boxes of 5. As they failed I replaced and currently have 3 still working so 7 have failed in 10 years. In the 22 years I've been here I have not replaced any elsewhere in the house due to failure, other than physically broken.

 

[stevethesparks]

That's interesting, and something I will keep an eye on, but to date have only have one issue with a single outlet where the switch failed from new. I wonder if the design/construction has altered in those 10 years?

 

[Spoon]

Hi People, an update from DfE (Department for Education) below.


Thank you for your email.


The Department for Education regularly shares key messages and announcements with the early years sector via the Foundation Years website, which provides the latest information, support and advice to early years and childcare providers and parents/carers. I can confirm that the department has issued a notice on the Foundation Years website about the use of electrical plug socket covers/inserts in early years provision in England, which includes a link to the DH alert. The notice, which was issued on 6 October, is available at: www.foundationyears.org.uk/2016/10/dfe-note-on-the-use-of-electrical-plug-socket-coversinserts-in-early-years-provision-in-england. The same information has also been sent out in a newsletter to early years providers.


Well done DfE. Many thanks to the person who I have been bugging with emails.

It would be great if the HSE cared half as much as the DfE does about the people they looks after.

 

[stevethesparks]

Well done Dfe and well done Spoon also.

 

[FatallyFlawed]

I think HSE don't like me. Just got this.

HSE are unable to add anything further to your enquiry and a specialist inspector has provided a response to your questions in regard to safety sockets.

The NHS Safety Alert provides advice about the risk within the NHS environment but this has come from the NHS and is in regard to their particular environment.

HSE have not produced any safety alerts on this matter.

If you have any further questions on the NHS Safety Alert I would suggest you contact taking into account the information is for risks within the NHS environment.

I appreciate that this is not the response you were hoping for from the Health and Safety Executive, however we are unable to assist you further in this matter.

Please note it is our policy to responded to enquires via the no-reply account. All follow up and new questions can therefore be audited and monitored via our internal systems when put onto the Advice form. All requests (either new or follow up questions) for advice should come into HSE via this route.

I am still questioning them.

If anyone else would like to question them about this then their link to the form if below:

HSE - Advice Web community - Advice form - http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/connect.ti/advice/answerQuestionnaire?qid=593891

Spoon, well done! Compare your message with the denial I was getting from HSE some years ago:

"For the record I repeat below information which has been given to a number of parties interested in this topic earlier this summer. HSE were asked the question 'Does the use of a socket cover in a socket designed to BS1361 introduce danger?' Our response was that in our opinion the answer to that is that if the socket cover is correctly used then it will not introduce danger. It should be remembered that a socket outlet designed to BS1361 has been designed so as to be safe - hence the shutters - when correctly used and maintained. Similarly, if a socket cover is correctly used and maintained it will not introduce danger. Incorrect use and/or a lack of maintenance to ensure the continuing integrity of the socket outlet and/or the socket cover are liable to lead to dangerous conditions existing.

I see no reason to change that response, HSE's position on these items has been extensively explained and that unless there is any new information you can advise me off then the correspondence is closed."

HSE has always refused to explain to me how something which is the wrong size (as they ALL are) to fit into a BS 1363 socket can be "correctly used and maintained"!

I am sure that you all know the results of forcing oversize pins into sockets, and the dangers of using socket covers which actually result in partially uncovered socket apertures (like the cover in my avatar), but what about the damage caused to shutters? The leading socket cover brand, Clippasafe (sold by Amazon, Boots and John Lewis amongst others) has an “earth pin” which is severely tapered on top, therefore it will not operate shutters which rely on the earth pin lifting the shutter (eg older Crabtree sockets) or the lifting latch mechanism in the Hager three pin operated shutters (which is an extra-safe design). Attempting to force a Clippasafe cover (and some others) into this type of socket will permanently damage the shutter mechanism. Some of the following Amazon reviews of the Clippasafe cover refer to having to bang them in or use a hammer! You might just as well drive a nail through the socket shutters as do that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/custome...=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000F5Z2JE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/custome...=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000F5Z2JE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/custome...=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000F5Z2JE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/custome...=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000F5Z2JE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/custome...=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000F5Z2JE

However, progress is being made, and the efforts of all the electricians who have got behind this campaign continue to make a real difference, Thank you from FatallyFlawed!

 

[mrloy99]

can also be used to stop anyone unplugging an appliance e.g. a computer.

or switching it off when /if it goes on fire

 

[netblindpaul]

Update from DfE to my email below.

Many thanks for the reply.
I must say that I am shocked by the Dfe and HSE indifference to the dangers of these 'safety socket covers'. Yes the socket outlets are designed to BS 1363, the ''safety socket covers' have no safety standard, yet you leave it up to individual childcare providers to do a risk assessment on these.
Do you train the childcare providers on the BS standards and what is safe? If not then how are they to know?
Does the Dfe and HSE have no concerns that bypassing the safety of a socket outlet with something that has no British safety standard may lead to someone being injured? Hence the NHS putting out a safety alert.


Thank you for your email
I would like to provide reassurance that the DfE is not indifferent to the safety of children in childcare settings and we require providers to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children and they must comply with health and safety legislation but the DfE's role does not extend to setting safety standards for electrical equipment in the same way that its not our role to set fire safety regulations for example. As a Department we rely on the Health and Safety Executive to provide advice on health and safety issues. Like any responsible organisation caring for children and as employers we expect early years providers to seek any training or guidance they need. As HSE have pointed out that there are no regulations in relation to 'safety socket covers', in seeking guidance early years providers can of course take the NHS alert into account when assessing risks to children. ‎We have noted that the National day Nurseries Association has included the NHS alert on their website, for childcare providers to refer to.

The National day Nurseries Association (NDNA) did include the NHS alert, 27th July 2016.
Knowledge Hub | UK Childcare updates | NDNA - http://www.ndna.org.uk/NDNA/Need_to_know/You_need_to_know.aspx

I will now contact the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and see their views on the NHS alert and should they do more to inform people of this, like inform OFSTED.

Spoon,
Sorry, now I realise that the link is not yours, but, I can't trace the ndna announcement, any pointers please?

Thanks

 

[Richard Burns]

Spoon,
Sorry, now I realise that the link is not yours, but, I can't trace the ndna announcement, any pointers please?

Thanks

NHS - Requirement to remove socket inserts - http://www.ndna.org.uk/NDNA/Need_to_know/NHS_remove_socket_inserts.aspx?WebsiteKey=5e278c52-0dec-4482-ad81-d06b25949f8b

 

[netblindpaul]

NHS - Requirement to remove socket inserts - http://www.ndna.org.uk/NDNA/Need_to_know/NHS_remove_socket_inserts.aspx?WebsiteKey=5e278c52-0dec-4482-ad81-d06b25949f8b

Thank you Richard, I have the main text , it was just the cross reference from the ndna site I could not get to as the original link did not work.

 

[Spoon]

An update from OFSTED I just got:


As per my response to your query of 07 July 2016, on 15 July 2016, our position on the matter remains the same. The ‘Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage’ (EYFS) and the Childcare Register regulations set out the requirements that providers must meet to ensure the welfare and safety of children. There is nothing in these requirements that prohibits the use of electrical socket covers. Ofsted does not have the power to impose anything that is not a legal requirement for childcare providers.


‘We neither recommend nor criticise the use of socket covers by childcare providers. It is the responsibility of the provider to ensure that premises, environment and equipment are safe and suitable for their purpose. We do not prescribe the way in which safety measures are to be put in place. There are no specific requirements in legislation or the early years statutory framework that socket covers must be placed in electrical sockets.


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 dangers associated with electric sockets and appliances. Providers may wish to consult 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’.


I hope this makes our position very clear on the matter.


I told them that DfE have changed their policy, now OFSTED don't mention them in their email.. These people are unbelievable.... Talk about sticking your head in the sand....