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 Any socket inserts currently in use should be withdrawn from use and responsibly disposed of."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]

Here is my reply to them.


Your quote “I hope this makes our position very clear on the matter.” is not very clear when you contradict yourself. I see that you have not read my email I sent today.

Didn’t you state in an earlier email “The statutory framework that underpins our regulatory duty is owned by the Department for Education (DfE).”

Now that the DfE have change their policy on the 6th October 2016 you are no longer standing by your original statement. You are not willing to update yours to be in line with the DfE. Things do get confusing when people don’t keep their word.

Have you read the Foundation Years web site recently with regards to the above? A note from the Department for Education on the use of electrical plug socket covers/inserts in early years provision in England | From pregnancy to children aged 5 - http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2016/10/dfe-note-on-the-use-of-electrical-plug-socket-coversinserts-in-early-years-provision-in-england/

It looks like OFSTED are the ones that are still indifferent to the possible dangers of these and are still unwilling to update their policy. Why?

 

[FatallyFlawed]

Here is my reply to them.

It looks like OFSTED are the ones that are still indifferent to the possible dangers of these and are still unwilling to update their policy. Why?

Spoon,
I have to congratulate you on getting replies from Ofsted. I used to, but this year I have completely failed! Here is the message that I have sent FOUR TIMES in the past few months! It was sent originally on 7/7/16, again on 25/7/16, the third time (below) on 19/9/16, each time to the last actual person with whom I had had contact at Ofsted:

"Dear Mr (previous correspondent),

This is the THIRD time I have sent this message, and I have still had no response!

Please can you provide an answer?

Please see this new alert from the NHS requiring all NHS Trusts to withdraw socket covers from use:

CAS-ViewAlert - https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/ViewAndAcknowledgment/viewAlert.aspx?AlertID=102494

This follows on from recent warnings by Barnardos.

I hope that you will agree that the NHS action represents a rather more responsible attitude to the subject than that of Ofsted who still, as far as I know, sit on the fence.

BS 1363 plugs and sockets, which are the type used in all British homes, businesses and care facilities, are rigorously controlled, both by the BS 1363 standard itself, and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 which impose penalties of up to 6 months imprisonment for noncompliance. By comparison, there are NO standards for plug-in socket covers, and they are subject to no regulation! Many people do not realise that BS 1363 plugs are subject to precise dimensional control. BS 1363 sockets are designed to accept only plugs meeting the BS 1363 dimensions. There are NO socket covers on the market which conform to those dimensions!

• The whole idea of using socket covers in British BS 1363 sockets is based on a myth, not fact.
• There is no official Government advice which suggests the use of socket covers.
• None of the leading safety charities recommends the use of socket covers.

Can we now expect that Ofsted will at last come off the fence and adopt the NHS approach that plug-in socket covers should never be used?"

And, once again, on 4/10/16, this time to the address from which the acknowledgements were sent, prefaced by this message
"From: David Peacock
Sent: 04 October 2016 15:30
To: 'EY-Childcare'
Subject: Child safety issue - socket covers RE: Thank you for your email.

This was the THIRD TIME I received an acknowledgement to my repeated question - but each time there has been no follow up! Is your process completely broken?

I have restated the question below.

Co-founder, FatallyFlawed"

Each time I have received an immediate acknowledgement, the most recent shown below, but never an actual reply!

From: EY-Childcare [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 04 October 2016 15:30
To: David Peacock
Subject: Thank you for your email.

Thank you for your email.

We aim to provide a substantive reply to all queries within 10 working days. However more complex queries, or those requiring liaison with a third party, may mean that this is not always possible. In these circumstances, we will send a holding reply, updating you on our progress and where practical, provide you with a revised timescale.

It will help us to help you, if you can indicate the timescale that you are working to, especially if you require an urgent response.

Ofsted
Early Education Team

Our purpose is to ensure that children attending early years and childcare provision have the best possible support in their development, are safe and are well cared for."

I find it very difficult to take that statement of purpose with any seriousness!

Meanwhile, there is a parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education which you can access (the answer, when there is one, will also appear there).

 

[FatallyFlawed]

Spoon,

Meanwhile, there is a parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education which you can access (the answer, when there is one, will also appear there).

The question has been answered by Edward Timpson MP, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, who wrote:
"The Department for Education has never required the use of socket covers in schools. All socket outlets in teaching areas of schools are designed to BS1363 and have built in safety shutters.

The Department of Health guidance followed recent advice from electrical engineers that in some circumstances socket covers can compromise the safe operation of socket outlets and advises against their use."

 

[Spoon]

I have no problem with the DfE. They have taken advice and updated their policy of these socket covers.
I don't understand why Ofsted are so reluctant to do the same. Even when they know they could be potentially dangerous.

 

[FatallyFlawed]

Here is the latest (this evening) from Department for Education:

All schools and early years settings in England have a duty to keep children safe. As part of that duty we expect them to keep their health and safety policies under review and up-to-date.

Working with ‘Action for Children’ we have brought the Department of Health’s recent alert on the dangers associated with the use of electrical socket covers to the attention of early years providers in England. ‘Action for Children’ has published a notice, via the Foundation Years website, about the use of electrical socket covers in early years provision in England. This 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. ‘Action for Children’ has also published the information in a newsletter to early years providers.

We are currently reviewing our health and safety advice for schools, and will consider whether to include a similar reference in a future addition of this advice as part of this work.

See: Schools: Electrical Safety:Written question - 49797 - http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-10-21/49797/

 

[derek]

Well done Spoon!

 

[Spoon]

Update from HSE:

HSE have had correspondence with the founders of Fatally Flawed on the use of socket covers over many years. HSE hold a neutral position on these items as there are no health and safety regulations that either require or ban the use of socket covers. Modern domestic and general use socket outlets to BS1363 have safety shutters within them to prevent access to live parts (inside the lower two openings of a socket outlet). The risk of anyone accessing live parts of such a socket outlet is considered to be low due to this feature. The decision on whether or not to use socket covers is a matter for the dutyholder after considering the risks.


HSE does not have the legal powers to prevent these products being placed on the market however, such powers are available to local authority Trading Standards departments and are monitored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).


In response to your specific questions:


1 & 2. Your 2nd question presumes the devices are dangerous. We do not intend to reopen debates that have been had many years ago – see above.
3. HSE’s position has been made known many times to various organisations and has not changed from that given above.
4. as advised above it is for trading standards, not HSE , to consider your suggested recommendation.

 

[Spoon]

Below is a reply from Ofsted regarding my questions on post #76.

We do not believe the Department for Education (DfE) has changed its policy, since it makes it clear that using socket covers is not illegal, and it has not changed the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) to require providers not to use them. In its statement, you refer to, the DfE does refer to the fact that providers will need to take the Department of Health’s advice into account in conducting the risk assessments that are already required under the EYFS, and we support that approach.


Furthermore, we will ensure our inspectors are alert to the DfE’s message on this point.


I hope this helps clarify our position.

 

[Spoon]

I had this email from RoSPA yesterday.


It’s gratifying that you set so much store by the advice RoSPA gives on our website. If you’d like to provide me with the following I’ll certainly take it into account when future amendments are made:

• Links to any reputable websites that have updated their information (obviously I am aware of the DH although this is principally an internal technical document, and of Fatally Flawed)
  
• Any recent case studies of anyone injured as a result of the use of socket covers
  
• Any comparative analysis of numbers of people injured as a result of a socket cover being present compared to numbers of people injured by use of electric sockets when socket covers weren’t present
  
• Any new evidence of increased hazards beyond the information which has been on the Fatally Flawed website for many years
  

I assume you will have previously presented such evidence to the Department of Health in order to secure their support. Unfortunately before an organisation like RoSPA can take action on a safety matter we do need to be sure that we can present clear evidence not just of the theoretical hazard but also the risk and the scale of the problem.

Congratulations The Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The organisation that is actually waiting for someone to get injured before doing anything......

 

[Spoon]

It seems my winning personality has not won this time. RoSPA have rejected me and no longer wish to talk to me.
This is what I received.

Always happy to have dialogue but have shared our current view and our commitment to review so really have nothing to add at this stage.

I have pointed out that in the 4 months I have been in contact with them there has been no visible change to their policy.
If anyone would like to follow up or just ask RoSPA's opinion on the Department of Health alert then you can contact the below gentleman. Good luck, I hope he helps you out more.

Ashley Martin
Public Health Project Manager.
His email address is:
[email protected]

I am now going to sulk in a corner... I don't like rejection....

 

[FatallyFlawed]

It seems my winning personality has not won this time. RoSPA have rejected me and no longer wish to talk to me.
This is what I received.

Always happy to have dialogue but have shared our current view and our commitment to review so really have nothing to add at this stage.

I have pointed out that in the 4 months I have been in contact with them there has been no visible change to their policy.
If anyone would like to follow up or just ask RoSPA's opinion on the Department of Health alert then you can contact the below gentleman. Good luck, I hope he helps you out more.

Ashley Martin
Public Health Project Manager.
His email address is:
[email protected]

I am now going to sulk in a corner... I don't like rejection....

They are blinkered, have their head in the sand, but are consistent (which, in this case, is not something to be proud of!)

Quote on this subject from 2008, RoSPA Deputy Chief Executive writing to me: “RoSPA's position won't change unless evidence suggests that socket covers have suddenly started to seriously harm hundreds of children every year.”
FatallyFlawed believes that one child harmed is too many, or one family dying in a house fire caused by a socket fire is too many!

 

[Barry White]

Spoon you tried hard and seemed to get further unfortunatly you got the same old answer. Well done for trying

 

[Spoon]

It has not finished yet my friends.

I have told RoSPA that I will keep an eye on their policy and send them a reminder, on a periodic basis, if there is no visible change.

I'm sure Mr Martin will soon be pining for one of my emails, if I don't send him one. We are like brothers.....

 

[FatallyFlawed]

TODAY, ITV's "Good Morning Britain" transmitted a piece about poorly performing nurseries. Amongst their complaints was "exposed sockets", referring to sockets which (correctly) had no socket covers! See GMB Investigates: Are nurseries safe? - at 2 minutes 40 seconds.

 

[Spoon]

TODAY, ITV's "Good Morning Britain" transmitted a piece about poorly performing nurseries. Amongst their complaints was "exposed sockets", referring to sockets which (correctly) had no socket covers! See GMB Investigates: Are nurseries safe? - at 2 minutes 40 seconds.

Unbelievable.... They should have got their fact right.
Looks like I will have to see tomorrow if I can contact GMB and notify them of the DoH alert.