Socket protectors - helpful safety device, or devil in disguise?

  • Risk Assessment
Peninsula Logo

Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts

(Last updated )

Read our article: 'Socket protectors - helpful safety device, or devil in disguise?'. Contact us today for more information about our Employment Law, Health & Safety, and HR services.

During the summer this year, National Health Services across the UK issued an alert to all operating departments, warning them about the misuse of 13A socket inserts or covers. But why the worry? Let’s take a look... The alert instructed every facility manager that socket inserts should not be used in health or social care premises, nor supplied for use in a home or residence. It also required them to withdraw and dispose of any socket inserts that were currently in use. Safety standards 13 amp sockets are all made to a British Standard, which among other criteria requires that they’re constructed to be safe for use by adults and children, in both domestic and commercial premises. However, socket covers and protectors, although sold as safety accessories, can defeat the inbuilt safety devices and internal workings, and actually make the sockets more dangerous than they would be if left uncovered. Since 1947 the British Standard has required that socket outlets have an interlocking shutter mechanism to stop the insertion of small fingers and foreign material into the socket tubes. BS 1363 also sets a specific distance that a plug pin has to be inserted before coming into contact with live parts. Sockets that meet the standard and are properly installed and maintained are, in normal use, people-proof –both to adults and children. The same applies to multi-way adaptors and flexible extensions. It may surprise you to know that 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 – and this can cause damage to the socket, while also defeating the safety design of BS 1363. Some covers can be put into the socket upside down, opening the safety shutters and exposing live parts – and others are so badly designed that they allow objects to be inserted straight into the live connection! This is what they claim to prevent, yet shockingly, the opposite is true! Covers, caution and cash Now you have all the facts, you can see why you shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security by providing or using socket covers. Your electrical sockets are perfectly safe as they are, and are actually made unsafe by the use of socket covers. Carry out a quick check to ensure that the socket outlets are not damaged in any way, and save your cash instead. If you want to know more about this subject don’t hesitate to give our 24 Hour Advice Service a call on 0844 892 2785, or email us at H&SAdvice@peninsula-uk.com where our trained, expert advisers will be ready to help.

FAQs

Got a question? Check whether we’ve already answered it for you…

Related articles

  • H&S research around the world

    Blog

    80% of working population don’t have access to OSH services

    It’s estimated that four out of five workers across the world don’t have access to basic occupational safety and health (OSH) services

    Peninsula TeamPeninsula Team
    • Health & Safety
  • Farmer fined after hikers attacked by cows on public right of way

    Blog

    Farmer fined after hikers attacked by cows

    Two friends walking on a public right of way in North Yorkshire were forced to climb a tree to escape more than a dozen cows

    Peninsula TeamPeninsula Team
    • Health & Safety
  • £400,000 fine for care home death of vulnerable resident

    Blog

    HSE fines care home £400k for death of vulnerable resident

    Serious safety breaches leading to the death of a vulnerable resident have seen a care home operator in Scotland fined £400,000

    Peninsula TeamPeninsula Team
    • Health & Safety
Back to resource hub

Try Brainbox for free today

When AI meets 40 years of Peninsula expertise... you get instant, expert answers to your HR and Health & Safety questions

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the latest news & tips that matter most to your business in our monthly newsletter.