Blocking off an unused 13 amp double socket

[Ragnar_AT]

I do know a kid that at the tender age of four somehow managed to wedge a pair of scissors into a 13 A socket deep enough to get a shock. No idea how but it happened.

 

[securespark]

I've been to health centres, GPs surgeries, dentists etc, etc, even hospitals, where they have all been fitted.

I have made a point of talking to someone senior in admin in some of those places and explaining, especially with the Multy Kontact sockets where it's not just the earth pin that activates the safety shutters, but you are banging your head a little bit...

I even once took a socket and "safety" cover in to one place and showed them how it could make the safe socket infinitely more dangerous, but I could see their expressions glassing over.

 

[BS3036]

A few years ago the NHS published a document addressed to all people who were a part of the NHS ordering them to remove any such plastic pieces. I delivered a copy of the document to our local surgery as they appeared not to be aware of it. The next time I attended, the offending items were still there. It's hard to know what more to do.

 

[fixitflav]

Uk sockets are child safe , the blanking plates make them less safe .

Yes, the L & N sockets are shielded until the earth pin goes in. A child could turn the blanking plate round and push the earth pin in, exposing live parts.

 

[ebee]

You might want to consider these as an alternative. £1 for a pack of 5 from The Range... Other suppliers are available

View attachment 402925

Features​

• Prevent children from playing with plugs
• Includes five covers
• Great for any home

Information​

A good way to prevent young children from playing with plug sockets, this Pack of Five Safety Socket Covers protect from fingers getting caught and causing injury. With five included in the packet, these covers are perfect for covering up prominent sockets around your home



They would be an easier way to bring the socket back into use too.

No no no and no : banned by Scottish gov and Scottish NHS some years ago. Eventually banned by England and Wales NHS and eventually not recommended by Ofsted.

Read fatally flawed dot co dot uk.
They should never ever ever be used

 

[fixitflav]

No no no and no : banned by Scottish gov and Scottish NHS some years ago. Eventually banned by England and Wales NHS and eventually not recommended by Ofsted.

Read fatally flawed dot co dot uk.
They should never ever ever be used

Apart from the risk of shock, they might pull it out and swallow it!
Merry Christmas

 

[robinbanks]

I do know a kid that at the tender age of four somehow managed to wedge a pair of scissors into a 13 A socket deep enough to get a shock. No idea how but it happened.

I can see how it would be possible using the right jiggling motion and both prongs to lever/walk the gate down using L and N, or even just one pronging the scissors rammed in E and the other in L

Whether a 4 year old should have scissors this large is a separate thought exercise ..

 

[ericmark]

You might want to consider these as an alternative. £1 for a pack of 5 from The Range... Other suppliers are available

Really surprised from you, you're normally quite clued-up. This is now quite old

BEAMA (British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association) has published a statement saying: “BEAMA strongly advises against the use of socket-outlet ‘protective’ covers.”

	Children cannot poke things into British sockets - they have built in automatic shutters for protection.​

But basic rules, if not marked BS 1363 then it should not be put into a BS 1363 socket.I have fitted a faceplate with a simple block connector behind it when I wanted to remove sockets, actually the wires behind it are only 12 volts DC it was for the central heating programmer now replace with Nest Gen 3 but that's another story, the plate shows where wiring may run.

 

[boringoldcodger]

Read fatally flawed dot co dot uk

I believe that should say: fatallyflawed dot org dot uk

On my MK sockets (all at least 20 years old) the shutters aren't pushed down by the earth pin but they rotate (one goes up, the other goes down) when the Line and Neutral pins are pushed in. Does anyone know if MK still make them like that?