Discuss NHS issues safety alert on socket covers requiring removal from NHS premises! in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
Do Ofsted not see the dangers of bypassing the safety of the socket with something that has no safety standards?
The NHS has stated that “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 Any socket inserts currently in use should be withdrawn from use and responsibly disposed of.” Do you not think the same should be done at schools and nurseries?
Below is their reply.
Thank you for emailing back following my response to your previous email of 04 July 2016.
I have nothing further to add to my previous response to you.The statutory framework that underpins our regulatory duty is owned by the Department for Education (DfE). You may contact them if you wish to question why the law does not forbid the use of electrical safety socket covers in childcare settings.
That pretty much sums it up......
I have two issues with the MK sockets of this design;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 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
or switching it off when /if it goes on firecan also be used to stop anyone unplugging an appliance e.g. a computer.
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.
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-d06b25949f8bSpoon,
Sorry, now I realise that the link is not yours, but, I can't trace the ndna announcement, any pointers please?
Thanks
Spoon,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?
The question has been answered by Edward Timpson MP, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, who wrote: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).
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....
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.
You need: [email protected] The more people who tell them the better!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.
You need: [email protected] The more people who tell them the better!
done exactly same. emailed gmb and sent a link to fatallyflawedI have been having a nice conversation with a guy from GMB asking about these covers.
I have answered his questions and gave him the contact details & web site for FatallyFlawed. There are a lot more qualified people here that can explain the possible dangers of these sockets than me.
Hopefully he will get in touch.
I have been having a nice conversation with a guy from GMB asking about these covers.
I have answered his questions and gave him the contact details & web site for FatallyFlawed. There are a lot more qualified people here that can explain the possible dangers of these sockets than me.
Hopefully he will get in touch.
Reply to NHS issues safety alert on socket covers requiring removal from NHS premises! in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
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