A job that will probably affect us all....Safety plug insert things should be removed

[jamesreedersmith]

They have finally seen sense and now recommend that all safety plug insert things are removed as the are not designed to any safety standard and actually stop the plugs safety mechanisms work as they are designed.

 

See https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAttachment.aspx?Attachment_id=102519 for more info.

 

Anyone know of a use for several million plug inserts?!

[6Foot2]

...Anyone know of a use for several million plug inserts?!

A really naff pizza protector for when the stock of the real ones runs low?

 

http://www.alforno.ro/produse/accesorii-bancul-de-lucru/diverse-accesorii/detalii-distantatoare(684)-5.jpg

 

[Andrew_C]

See https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAttachment.aspx?Attachment_id=102519

Firefox doesn't like that link!

[jamesreedersmith]

Firefox doesn't like that link!

 

Works fine in firefox on my machine?? not to worry

 

EFA-1.pdf

 

Attached for ease - full credit to original source of course.

[mikeprice]

ANyone seen anything official for schools??

[hardtailstar]

ANyone seen anything official for schools??

 

Nope not seen anything.

[Jamman960]

Our site manager saw something along these lines a while back and removed them all, we then had a health and safety/ISI inspection and they insisted we had them despite being shown evidence...

 

edit: seems as thouugh lincolnshire has had similar in place for all services since 2014 - https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/78998

Edited February 17, 2017 by Jamman960

[mikeprice]

Our site manager saw something along these lines a while back and removed them all, we then had a health and safety/ISI inspection and they insisted we had them despite being shown evidence...

 

I'm not surprised - which is why I am waiting for something from Dept. of Education before I start anything in school

[LeMarchand]

Works fine in firefox on my machine??

 

Mine too.

[Ant]

Our H&S committee made the decision to remove and ban all plug covers.

 

FatallyFlawed goes into more detail on the reasons why such covers are unsafe and shouldn't be used.

 

Edited to add: according to an updated link within the site above, apparently the Department for Education are recommending these covers are not used. Schools: Electrical Safety:Written question - 49797 - UK Parliament

Edited February 17, 2017 by Ant

[Andrew_C]

Mine too.

Mine says -

[LeMarchand]

Mine says - [ATTACH=CONFIG]41650[/ATTACH]

 

Odd. Don't think I've changed anything in FF apart from a recent upgrade to x64.

[jamesreedersmith]

Mine says - [ATTACH=CONFIG]41650[/ATTACH]

 

Looks like your root certs "may" be out of date?

[mrbios]

Never actually seen these in use in schools before, always seemed to be more of a "parents protecting young kids" at home thing, they were common growing up, I've removed all traces of them from my home now though.

 

We're also not meant to use the square multi plug adapters in schools if i remember rightly, is that correct? I can't remember where i read it now but apparently if a fire is caused by one of those, insurance wouldn't pay out if it was identified as the cause, whereas they would with gang sockets. Due to the lack of fuse in the device itself. (Trying to remember something i read years ago, so this could be slightly inaccurate, be nice if someone could confirm/deny this)

[elsiegee40]

Never actually seen these in use in schools before, always seemed to be more of a "parents protecting young kids" at home thing, they were common growing up, I've removed all traces of them from my home now though.

 

Very common in preschools and in reception classrooms. The argument being that with one of these in place the little darlings can't poke pointy object if choice into the socket

[Andrew_C]

You can't stick pointy things into UK sockets without these abominations. For more info see the campaign mentioned.

[john]

We're also not meant to use the square multi plug adapters in schools if i remember rightly, is that correct? I can't remember where i read it now but apparently if a fire is caused by one of those, insurance wouldn't pay out if it was identified as the cause, whereas they would with gang sockets. Due to the lack of fuse in the device itself. (Trying to remember something i read years ago, so this could be slightly inaccurate, be nice if someone could confirm/deny this)

 

I recall at one point a strongly recommendation from the LA that schools got rid of 4 ways etc unless it was a temporary installation and getting extra sockets put in if its permanent, which is probably sound advice as the cabling will be checked and its less likely to be damaged by the hoover, being stood on etc..

 

Any refurb I insisted a proper job was done and enough sockets were fitted as required, annoying to management but no more 4 ways, trailing cables etc...

[Andrew_C]

The phrase I remember was " deprecate the indiscriminate use of extension leads and adaptors". Which means, if, say, you are using a 4 way to power a pc, a monitor, a small printer and a hub; it isn't a trip hazard, and is a concidered decision, it is OK to use one.

 

If your cleaner is dragging one around witha heater, floor polisher, and his kettle plugged in, it isn't OK.

[sparkeh]

No plug inserts at home or school (dangerous things). We banned the use of extensions after an inspection from the fire brigade (yet we still find them...)

[6Foot2]

No plug inserts at home or school (dangerous things). We banned the use of extensions after an inspection from the fire brigade (yet we still find them...)

Despite the inevitability of it I often find electric heaters plugged into extension leads, and extension leads plugged into extension leads. No end of bringing this issue up with senior staff has made no difference. I continue removing these wherever I find them.

 

[GrumbleDook]

I once had to put out a small fire in barracks due to one of those damned three-way adapters. The RSM then had it sawn in half so we could show people how fired it would get inside.

 

Hair dryers into extension blocks, 4 kettles all running at once on an extension block, a 10 metre extension reel that was tightly wound but being used to power a condenser tumble dryer, one of those tea warmers you plug into your cigarette lighter in the car had the plug taken off and was jammed into a wall socket using another plug ... just a few things I dealt with in the army that caused fires.

 

Decent extensions cost money, need regular examination to check they are fine and any mains ring they are on checked that they are not drawing too much.

[jmak]

ANyone seen anything official for schools??

Nothing documented, but we took them out about 7 or 8 years ago after I went on a health and safety course for governors and the trainer raised it as an issue. The course was run by the LA...

[localzuk]

These things are a danger - they specifically break the design of the UK plug. If a child managed to electrocute themselves from a fully functional plug, then I'd be amazed.

 

I use 4 way extension leads for low draw stuff only - external hard disk, 8 port switch etc... Anything with a big draw, like a heater or vacuum cleaner goes direct into a wall socket. It just isn't worth the risk.

 

We have a local electrician that we use at work that will come in on relatively short notice and install extra sockets for us relatively cheaply. So, we've managed to eliminate nearly all 4 way extensions at work. The only time they really appear en-masse is in the hall for the LED Christmas lights that circle the place.