# Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/417 of 8 November 2018 laying down guidelines for the management of the European Union Rapid Information System ‘RAPEX’ established under Article 12 of Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety and its notification system (notified under document C(2018) 7334), Division 6.2: Socket protectors

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

This case deals with socket protectors. These are devices that users (parents) put into the electrical socket outlets to stop small children from accessing live parts by putting a long metal object into one of the holes in the outlet and getting a (fatal) electric shock.
The holes in this particular protector (where the pins of the plug go through) are so narrow that the pins can get stuck. This means that the user may pull the protector off the outlet when the plug is pulled out. The user may not notice this happening.
Determination of risk(s)
Injury scenario
Injury type and location
Severity of injury
Probability of injury
Overall probability
Risk
Protector is removed from the socket, which becomes unprotected.
Child is playing with thin conductible object, which can be inserted into the socket, accessing high voltage and is electrocuted.
Electrocution
4
Removal of protector
9/10
27/160 000
Serious risk
Not noticing the removal of protector
1/10
Child is playing with thin conductible object
1/10
Child is unattended when playing
1/2
> 1/10 000
Child inserts the object into the socket
3/10
Access to voltage
1/2
Electrocution due to voltage (without circuit interrupter)
1/4
Protector is removed from the socket, which becomes unprotected.
Child is playing with thin conductible object, which can be inserted into the socket, accessing high voltage and sustains shock.
Burns 2nd degree
1
Removal of protector
9/10
81/160 000
Low risk
Not noticing the removal of protector
1/10
Child is playing with thin conductible object
1/10
Child inserts the object into the socket
3/10
Access to voltage
1/2
> 1/10 000
Child is unattended when playing
1/2
Burn due to electric current (without circuit interrupter)
3/4
Socket unprotected.
Child is playing with thin conductible object, which can be inserted into the socket, accessing high voltage and is electrocuted.
Electrocution
4
Child is playing with thin conductible object
1/10
3/80 000
High risk
Child is unattended when playing
1/100
Child inserts the object into the socket
3/10
Access to voltage
1/2
> 1/100 000
Electrocution due to voltage (without circuit interrupter)
1/4
The overall risk of the socket protectors is thus ‘serious’.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2019/417/annex/division/2/division/6/division/6.2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-417/annex/division-2/division-6/division-6.2
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.