Electrical Safety
An exposed banana plug can present a shock hazard if connected to an energized source. A plug that is only partially inserted into a jack can also present a risk of accidental contact as the conductive surface of the plug will not be completely covered. The hazards include electric shock, electrocution, burns from accidental short circuits, and damage to the attached equipment.
Where electrical safety is an issue, various kinds of protected plugs and sockets are available. These have sliding covers on plugs or other devices to protect the user from accidental contact with live conductors, but are still largely compatible with the original design.
A typical design is now required (IEC 61010) on digital voltmeter test leads and several other measurement and laboratory equipment. In this design, the metal banana plug is entirely sheathed in plastic and presses into a deep recess in the DVM. Alternatively, the DVM has the male part of the banana plug and it is deeply recessed; the test lead contains a sheathed banana jack.
In most European countries the standard mains power receptacle will physically accept banana and even US-style "double banana" plugs (the standard US pin spacing of 3/4 inch (19.05 mm) is close enough to the mains plug spacing of about 19 mm, and the pin diameter is also compatible), leading to a risk of electrical shock. For safety reasons, it can be difficult to purchase US-style laboratory "double banana" plugs in these countries.
Read more about this topic: Banana Connector
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