There are hidden dangers associated with cracked and damaged outlets. Cracked face plates on outlets can expose the user to loose terminals and loose connection points for the cords that plug into them. In the photo, you can clearly see that the bottom side of the outlet has a crack in it. Eventually, this piece of plastic could fall out completely and expose the contact points.
Along with providing protection from these contact points, outlet covers and their housings provide support for the contact fingers within the outlet itself.
If the back plate of the outlet is cracked, the wiring and inner contacts can be exposed within the junction box and cause a short circuit. This too can be a trouble spot when pulling the outlet from the junction box and having the outlet fall apart into pieces.
As with any electrical project or repair, always turn the power off to the circuit that you'll be working on and test to see that it is truly off. Safety first!
If you have a bad outlet, don't hesitate to replace it with a new one. Wiring an outlet isn't all that hard to do yourself. You may also have a ground fault circuit interrupter that needs replacing.
