THEY used to be places where children could bounce on bales and run barefoot through hayfields but health and safety chiefs are today warning parents how farms can be death traps.

With the summer holidays in full swing, the Health and Safety Executive is reminding children and their parents that in the last 10 years, 32 children under 16 have been killed on farms in the UK.

Six of the fatalities were in 2005-06 and causes varied from falls from great heights, being struck by vehicles, barn fires and poisoning.

And an average of 49 people each year are killed in the industry – almost one death per week.

Terry Rose, HSE director for Wales, said, “Long summer days are a time for fun and adventure for children.

“But it is crucial that we are vigilant and careful to ensure that enough safety precautions are taken and untoward incidents are avoided.

“Farms are homes as well as workplaces and visitors to the countryside, many of them children, are often present on farms whilst work activities are being carried out.”

He said many of the horrific accidents that have involved youngsters have resulted from a failure to assess risks or to train and supervise them adequately.

Meanwhile others have simply been down to failing to ensure that young children are kept out of the farmyard unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President, said, “In the era of our parents and grandparents, farms were perceived as being safe because operations and machinery were on a much smaller scale.

“But the nature of our business has changed now and any accident with heavy machinery sadly tends to be fatal.”

Gareth Vaughan, Farmers Union of Wales president, said farm safety was of paramount importance to his members.

He said, “We are aware that farms are not as safe as they once were and that’s why safeguards are so important.

“Farm machinery is much larger these days, resulting in less visibility for the driver. Silage pits can be dangerous and slurry can be many feet deep and children can drown in it, so many companies now make fencing to go around it to keep youngsters away.”