Around one in 10 dads fail to implement changes around the homes to protect youngsters from preventable accidents, it was claimed yesterday.

A survey by the Child Accident Prevention Trust found that 88 per cent of fathers with children under the age of five take active steps to prevent accidents, but the remainder do nothing.

Although no longer lagging behind mothers, work still needs to be done to overcome a tendency in some fathers to see the odd injury as "inevitable", the charity said.

A poll of nearly 2,000 parents in the UK found that one in three mums considered fathers to have a lax attitude when it comes to home safety. But two-thirds of dads who do take steps to improve safety in the house said their approach was "thorough".

More than 60 per cent of fathers put medicine out of sight and reach of young children, the survey found.

And 55 per cent had fitted safety gates on stairs and smoke alarms in their homes.

More than half said they were always present when young children are in the bath, with 47 per cent testing the water and running cold water before hot.

Commenting on the findings, Katrina Phillips, chief executive officer of CAPT, said: "Bumps and scrapes are inevitable, but it is serious accidents we need to prevent.

"In 2007 we ran a similar survey which found that new fathers needed to brush up on child safety.

"So it's great news that in just three years, so many modern dads are now active accident busters."

The CAPT has teamed up with online forum Dadtalk.co.uk to provide a service for fathers who want to be better informed about safety.

Agony aunt Denise Robertson said: "Today access to information is far greater than 30 years ago when I had my own children, and I would give the same advice to both mums and dads.

"Use your common sense and consult the trusted sources of information which are there for you. There may be some hazards and risks you might not have considered and which can be prevented."