Experts stress on safety norms to prevent farm accidents

Ludhiana, Aug 6 (UNI) Though the use of farm machinery has led to a phenomenal increase in the cropping intensity of the state, it has also been a cause of injury or death in 77 per cent of farm accidents.

This startling revelation was made by Dr C J S Pannu and Dr N K Chunneja of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

According to Dr Pannu, 16 per cent accidents are fatal, where farm machines are involved. A look at the distribution pattern of farm-machine-borne accidents shows that 30 per cent of these accidents occur due to power-operated chaff cutter, 15 per cent by threshers, 13 per cent by tractor-trailers, 12 per cent by electric shock, 10 per cent by combine harvesters and five per cent due to miscellaneous reasons.

Giving an instance of accidents due to poisonous gas in tube wells, Dr Pannu said when a person descends into the tube well pit for repair or maintenance of pump set, there are chances of asphyxia due to accumulation of harmful gases especially during the monsoon months. He suggested that presence of poisonous gas should be checked with the help of a kerosene lamp prior to entering the pit as the lamp would go off in the presence poisonous gas.

Similarly, Dr Pannu advised the pump should be rotated by belt.

The running of the pump in idle-mode for 15 minutes pushes the gas out. Moreover, atleast two persons should be present on the site to handle an emergency, he added.

Dr Chunneja threw light upon accidents caused by threshers.

Seeing the gravity of the injury caused due to such accidents, he said, a special power cut lever should be provided to cut-off power and to reverse the motion of the conveyor belt to pull back the hand or arm in case of an accident. He suggested that feeding chute of power thresher should be 90 cm long, and 45 cm of it should be covered to save the hands working on it.

About chaff cutters, Dr Chunneja informed that proper covers for both the power-operated as well as manual machines would help avoiding accidents.

For tractor-trolley use, he suggested using triangular reflectors with 'Slow Moving Vehicle' emblem on them. He also said that overloading them should be avoided.

The agricultural scientist duo concluded that danger to the life and limb of the farmer can be prevented if safety norms are adhered to while using farm machines.

UNI