Farming is among the more hazardous occupations, and most farm injuries are preventable. This article covers the main risks on a small Indian farm and the specific precautions that address them.
None of this is complicated. It is mostly a matter of habits established before an accident rather than after one.
Pesticide Handling
Pesticides cause the largest share of acute farm poisoning incidents in India, and a substantial proportion involve people who were not wearing protection because it was hot.
Before spraying
- Read the label. Every time, including for a product you have used before
- Check the sprayer for leaks. A leaking knapsack sprayer soaks the operator’s back throughout the operation
- Mix outdoors, never in an enclosed space
- Use a stick or measure to mix, never bare hands
During spraying
- Wear full-sleeved clothing, long trousers, gloves, boots, a mask and eye protection
- Never spray against the wind
- Never eat, drink, smoke or chew tobacco while spraying
- Do not blow into a blocked nozzle with your mouth. Use a thin wire or water
- Spray in cooler hours. Heat plus protective clothing causes people to remove the clothing
- Take breaks. Do not spray continuously for hours
After spraying
- Wash thoroughly with soap, including hair
- Wash spray clothing separately from household laundry
- Store pesticides locked, in original containers with labels, away from food, feed and living areas
- Never reuse an empty pesticide container for water, food or any other purpose. Puncture and dispose of it as directed
If someone is poisoned
Move them to fresh air. Remove contaminated clothing. Wash affected skin with soap and water. Take them to a doctor immediately and carry the pesticide container or label with you, so the doctor knows the active ingredient. Do not induce vomiting unless the label or a doctor directs it.
Machinery
Tractors
- Never carry passengers on a tractor not designed for them, particularly children
- Keep the PTO shaft guard in place. PTO entanglement injuries are severe and common, and the guard is usually the first thing removed
- Do not wear loose clothing or a loose scarf near rotating parts
- Switch off the engine and remove the key before clearing a blockage or adjusting an implement
- Take care on slopes and near field edges and ditches — overturning is a leading cause of tractor fatalities
- Do not operate when tired or after drinking
Threshers and chaff cutters
These cause a large number of hand and arm injuries. Keep feeding guards in place, never push material in by hand while the machine is running, and do not allow children near operating machinery.
Electric pumps and wiring
- Use proper earthing on all pump sets
- Do not handle switches or wiring with wet hands or while standing in water
- Replace damaged cables rather than taping them
- Keep a wooden stick near the pump switch area rather than a metal one
Field Hazards
Snakes
Wear closed footwear and, where practical, protective leg covering when working in tall crops, near bunds or in stored fodder. Use a torch after dark. If bitten, keep the person calm and still, immobilise the limb, and get to a hospital immediately. Do not cut, suck, apply a tight tourniquet, or waste time on traditional remedies — antivenom at a hospital is the treatment.
Lightning
Lightning kills a significant number of field workers in India each year. During a storm, leave the field, avoid isolated trees, and get inside a building or vehicle. The Damini app provides lightning alerts.
Heat
Work in the cooler hours during summer, take shade breaks, and drink water regularly. Heat stroke symptoms — confusion, stopping sweating, very high body temperature — are a medical emergency.
Wells and ponds
Fence open wells and farm ponds. Never enter a well or a closed tank without checking for gas — accumulated gases in wells cause deaths every year, frequently including the people who go down to rescue the first person. If someone collapses in a well, do not go down after them; call for help and get equipment.
Children on the Farm
Children should not operate machinery, handle pesticides, or be present during spraying. Keep them away from ponds, wells, and stored chemicals. A large share of serious farm injuries to children involve machinery they were riding on or standing near.
Keep a First Aid Kit
Clean dressings, antiseptic, bandages, and clean water for washing wounds and eyes. Keep the nearest hospital’s number and a vehicle arrangement known to everyone in the household.
Also keep the phone number for the poison control or emergency service accessible.
The Point
None of these precautions requires much money. Most require a habit and a few minutes. The injuries they prevent, by contrast, can end a farmer’s ability to work.
This is general safety guidance. For medical emergencies, seek immediate professional medical help. Follow all label instructions on any product you use.
