RAINY SEASON: SAFETY TIPS AGAINST POISONOUS GAS IN WELLS

In Punjab, during rainy season, due to high temperature and humidity in the atmosphere, there is an accumulation of poisonous gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon mono-oxide, etc in the tubewell pits. Due to scarcity of oxygen in the pit, workers entering the well die due to asphyxia. There are many tubewell related deaths reported in Punjab. These accidents do occur because of farmers are generally not aware of poisonous gas in the well during entering in the well. The scientists working in the PAU Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, namely Charan Jeet Singh Pannu, Mahesh Kumar Narang and Gursharan Singh Sidhu have cautioned farmers to be ware of the poisonous gas accumulating in the tubewell pits/wells during the monsoon season.



Discussing how to identify the poisonous gas in the tubewell, the scientists suggested that First, lower a burning lamp or candle into the pit to ascertain the presence of poisonous gas. If it blows out, it means carbon dioxide is present in the pit and there is scarcity of oxygen. There should be a wall or safety cage around the well, said they adding that A fan can be lowered into the pit and run for at least an hour to force the poisonous gas out from the pit. The fan should be left on while the labourer works. Likewise, using an empty jute bag, bucket or umbrella and moving it up and down in the pit to remove the gas can be helpful, said the scientists. At least two persons should be present at the site while working for repair of pumpset.



Four to 5 kg of lime (calcium oxide) dissolved in water should be sprinkled into the pit before someone enters it, they said adding that in case of belt-driven pump sets, run the pump idle for 15-20 minutes. The gas will be agitated and will come out of pit. Plastering of the walls may reduce the entry of harmful gases but may not prevent it fully, observed the experts. After using these measures, one should re-test presence of the gas with kerosene lamp before going in the pit for repairs etc.

PAU has developed a blower for removing poisonous gases from the tubewell. The blower can be operated by PTO of 35 hp tractor and blower runs at 1000 rpm. A flexible plastic pipe of 7.5 cm diameter having length of 10 m is attached with inlet of blower. Length of pipe may be according to the depth of tubewell. One side of the pipe has some holes of 15 cm diameter through which gases can be extracted. This machine should be available in every village so that gases can be removed from tubewells before entering into it and human lives can be saved.

Mostly, there is no wall/ fencing around tubewells that is why human or animals fall into the well and accident happens, observed the experts. To minimize these accidents, a safety cage has been developed having height of 75 cm and diameter of 210 cm. Diameter of the cage is more than the diameter of tubewell/pit. To enter into the tubewell a window is provided and a 5 inch hole is also provided in the center of the cage for delivery pipe of tubewell. By using this cage, accident of falling in the wells can be prevented.
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