The 10th Workshop of All India Coordinated Research Project on ‘Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture’ was inaugurated at PAU. Delegates from all over the country including Project coordinators, experts in the area of ergonomics and project investigators from 12 cooperating centres are participating in the two days workshop. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, worthy Vice-chancellor of the University was the Chief Guest during the inaugural function of the workshop.
In his address, Dr Dhillon while emphasizing the importance of timeliness and precision in farm machinery, addressed the need for safe practices while operating machines. He discussed about the research required to stem accidents resulting from operating farm equipment.
Dr Dhillon advised testing of developed technologies in farmers’ fields to get hands on information about ergonomics and safety. Lauding the efforts of AICRP team at PAU in developing safe feeding chute and other safety measures, Dr Dhillon exhorted the scientists towards working as a team in future too.
Dr R K Singh, Director, CIPHET and Chairman of the function explained that the research and development activities under this AICRP scheme involve development of ergonomically improved tools and equipment; development of safety gadgets, development of anthropometric database of agricultural workers and safety issues in agro-industries and gender friendly tools at workplace.
Dr N S Bains, Director of Research, PAU, while speaking as Guest of Honour explained that ergonomics is indeed a science where in human comfort and safety is given prime importance so that worker’s efficiency could be improved. He called upon all the scientists of the scheme to do a complete analysis of the accidents and based on findings equipment should be designed to avert accident despite human error. He also suggested educating farmers about safety precautions during operation of machinery.
Dr L P Gite, former Project Coordinator of the scheme and expert in the area divulged that ESA with largest collection of anthropometric data suitable for design of equipment and recognized by National and International agencies,will be of great help to manufacturers of machinery.
Project coordinator of the scheme Dr K N Agrawal informed that considering the importance of ergonomics application as well as the vast number of people involved in agriculture, the All India Coordinated Research Project on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture (formerly known as AICRP on Human Engineering and Safety in Agriculture) was started by ICAR during the year 1996.
Dr J S Mahal, Dean of the college and Director of Extension Education of the university welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and all the delegates attending the workshop. He opined that in agriculture, the application of ergonomics can help in increasing the efficiency and thereby productivity of the workers without jeopardizing their health and safety.
At the end, Dr Manjeet Singh, Head of the Department proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Source:http://www.pau.edu/
