It was with sadness to learn that my good friend’s elder brother passed away last week succumbed to his injury after falling into the Interhole.My deepest condolences to him and his family for the lost of his beloved brother.
Though I rarely receive such news but it happens, it has really shaken me up. This is not the first time I heard about such tragedy in Swiftlet farm there were few cases already.
Bear in mind safety is most important, if anything happened no matter how successful is your swiftlet farm you won’t be there to enjoy the fruitful returns.
I had always wanted to write about the precaution and the safety in Swiftlet Farm especially about the interhole and I guess no one has actually elaborated how it should be done other than advising you to install more light at the interhole or build some cement barriers which wouldn’t solve the problem.
Often the designers of the Bh were too into the designing and totally forgotten about the safety issues.
I am going to talk about the barrier of the interhole which could be your savior and at the sometime your worst enemy that could cause you your life. This depends on how and where you put them.
I will also share with you how to put a barrier around the interhole for safety which won't affect the birds flying path.
Obviously there should be lights at the interrhole so we could see it but sometime we would be distracted by other things we may forget where we were standing, any wrong misstep made it would be fatal.
Many would avoid putting barrier at the interhole because they afraid the barrier would affect the flying path of the birds. Yes that is true I do understand.
So with this in mind, not to affect the bird’s flying path and to add a little to safety they came out with a stupid fatal disastrous idea by erecting a barrier of less than 1ft often about 2 bricks level right at the edge of interhole. What they didn’t know is that they actually put a trap at the interhole. If someone trip over it they would fall directly into the interhole.
If a safety barrier wall is to be made make sure it is above 2-1/2 ft height otherwise no point of putting up a barrier.
Look at the above pictures you would understand why a cemented wall barrier which is lower than 2-1/2ft is dangerous especially at knee height level..
When tripped on the cemented barrier wall one would fall directly into the interhole, there is no chance for escape. Even at slightest off balance you’re gone. If your Bhs have such barrier that mean you have set your own deadly trap. It is a matter of when, someday someone is going to trip and fall.
The knee height barrier wall is most dangerous once kicked or bang on it, it would cause us to lose balance and subsequently fall. Due to the physics of gravity you would fall forward that means directly into the interhole. Unless the barriers is more than 2-1/2ft height but this would affect the flying path of the birds. To solve this I have came out with a solution which is practiced in all my Bhs. Look at picture (B) you would understand.
Even putting a rope barrier is not advisable because birds would bang on them. The best is to stack bricks (3pcs) 5 ft away front the interhole creating a safety zone all of my Bhs have this safety zone. Secondly a barrier 5ft away from the interhole definitely won’t affect the flying path of the birds.
Do not cement the bricks together just stack them. It is better not to cement them because if somebody kicks on them the bricks would drop and absorb the impact and the person won’t lose balance and fall easily unlike cemented barrier. I bet you would fall the moment you kick on them .Even if you fall you would land on the 5ft safe zone. This will save your life.
For those who haven’t thought of this should do something about it today
Don’t take thinks for granted. Safety is most important if anything happens there is no turning back.
Once again my deepest Condolences to Mr. H.
Hope all Swiftlet farmers practice ‘Safety First in Swiftlet Farm”
Good Swiftlet farming All.