How to deal with Noise Related Issues in Food and Beverage Industries of Myanmar?
Source – SUSTENT Consulting Pvt. Ltd
Establishing Policy for Noise Pollution Control
The management of an enterprise can display their commitment towards noise control by establishing an noise control policy statement, which may be part of the environment policy or as a stand-alone noise control policy. This policy must align with the purpose of the organization. It must contain a framework for establishing objectives and targets. The policy must be reviewed/ updated after the monitoring. Things you should consider while developing an policy are:
- The policy must be in context of your organization and must convey a sense of direction and principles for implementing actions
- It must help to fulfil legal and regulatory requirements and contractual obligations
- It must convey the organization’s commitment to take noise control measures for better health of workers
- It must display the management’s commitment to ensure the availability of the information and resources necessary to achieve objectives and targets
6.3 Identification of the Predominant Sources of Noise Generation
- Common sources of noise generation in food and beverage facilities include Machineries used for food preparation such as peelers, slicers, cutters
- Conveyor belts (used to carry raw material and products).
- Fans and blowers, motors, boilers, refrigerators, and other equipment used in food and beverage facility for storage and processing activities.
- During leakages from steam valves and pipelines,
- Use of old and noisy equipment.
- Heavy vehicles used for transportation of raw material and food products.
6.4 Description of Sound Level Measuring Instruments
Sound Level Meters
- Primary tool for noise measurement that is used for acoustic measurements.
- Here, the electrical signal from the transducer is fed to the pre-amplifier of the sound level meter and, if needed, a weighted filter over a specified range of frequencies.
- Further amplification prepares the signal either for output to other instruments such as a tape recorder or for rectification and direct reading on the meter.
Apart from this primary tool of sound measuring instrument, other sound measuring instruments are also extensively used such as:
- Frequency Analyser: It is used to assess the sensory impact of sound or vibration phenomena.
- Noise Dosimeters: It is used ascertain the noise exposure of workers during their normal working day
- Personal sound level meters: It is designed as dosimeters to be worn by the worker during his regular work
Figure 1: Sound Level Meter
Source: Open Source
6.5 Noise Control Measures to be adopted in F&B enterprises
Engineering Measures
- Proper maintenance of equipment is required. Ensure properly tightening of the nuts and bolt to eliminate vibration.
- Any leakage in the steam or compressed air pipelines should be rectified immediately as such leaks produces noise. This would also save loss of energy and help you reduce operating cost.
- Wherever necessary use rubber pads to minimize the impact sound such as in crate washing section, milk packaging section etc. This would also increase the life of the cans and handling machinery.
- While purchasing any new equipment, always give due consideration to its noise producing level. It should be minimum as for as possible.
- In the high noise area such as refrigeration, boiler, packaging and receiving sections etc, the walls of the section should be covered with sound absorbers.
- Replace the old and noisy equipment regularly.
- Sound separator should be provided to isolate the high sound producing sections. Utilize enclosed booths designed to reduce exposure to noise.
- Replace metal and glass components with plastics. Glass containers or cans’ striking each other, or metal surfaces creates a lot of noise.
- Use DG set with acoustic enclosure to reduce the generation of noise.
