Occupational environment monitoring of a coffee manufacturing factory

1. Overview of coffee manufacturing factory

a. What is a coffee manufacturing factory?

Factory manufacturing coffee is a place where coffee beans are processed from coffee cherries harvested from coffee farms around the world. These factories use specialized equipment to separate the coffee beans from the cherries, then proceed to dry, roast, and grind the beans to produce different coffee products.

Coffee manufacturing factories may specialize in producing a specific type of coffee, or manufacture many different types depending on market demand. The process of manufacturing coffee from cherries to fresh, high-quality coffee products is a complex process that requires the care and skills of workers in this industry.

b. Manufacturing stages in coffee manufacturing factory

The manufacturing stages in a coffee manufacturing factory include:

• Harvesting: Coffee cherries are harvested from coffee farms around the world. Harvesting must be done at the right time to ensure the quality of the coffee later.
• Bean separation: After harvesting, coffee cherries are brought to the coffee manufacturing factory for bean separation. These factories use specialized equipment to separate coffee beans from the cherries.
• Drying: After bean separation, coffee beans are dried to remove moisture and allow longer preservation.
• Roasting: Coffee beans are roasted to create the distinctive flavor and color of each type of coffee. The roasting process can also affect the strength and concentration of the coffee.
• Grinding: After roasting, coffee beans are ground to create different coffee products, from coffee powder to coffee beans.
• Packing: Coffee products are packed and prepared for transportation to retail and consumption points.

The coffee manufacturing process may vary depending on the type of coffee produced, but the basic stages as above will be applied.

c. Types of machinery used in coffee manufacturing factory

Coffee manufacturing factories use many types of machinery to perform coffee manufacturing stages. Below are some common machines used in coffee manufacturing factories:

• Coffee harvesting machine: Used to harvest coffee cherries from coffee farms.
• Bean separation machine: Used to separate coffee beans from coffee cherries.
• Drying machine: Used to dry coffee beans after bean separation.
• Roasting machine: Used to roast coffee beans to create distinctive flavor and color of each type of coffee.
• Grinding machine: Used to grind coffee beans to create different coffee products, from coffee powder to coffee beans.
• Packing machine: Used to pack coffee products and prepare them for transportation to retail and consumption points.

In addition, coffee manufacturing factories also use many other devices and machines such as water treatment machines, crushers, vacuum cleaners, stone grinders, grass grinders… to help the coffee manufacturing process run efficiently and achieve the highest quality.

d. What occupational diseases can workers in coffee manufacturing factory suffer?

Coffee manufacturing work in factories may involve many risks and negative impacts on workers’ health, such as:

• Respiratory diseases: Due to roasting and grinding coffee generating dust and fumes, workers may inhale particles, causing respiratory irritation and respiratory diseases.
• Allergic diseases: Workers may be exposed to chemicals in the coffee manufacturing process, such as disinfectants, dispersants, detergents, and preservatives, causing allergies.
• Skin diseases: Exposure to many chemicals in the coffee manufacturing process may cause irritation and skin diseases for workers.
• Spinal diseases: Working for long hours and frequently in bent positions may cause spinal diseases.
• Ear diseases: Noise from coffee manufacturing and transportation machines may cause ear diseases for workers.

To protect workers’ health, coffee manufacturing factories need to implement occupational safety measures, provide protective equipment, and train workers about risks and ways to protect their health when working in coffee manufacturing factories.

e. Popular types of coffee on the market

Below are some popular types of coffee on the market:

• Arabica coffee: This type of coffee has a gentle, rich flavor, with high natural acidity. Arabica coffee is often considered high-quality coffee.
• Robusta coffee: This type of coffee has a stronger flavor than Arabica coffee and higher caffeine content. Robusta coffee is often used to make espresso and strong-flavored coffees.
• Espresso coffee: This type of coffee is made by pushing hot water through dense ground coffee to create a strong cup of coffee with a thin crema on top.
• Cappuccino coffee: Espresso coffee mixed with hot milk and fine milk foam on top. Cappuccino is often consumed in the morning or before bedtime.
• Latte coffee: Espresso coffee mixed with hot milk and topped with fine milk foam. However, it contains more milk compared to cappuccino.
• Black coffee: Coffee brewed only with hot water, without milk or sugar. Black coffee often has a strong flavor, suitable for those who enjoy the bitter taste of coffee.

In addition, there are many other types of coffee such as iced milk coffee, egg coffee, Americano coffee, filter coffee, iced blended coffee… each type of coffee has its own characteristics and flavors, suitable for different preferences and needs.

2. Overview of occupational environment monitoring services

a. What is occupational environment monitoring in coffee manufacturing factory?

Occupational environment monitoring (or occupational environment measurement) in coffee manufacturing factories is the activity of collecting, evaluating, and analyzing measurement indicators of occupational environmental factors at coffee manufacturing factories, in order to take timely measures to minimize environmental impacts on workers’ health and prevent occupational diseases. Occupational environment monitoring is a mandatory regulation for coffee manufacturing factories.

Occupational environment monitoring plays the most important role in caring for, protecting, and enhancing workers’ health because the main resource of enterprises and the direct creator of profits is the worker. Workers who are regularly exposed to hazardous factors and occupational risks exceeding permissible standards will suffer health impacts and occupational diseases.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

b. Occupational environment monitoring program of An Toan Nam Viet

The occupational environment monitoring program of An Toan Nam Viet is a program researched by monitoring engineers in the field of occupational safety and environmental protection. With the goal of ensuring workers’ health and safety, this program uses modern measurement methods to monitor air quality, water, microclimate, physical factors, and dust in the occupational environment. This is a very important program in ensuring a safe working environment and protecting workers’ health.

In addition, the occupational environment monitoring program of An Toan Nam Viet also plays an important role in researching and developing new solutions to improve occupational environment quality. With the dedication and professionalism of the monitoring experts, An Toan Nam Viet’s exclusive monitoring program is becoming a breakthrough in occupational safety management and environmental protection in Vietnam.

c. Standardization in occupational environment measurement procedures

Standardization in occupational environment measurement procedures of An Toan Nam Viet is a very important aspect in ensuring the quality of measurement results. To ensure accuracy and reliability of results, this program applies standards and standardized procedures recognized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. This ensures that the collected data will be highly reliable for occupational environment assessment and decision-making on environment improvement to protect workers’ health.

These standardized procedures also ensure that measurement results are carried out by a team of monitoring specialists with high qualifications and many years of experience, enabling managers and experts to trust the results from An Toan Nam Viet and make accurate, valuable decisions in protecting workers’ health and the environment.

By applying standardization in occupational environment measurement procedures, An Toan Nam Viet demonstrates its commitment to ensuring a safe working environment and protecting workers’ health, while also contributing positively to the development and improvement of occupational safety management and environmental protection quality in Vietnam.

d. Occupational environment monitoring report in coffee manufacturing factory

Occupational environment monitoring results are prepared according to Form No. 04 Appendix III issued together with Decree 44/2016/ND-CP and are made into 02 copies: 01 copy sent to the labor facility that signed the occupational environment monitoring contract and 01 copy kept at the monitoring organization.

The retention period of occupational environment monitoring results is regulated by law as permanent record storage.

e. Frequency of occupational environment monitoring according to legal regulations

According to Clause 2 of Article 18 of the Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene 84/2015/QH13, employers must conduct occupational environment monitoring to assess harmful factors at least once a year.

f. Deadline for submission of occupational environment monitoring results report according to legal regulations

The deadline for report submission is before December 31 every year. Enterprises belonging to manufacturing facilities are required to submit occupational environment monitoring results reports to the Department of Health at the locality where the manufacturing facility, business headquarters, and workplaces are located.

When there are changes in technological processes, manufacturing processes, or when renovating and upgrading labor facilities that may generate new hazardous factors to workers’ health, enterprises belonging to manufacturing facilities must update occupational hygiene records related to harmful factors that require occupational environment monitoring.

g. Penalties for violations of occupational environment monitoring regulations for employers

According to Article 27 of Decree No. 12/2022/ND-CP dated January 17, 2022, Regulations on administrative penalties in the field of labor, social insurance, and Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts:

• Clause 2: A fine of VND 2,000,000 – 5,000,000 for employers who do not publicly announce to workers at the place of occupational environment monitoring and at the place where dangerous factors are inspected, assessed, and managed immediately after the results of occupational environment monitoring and dangerous factors inspection, assessment, and management at the workplace are available.
• Clause 3: A fine of VND 20,000,000 – 40,000,000 for employers who fail to conduct occupational environment monitoring to control harm to workers’ health as prescribed by law.
• Clause 4: A fine of VND 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 for employers who collude with occupational environment monitoring organizations to commit fraud in occupational environment monitoring activities but not to the extent of criminal prosecution.

3. Harmful environmental factors for workers in coffee manufacturing factories

In coffee manufacturing factories, workers may face many harmful environmental factors, including:

• Dust: The coffee roasting process creates coffee dust, which is a harmful agent to the respiratory tract and causes airway obstruction.
• Toxic gases: Emissions from coffee roasters and exhaust systems can cause air pollution and harm health.
• Temperature: Machinery in coffee manufacturing factories can emit high temperatures, especially during the coffee roasting process. High temperatures can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and discomfort.
• Noise: The coffee processing process generates noise from machinery and equipment. Working in a continuously noisy environment, the effects of noise can harm hearing and the nervous system.
• Humidity: The coffee roasting process can increase humidity in the air and make the working environment damp, posing health risks for workers.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

4. Measures to improve the working environment in coffee manufacturing factories

To improve the working environment in coffee manufacturing factories, the following measures can be applied:

• Ensure proper ventilation and exhaust systems to minimize air pollution and toxic gases in the working environment.
• Provide personal protective equipment such as masks, safety glasses, gloves, protective clothing, etc., to reduce the impact of dust and fumes on workers’ health.
• Apply noise protection equipment such as noise-canceling headphones to minimize the impact of noise on workers’ health.
• Ensure the best possible hygiene and occupational safety conditions in the workplace, including regular cleaning, equipment safety, and electrical safety.
• Improve the manufacturing process and use modern technologies to minimize the impact of coffee manufacturing on the working environment and surrounding environment.
• Create separate areas for waste treatment and wastewater management to minimize the impact of waste on the surrounding environment.
• Create a comfortable and airy working environment by ensuring appropriate humidity and temperature, while increasing natural lighting to minimize artificial light and create a better workplace.
• Regularly organize occupational environment monitoring in factories, collect and analyze harmful factors for workers, then adjust to reduce risks to prevent occupational diseases for them.

5. Benefits of periodic monitoring in coffee manufacturing factories

An Toan Nam Viet provides businesses with excellent benefits when using occupational environment monitoring services in accordance with Decree 44/2016/ND-CP on the management and control of harmful factors in the working environment affecting workers.

• Businesses can proactively control harmful factors at workshops or factories.
• Receive consulting and recommendations on measures to minimize harmful factors, improving the quality of the working environment.
• Indirectly protect human resources, the key factor in the development of the business.
• Reduce the harmful effects of occupational diseases on human health, thereby minimizing treatment costs in the future.
• Improve workers’ health, leading to guaranteed and maintained product quality and productivity.
• Comply with labor safety laws, avoiding legal risks.
• Create credibility and professionalism in all aspects, thereby enhancing the brand value of the business.

The environmental monitoring service of Nam Viet is the solution to minimize the harmful effects of occupational diseases, contributing to creating a healthy and high-quality working environment.

6. National occupational environment monitoring center

Occupational environment monitoring center of Nam Viet is a professional unit in monitoring and measuring occupational environment quality across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports customers in planning, handling, and monitoring occupational environment issues. With the motto “customers are the center,” the center cares about customer satisfaction, meets all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

With investment in technology, techniques, and human resources, the Nam Viet monitoring center has been and is becoming one of the prestigious units in the field of occupational environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following goals:

• We always value brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
• We provide customers with the best and most suitable solutions possible.
• Together with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers, we aim to protect the environment and bring benefits to businesses.
• By working with Nam Viet Environment Monitoring, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field, as well as the best cost-saving offers.

The process of conducting occupational environment monitoring at Nam Viet includes the following basic steps:

• Before conducting occupational environment monitoring, our company always ensures that the machinery and equipment used for monitoring are calibrated and standardized in accordance with legal regulations.
• Carry out the occupational environment monitoring process properly and fully as committed with the Department of Health.
• Truthfully report the occupational environment monitoring results to employers.
• In cases where the occupational environment monitoring results do not ensure worker safety, Nam Viet will support with corrective solutions, and the workplace will implement as follows:
  • Implement measures to improve working conditions to minimize harmful factors and prevent occupational diseases.
  • Organize health checks to detect occupational diseases and work-related illnesses early for workers in unsafe working environments.
  • Provide in-kind benefits for workers in accordance with labor law regulations.

7. Occupational environment monitoring quotation

To help businesses conduct occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides customers with a quotation for occupational environment monitoring services with high quality and reasonable costs.

• Our monitoring quotation provides detailed information about the costs of monitoring services we offer, including expenses related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting results. Customers can be fully assured of the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring reports we provide.
• We are committed to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices in the market, and we are always ready to consult and answer all questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
• With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation, customers can easily choose service packages suitable for their needs. We are committed to bringing customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.