Occupational environment monitoring at a fish sauce manufacturing factory

1. Overview of the fish sauce factory

a. What is a fish sauce factory?

Factory producing fish sauce is a production facility specializing in producing and processing fish sauce. Fish sauce is a type of fish-based product widely used in cuisine as a seasoning. The process of producing fish sauce includes fermenting fish or fish-based materials to create fish sauce, then performing filtering and concentrating stages to produce the final product.

During the production process, fish are selected and exposed to salt in a container. The fermentation process takes place over a certain period of time, through the enzymatic breakdown in fish and the natural activity of bacteria. After that, fish sauce is filtered to remove impurities and residue. The filtering process can be carried out using filters, natural filtering materials such as bamboo, or by using modern technology.

After filtering, fish sauce can be concentrated to increase salt concentration and flavor. The concentration process can be performed using high temperature or other concentration methods. Finally, fish sauce is packaged and prepared for transportation and consumption.

Fish sauce factories often apply high-quality production processes and comply with food safety regulations. This ensures that fish sauce produced and supplied to consumers is safe and guaranteed in quality.

b. Production stages in a fish sauce factory

The production stages in a fish sauce factory may include the following steps:

• Selection of raw materials: Fresh fish are selected to be used as the main raw material in the fish sauce production process. Commonly used fish include anchovies, herrings, sea anchovies, and sea herrings.
• Exposure to salt: The fish are exposed to salt in a container or special tank. This process helps the fish release enzymes and begin fermentation.
• Fermentation process: The natural enzymes in the fish will begin breaking down proteins into amino acids, creating a liquid mixture containing fish sauce. The fermentation process takes place over a certain period of time to ensure the flavor and quality of the fish sauce.
• Filtering: After fermentation is completed, the fish sauce is filtered to remove impurities, residue, or remaining fish particles. Filtering methods may include using filters, bamboo, or modern filtration technology.
• Concentration: After filtering, fish sauce can be concentrated to increase the salt concentration and flavor. The concentration process may use high temperatures or other methods such as steaming.
• Filtering and purification: After concentration, fish sauce can be filtered again to remove finer impurities and ensure greater cleanliness. Some fish sauce factories also use purification agents to remove foam and impurities from the surface of the fish sauce.
• Packing and transportation: Finally, fish sauce is bottled, jarred, or canned in preparation for transportation and consumption. Safe and proper packaging ensures quality and preservation of the fish sauce during transportation.

c. Types of machinery used in a fish sauce factory

In a fish sauce factory, several types of machinery and equipment can be used to support the production process. Below are some commonly used machines in fish sauce factories:

• Mixing machine: Used to mix fish and salt during the initial exposure process and ensure even distribution of salt in the mixture.
• Fermentation system: The fermentation system includes tanks, fermentation containers, or special fermenting systems that create ideal conditions for fermentation. This system usually comes with equipment to control temperature, humidity, and time to ensure proper fermentation.
• Filtering machine: Used to remove impurities, residue, and fish particles from fish sauce after fermentation. Filtering machines can include bamboo filters, heat filters, or other types depending on the desired level of filtration.
• Concentration machine: Used to concentrate fish sauce after fermentation and filtering. Concentration machines often use high temperature or other methods such as tropical distillation to remove water and increase salt concentration in fish sauce.
• Packing machine: Used to package fish sauce into smaller units such as bottles, jars, or cans. Packing machines can be automatic or semi-automatic, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in packaging.
• Washing and cleaning machines: Used to clean equipment, tanks, and surfaces related to the production process.

d. What occupational diseases can workers in a fish sauce factory experience?

Workers in a fish sauce factory may suffer from the following occupational diseases:

• Respiratory diseases: Workers may be exposed to salt vapors and ammonia during fish sauce production, causing respiratory problems such as rhinitis, sinusitis, coughing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.
• Skin diseases: Exposure to salt and chemicals during production may cause skin irritation, dermatitis, eczema, cracking, and skin infections.
• Eye diseases: Exposure to chemicals may cause irritation and damage to the eyes, leading to conjunctivitis, chemical conjunctivitis, and other eye-related problems.
• Ear diseases: Exposure to noise from machinery and equipment in the fish sauce factory may cause ear damage and problems such as deafness, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
• Digestive diseases: Chemicals in the production process may damage the digestive system if workers are exposed to or ingest them, leading to gastrointestinal ulcers, gastritis, and other digestive issues.
• Injuries: During work, there is a risk of injury from equipment, machines, or working materials, such as vibrations, cuts, burns, or slips and falls.

To prevent occupational diseases, it is important for fish sauce factories to comply with labor safety regulations, provide appropriate protective equipment, train and educate workers on safety and health, and implement preventive and environmental risk control measures.

e. Common types of fish sauce on the market

On the market, there are many popular types of fish sauce from different brands. Below are some common types of fish sauce:

• Phu Quoc fish sauce: Produced from Phu Quoc anchovies and famous for its rich and delicious flavor. Phu Quoc fish sauce often has a dark brown color and is traditionally produced through natural fermentation.
• Nam Ngu fish sauce: A famous and popular brand in Vietnam. Nam Ngu fish sauce has a rich flavor, beautiful brown color, and is made from anchovies and natural salt.
• Hon Phan Thuy fish sauce: A high-quality fish sauce brand. This fish sauce is made from fresh anchovies and sea salt, providing a distinctive and refined taste.
• Three Crab fish sauce: A special type of fish sauce made from anchovies and fresh crabs. This fish sauce has a rich, delicious flavor and is often used in cooking specialty dishes.
• Phan Thiet fish sauce: Originating from the coastal city of Phan Thiet, this fish sauce is made from fresh anchovies and has the rich, distinctive flavor of the Phan Thiet sea region.

2. Overview of occupational environment monitoring services

a. What is occupational environment monitoring in a fish sauce factory?

Occupational environment monitoring (or workplace environment monitoring) in a fish sauce factory is the activity of collecting, evaluating, and analyzing measurement indicators of occupational environmental factors in the fish sauce factory, in order to implement timely solutions, minimize environmental harm to workers’ health, and prevent occupational diseases. Occupational environment monitoring is a mandatory requirement for fish sauce factories.

Occupational environment monitoring plays the most important role in the care, protection, and improvement of workers’ health, because the main resource of enterprises and the direct creators of profit are workers. Workers who are frequently exposed to hazardous occupational factors exceeding permissible standards will be affected in their health and develop occupational diseases.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

b. Occupational environment monitoring program of Nam Viet

The occupational environment monitoring program of 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 the quality of air, water, and microclimate, physical, and dust factors 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 Nam Viet also plays an important role in researching and developing new solutions to improve the quality of the occupational environment. With the dedication and professionalism of the monitoring experts, Nam Viet’s exclusive monitoring program is becoming a breakthrough in the field of occupational safety management and environmental protection in Vietnam.

c. Standardization in occupational environment measurement processes

Standardization in occupational environment measurement processes of Nam Viet is a very important aspect in ensuring the quality of measurement results. To ensure accuracy and reliability of results, this program uses recognized standards and standardized procedures of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. This ensures that the data collected will be highly reliable for use in evaluating the occupational environment and making decisions on improving it to protect workers’ health.

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

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

d. Monitoring report of fish sauce factory

The occupational environment monitoring results are prepared according to Form No. 04, Appendix III issued together with Decree 44/2016/NĐ-CP and are made into two copies: one copy is sent to the workplace that signed a contract for occupational environment monitoring, and one copy is kept at the organization conducting the monitoring.

The retention period for occupational environment monitoring results is in accordance with the law, requiring records to be stored permanently.

e. Frequency of occupational environment monitoring according to law

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

f. Deadline for submitting occupational environment monitoring reports according to law

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

When there are changes in technology, production processes, or when renovating or upgrading workplaces that may generate new hazardous factors affecting workers’ health, enterprises must update occupational hygiene records regarding the harmful factors that require occupational environment monitoring.

g. Penalties for violations of occupational environment monitoring for employers

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

• Clause 2: A fine from 2,000,000 – 5,000,000 VND for employers who do not publicly announce to workers at the occupational environment monitoring site and at the location where hazardous factors are inspected, evaluated, and managed immediately after the monitoring results and hazard control results are available.
• Clause 3: A fine from 20,000,000 – 40,000,000 VND for employers who fail to conduct occupational environment monitoring to control harm to workers’ health as required by law.
• Clause 4: A fine from 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 VND for employers who collude with organizations conducting occupational environment monitoring to commit fraud in the monitoring process but not to the extent of criminal prosecution.

3. Harmful environmental factors for workers in fish sauce production factories

Workers in fish sauce production factories may be exposed to the following harmful environmental factors:

• Salt vapor: During fish sauce production, the fermentation and concentration processes can generate salt vapor. Salt vapor may cause irritation to the respiratory system and workers’ eyes.
• Ammonia vapor: Some fish sauce factories use ammonia during production. Ammonia vapor can irritate the respiratory system and eyes, causing breathing difficulties and conjunctivitis.
• Dust and impurities: The production process may generate dust and impurities from raw materials, equipment, and the working environment. Long-term exposure to dust and impurities may irritate the respiratory system and skin, causing pneumonia and skin problems.
• Noise: Machinery and equipment in fish sauce factories can generate high noise levels. Continuous and high-level noise may damage workers’ hearing, causing deafness and hearing loss.
• Temperature: The fermentation and concentration processes of fish sauce may require high temperatures. Workers must work in high-temperature environments, causing discomfort and stress to the body.
• Chemicals: During fish sauce production, chemicals such as salt, ammonia, and other processing agents may be used. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may cause irritation, skin problems, and other potential health risks.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

4. Measures to improve the working environment in fish sauce production factories

To improve the working environment in fish sauce production factories and protect workers’ health, the following measures can be implemented:

• Ensure ventilation and fan systems: Improve the ventilation system in the factory to ensure good air circulation and eliminate salt vapor, ammonia vapor, and other irritants. Use fans and exhaust systems to remove dust and impurities from the air.
• Provide protective equipment: Ensure workers are fully equipped with personal protective equipment, including respiratory protective masks, safety goggles, face masks, gloves, and protective clothing, to minimize direct exposure to irritants and protect the respiratory system, skin, and eyes.
• Safety training and education: Provide regular training and education on occupational safety and health for workers. Ensure they understand workplace environmental risks and know how to properly use protective equipment, prevent hazards, and handle incidents.
• Noise control: Install noise barriers and soundproofing to reduce noise from machinery and equipment. Provide protective headphones and ensure workers use them when working in high-noise environments.
• Chemical management: Ensure safe use of chemicals and comply with regulations on storage, use, and disposal of chemicals. Provide guidance and training for workers on safe chemical use and preventive measures against exposure.
• Regularly organize occupational environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze harmful factors for workers, and adjust to reduce hazards to prevent occupational diseases.

5. Benefits of regular fish sauce factory monitoring

An Toan Nam Viet provides your business with great 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.

• Your business can proactively control harmful factors in workshops or factories.
• Receive recommendations for measures to minimize harmful factors and improve the quality of the working environment.
• Indirectly protect human resources, the key factor in enterprise development.
• Reduce the impact of occupational diseases on human health, thereby reducing future treatment costs.
• Improve workers’ health, leading to guaranteed and maintained product quality and output.
• Comply with labor safety regulations, avoiding legal risks.
• Create prestige and professionalism in all aspects, thereby enhancing your business brand.

The environmental monitoring service of An Toan Nam Viet is the solution to minimize the harm of occupational diseases, contributing to creating a fresh and quality working environment.

6. National Occupational Environment Monitoring Center

Occupational Environment Monitoring Center of An Toan Nam Viet is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring occupational environment quality throughout 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 focuses on customer satisfaction, meeting all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.

REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

With investments in technology, equipment, and human resources, the monitoring center of An Toan Nam Viet has become one of the reputable units in the field of occupational environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following goals:

• We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our services.
• We provide customers with the best and most suitable solutions possible.
• Together with a team of experienced and professional Masters and Engineers, we aim to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
• With An Toan Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field and enjoy the best cost benefits.

The occupational environment monitoring process at An Toan Nam Viet includes the following basic steps:

• Before conducting occupational environment monitoring, we always ensure that the machinery and equipment used for monitoring are adjusted and calibrated in accordance with the law.
• Strictly follow the occupational environment monitoring process committed to the Department of Health.
• Truthfully report occupational environment monitoring results to the employer.
• In cases where monitoring results do not ensure safety for workers, An Toan Nam Viet will provide support with corrective solutions, and the workplace will implement as follows:
  • Implement measures to improve working conditions to minimize the impact of harmful factors and prevent occupational diseases.
  • Organize health checks to detect occupational diseases and job-related illnesses early for workers in unsafe environments.
  • Provide material allowances for workers in accordance with labor law regulations.

7. Occupational Environment Monitoring Price List

To help businesses conduct occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, An Toan Nam Viet provides customers with a price list for occupational environment monitoring services with quality and reasonable costs.

• Our price list provides detailed information about the costs of the monitoring services we offer, including travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting costs. Customers can be 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 provide quick and professional consultation on all monitoring service inquiries.
• With the An Toan Nam Viet monitoring price list, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.