Baxter Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Location: Alliston, Ontario
Client: Baxter International, Canada
Baxter International is a globally recognized manufacturer and marketer of medical and pharmaceutical products. The company operates through North and South America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia-Pacific segments. In Canada the company serves 850 institutions and more than 5,000 home dialysis patients across Canada.
Baxter’s Alliston Ontario manufacturing facility is the longest standing, parenteral solutions plant in Canada and the only large-scale manufacturing plant producing life-sustaining intravenous and dialysis solutions. (Parenteral solutions are medicines that are primarily intravenously or by injection).
HGC Engineering acted as a subconsultant to Environmental Resources Management (ERM), by preparing an Acoustic Assessment Report for Baxter’s Alliston manufacturing plant. This study was required in support of an application to the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (“MOECC”) for an amended Environmental Compliance Approval.
Sound levels were measured at the facility near each noise source and at neighboring offsite points of reception. The sound power emission levels were used as input to a predictive acoustical model of the facility in order to prepare a sound source inventory, and thereby determine the contribution of each individual source to the overall offsite sound levels. Sound intensity measurement techniques were employed to measure the sound power of each sound source.
Acoustic assessment criteria were established in accordance with the sound level limits in MOECC guideline NPC-300 and used to assess the sound emissions of the facility.
The measurements and analysis indicated that, with mitigation measures implemented for a number of sources at the site, the sound emissions of the facility would be within the applicable limits as set out in MOECC guideline NPC-300. A Noise Abatement Action Plan was prepared and presented, including detailed acoustical performance specifications and a timeline for the implementation of the noise control measures.
Acoustical Engineering Service Delivered:
- Workplace Noise Survey
- Sound intensity measurement techniques
- Conducted detailed noise studies in accordance with Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change procedures
- Specified noise controls
- Developed noise control plan
