Noise considerations in the design and operation of waste facilities Dan Clayton SLR Consulting Alberta Care Spring Seminar 2019 1
OVERVIEW This presentation is prepared to provide information on the following: • What is Acoustics? • What noise issues are generated by operating a waste management facility? • What should we consider when designing a site with respect to noise? • What techniques can we use to control noise?
Who am I? Dan Clayton Worked in Acoustics Consultancy for over 12 years Moved from UK recently Sectors worked in: • Power (O&G, Nuclear, Renewable) • Mining • Industry and Manufacturing • Transport (Road, Rail and Air) • Property (Commercial and Private) • Government Policy Development • Waste and Recycling 3
Who are SLR Consulting SLR delivers global environmental and advisory solutions We provide advice and services to clients in the oil and gas, mining and minerals, infrastructure, built environment, industry, and power sectors. 4
ABOUT SLR SLR CANADIAN OFFICES 5
SLR Services • Air Quality (emissions and dust) • CAD & GIS • Civil & Structural Engineering • Ecology • Environment Management, Permitting & Compliance • Geotechnical Engineering • Hydrology & Hydrogeology • Land Quality & Remediation • Planning including development of Government Policies • Transactional Due Diligence • Waste Management 6
Acoustics, Noise & Vibration Our team’s expertise Subtitle can be employed in a A lead in explanation of variety of ways, from the image would go here providing guidance on or a series of bulleted lists that would explain architectural acoustics about the project or to carrying out full image. environmental noise impact assessments for major industrial facilities and infrastructure projects. 7 7
What is Acoustics? Question? Who has been affected by acoustics in their life? 8
Why is this?? Because noise is a pollutant! 9
What are the different areas of Acoustics? • Environmental Acoustics/Noise • Environmental Vibration • Occupational Noise • Occupational Vibration • Building Acoustics • Audio and Public Address 10
Why should we care about acoustics? • It affects quality of life • High sound levels cause permanent hearing damage • High vibration levels cause muscle issues and disorders • It affects communication and safety • It affects wildlife behaviour 11
Why should we care about noise? Our health is becoming increasingly affected by noise through: • sleep disturbance • annoyance • hearing damage More people are affected by noise than ever have been. Due to growing populations and infrastructure demands. Animals alter their behaviour or move to avoid noise. This has a flow-on effect for whole ecosystems and us! 12
What are the worst offenders? • Transportation Noise (Road, Rail, Air and Sea) • Industrial Noise (Waste, Recycling & Manufacturing) • Power Generation & Transmission • Entertainment Venues and Outdoor Events • Construction • Mining • Domestic 13
When should we look at noise and vibration issues? After a complaint? At commissioning stage? At the construction stage? At the planning stage! 14
There’s lots of space in Canada! We don’t need to worry about noise from waste sites right? Noise complaints are on the rise and people and industry are getting closer together! Consideration of noise often comes last or not at all. Then a problem hits and it’s painful for residents and operators! It’s expensive to resolve retrospectively due to • Increased public awareness causing more headaches for operators • Assessment and legal processes lasting a long time • Mitigation options are implemented which reduce: – Operating hours – Flexibility of permitted operations or processing areas – Types of waste that can be processed All of these things can be reduced or avoided!! 15
What are the main acoustic considerations for waste management sites? Environmental noise affecting people • Residential areas • Recreational and tranquil areas Environmental noise affecting wildlife Noise affecting workers – Occupational Noise Occupational Vibration – Hand Arm – Whole Body 16
What are the main acoustics issues for waste facilities? Offsite Environmental Noise Pollution: • Haulage and worker traffic noise Onsite Environmental Noise Pollution: • Haulage and moving vehicles/machinery • Processing equipment noise • Warning systems • Moving of waste 17
Environmental Noise Design Issues What is the criteria? There aren’t any! No regulation or criteria for waste facilities in Alberta (causes confusion and unnecessary delays) Relies on Consultation with Public to agree criteria (lengthy process) 18
Environmental Noise Design Process Agree criteria and methodology with stakeholders and public Model sound sources Baseline monitoring Assessment Mitigate Commissioning 19
Criteria and Methodology No province criteria for waste facility assessment Bylaw limits are often out of date and too high Can we use AER Directive 38 or AUC Rule 012 No! Why not? They are designed for constant and broadband sound. Waste Facilities are different! 20
What does that mean? What’s the difference between a constant, broadband sound and one that isn’t? Is one more annoying that the other? 21
Assessment Criteria and Methodology What should we use? • Assessment and criteria based on how the facility will change the acoustic environment • Apply penalties for sounds that are not constant and broadband 22
Modelling Why model? Easier than moving after operations start Optimize site for • Orientation • Topography • Sound source location • Haul routes (onsite and offsite) Save money! 23
Monitoring for existing situation Need to measure the existing sound levels prior to operation so we can avoid negative impacts. Monitor at a number of sensitive receptors and over a minimum of a week period Monitor during periods of low wind speeds and without rain or snow. 24
Mitigation Once the site has been optimised as far as possible, we may still need to reduce the sound on site to • Meet environmental noise criteria • Reduce sound exposure to workers • Engage public on potential issues and relay changes in sound level due to proposed operations 25
Environmental noise control options Select quieter equipment Reduce sound at source through silencers or enclosures Equipment with less annoying characteristics Place permanent structures around high noise items including: • Buildings • Fences • Soil mounds/berms • Soundscaping (fountains and tree planting) • Sound insulation of affected residences Educate workers on how to operate machinery to minimize noise 26
Occupational noise control options What’s the default solution to occupational noise? Earplugs! They are PPE and should be the last line of defence 27
Occupational noise control options Put work areas away from high sound areas Automating processes so less time spent near high sound equipment Introduce noise control (similar methods to environmental) Train workers about exposure to high sound levels Assess hearing protection requirements, provide hearing protection to workers and train them how to use it 28
Hearing protection assessments Hearing test is not a form of defence! It’s too late Measure the sound level in work areas • Spot level measurements • Dosimetry Determine the frequency content (Hz) of sound in work areas Specify hearing protection to achieve below Health Canada Hearing Damage Levels at the ear 29
Hearing protection implementation Care should be taken to not under or over protect workers Provide training to workers on the importance of hearing protection and how to use it Why do this? Because if it’s not specified correctly then the employer is liable down the road! 30
Commissioning sound measurements Need to check that the design works in reality Modelling is only as good as the information put into it, assumptions are often made Verification through sound measurement is the best way to check compliance once operational 31
Conclusions Noise assessment and design prior to operation saves time and money; minimizing impacts on people and the environment. Alberta needs to introduce noise regulations for operators outside of energy and utilities Method an options for achieving effective noise pollution management and control and minimizing risk to workers 32
Questions THANK YOU! Dan Clayton SLR Consulting Ltd dclayton@slrconsulting.com 33
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