14 replies to this topic

[PSC]

I have been asked to allow music in our production areas. We are an RTE meat company. Before we were BRC certified, we allowed music. However, our BRC consultant told us we needed to remove the music players because they could not be properly sanitized. I know there are plenty of waterproof music players available, I just don't know if it's reasonable for them to be allowed in our production areas.

 

Has anyone else come across this issue? 

 

Any advice, experience or suggestions are most appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[GMO]

We have a tannoy based system.  I vetoed portable radios on the same basis and FB risk but I don't see anything wrong with waterproof cleanable systems which aren't FB risks.

[Simon]

I agree with GMO, music itself is not a hazard to food safety, but the delivery equipment can be.  Broadcasting music via speakers to the whole factory is the easiest and safest method.

 

 

Regards,

Simon

[Dr Vu]

 PSC be careful.. jamming Bob  Marley make salmonella more reproductive

[cfullerrun]

Please note that in addition to food safety concerns, you may face licensing fees for broadcasting music in your facility. In the US that is typically handled by ASCAP or BMI. Just one more thing to think about...

[ctzinck]

 PSC be careful.. jamming Bob  Marley make salmonella more reproductive

 

Bob Marley? I would of suspected Barry White...

[Big Wally]

Piping in Barry White would make everything more reproductive.

[Simon]

How about some grunge...they like dirt.

[Simon]

By the way going back to the serious question there are also some person safety issues with music, which can be a distraction or mask hazards if on too loud.  That said it has many psychological benefits if delivered safely and at a level that does not cause other problems.  

 

Now back to the music that bacteria like to get down to.

[PSC]

I want to thank everyone for their heartfelt and long thought out recommendations. Also, I hate you all...   

[QATX12]

I believe the following needs to be taken into consideration:

1. the use of radios may distract employees from their work which could lead to work place injuries and product quality issues
2. it may muffle sounds that they need to hear (phones, alarms, pages, etc.), you know important stuff
3. it tends to shut people off from others, because coworkers are hesitant to interrupt people who seem to be indicating that they don’t want to talk.
4. not everyone will agree with the type of music you decide to play and as a result may find it to be a nuisance
5. in the U.S. OSHA could potentially decide it is a safety violation as employees can be distracted from their line of work

[VickieLew]

I asked this same question a long, long time ago.  A very wise person answered with this simple Louis Pasteur quote;

"In the field of observation, chance favours only the prepared mind."
 

[matthewcc]

^{It seems like the solution might be to cover the radio with a plastic bag, and then clean/replace the bag as often as necessary.}

^{This doesn't address the safety/distractedness considerations though.  If you keep the volume down low enough, shouldn't it be all right?}

 

^Matthew

[JohnWheat]

We have a speaker system (robust plastic speaker which can be wiped down easily enough but far enough away to not cause FB issue in the very unlikely event of damage). In Areas where safety is an issue they're not present. Everywhere that they can heard without being intrusive we have them installed. 

Licensing isn't cheap but productivity is up   especially at Xmas when people sing along (less these days as we don't seem to have any English staff!). Only issue comes up is the choice of radio station!

[Wowie]

In some poultry operations I worked in, we had them in the live hang area. We did not see distraction as a result of the music, quite the opposite! Employees were more relaxed and got into a rhythm with their work. It was not loud enough to override fire alarms, alarms from any of the belt stop systems, etc, but it was definitely able to be heard. We didn't allow any off color music, but the whole group decided what kind of music to play. When you put it as "Either we'll agree to something, or we won't have music", people tend to be a little more forgiving. Also, putting it on a rotation (a little classic rock one day, soul the next, etc) makes everyone happy.

 

That being said - It was a waterproof radio, even though it was in live hang. Same for in a small beef operation I was in for a while. The government representatives even enjoyed listening to Bob Seger there.