Brewing is an art, but brewing is more like a science. Specialized ingredients, exacting temperatures, well-maintained machinery and the utmost safety are required. In every industry, the inherent risks need to be given special consideration to ensure the safety of employees and customers, and craft breweries and wineries are no exception.
Safety in the brewing and distilling industry is key to reducing accidents and injuries at work. In this article, we explore some of the risks faced by brewery and distillery workers, and what employers can do to provide a safe workplace.
Common safety hazards in craft breweries and breweries
Equipment failure
Breweries use a variety of equipment to produce and store beer, from kegs to walk-in coolers. If the equipment fails, this can lead to abnormal beer.
Machine safety
Contact with parts of the machine can cause serious hazards. Touching the device during cleaning, setting or maintenance work can lead to accidents.
Packaging problem
Bottles for dispensing beer often suffer from certain issues such as broken, chipped, which can lead to beer being contaminated or moldy.
Working environment
Injuries caused by slipping on wet floors or being carried by objects. Vapors emitted during brewing and distillation, as well as hazards posed by chemicals, are common causes of injury.
Hazardous chemicals
Cleaning solvents and sanitizing chemicals used in breweries and distilleries can cause minor skin irritations to serious injuries.
Risk Management Skills
There are steps breweries and distilleries can take to help manage the risks they face. Proper risk management can help reduce equipment downtime, improve products, increase employee safety, and various other financial benefits.
- Have proper small business insurance
- Discuss risks with vendors and suppliers
- Create a security to-do list
Safety Tips for Micro Brewing Equipment
Keep the kettle clean
Cleaning with the right chemicals at the right frequency is an integral part of keeping your equipment running . Warmth is lost due to kettle scaling, which affects the brewer’s evaporation rate and kettle gravity.
Repair small steam leaks
Fixing small leaks not only prevents accidents, but also prevents the brewery’s expensive boilers from malfunctioning.
Use MSDS
OSHA, the government agency that regulates workplace safety, requires employees to access these sheets at all times, and for good reason. MSDSs list chemicals used in the workplace along with concentrations, safe handling procedures, and disposal methods when removed from human contact.
Use a New Antifoam to Prevent Boiling
Beers use more wort, and these beers are higher in protein, creating more head in the brewing process. Adding an anti-foaming agent is added to the brew, preventing the kettle from boiling over and keeping the area safe for employees.
Join a Brewers Organization
Microbreweries concerned about employee safety can find support by joining their brewery council. Provides information and support on all aspects of craft beer.