Microbrewery Equipment Safety Tips

Brewing is an art, but it’s also a science. Brewing requires specialized ingredients, precise temperatures, well-maintained machinery, and extreme safety. Every industry requires special consideration of its inherent risks 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 workplace injuries. This article will explore some of the risks faced by brewery and distillery workers and what employers can do to create a safe workplace.

Common safety hazards in craft breweries and distilleries

Equipment failures

Breweries use a variety of equipment to produce and store beer, from kegs to walk-in coolers. If the equipment fails, it can result in distorted beer.

Machine safety

Contacting machine parts can be seriously dangerous. Touching equipment during cleaning, setup, or maintenance can lead to accidents.

Packaging issues

Bottles used to hold beer often have problems such as breakage and chips, which can lead to contamination or mold in the beer.

Work environment

Injuries caused by slipping on wet floors or being held by objects. Steam released during the brewing and distilling process, as well as hazards caused by chemicals, are common causes of injury.

Hazardous chemicals

Cleaning solvents and disinfecting chemicals used in breweries and distilleries can cause minor skin irritation or even serious injury.

Risk Management Skills

There are steps breweries and distilleries can take to manage the risks they face. Proper risk management can help reduce equipment downtime, improve products, increase employee safety, and provide a variety of other financial benefits.

• Have the right small business insurance

• Discuss risks with vendors and suppliers

• Create a safety to-do list

Safety Tips for Microbrewery Equipment

Keep the Kettle Clean

Using the right chemicals and cleaning at the right frequency are important parts of keeping your equipment running properly. Kettle scaling causes heat loss, which in turn affects the evaporation rate of your coffee machine and the gravity of the kettle.

Fix Small Steam Leaks

Fix small leaks not only prevent accidents, but also prevent expensive boiler failures in your brewery.

Use MSDSs

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the government agency responsible for regulating workplace safety, requires employees to have access to these forms at all times, and for good reason. MSDSs list chemicals used in the workplace and their concentrations, safe handling procedures, and methods for disposal after human contact.

Prevent Boiling with New Defoamers

Beers use more wort, and these beers have a higher protein content, which creates more foam during the brewing process. Defoamers are added during the brewing process to prevent kettles from boiling over and keep employees safe.

Join a Brewers Organization

Small breweries concerned about employee safety can get support by joining their Brewers Council. The council provides information and support on all aspects of craft beer.