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Brewery & Distillery
Craft Brewery
agement and cleaning floors” are his top recom- The first places to look for safety hazards include
mendations. the production facility and anywhere open to the
public. But don’t forget about behind-the-scenes
The Role of locations such as the shipping and receiving area or
Personal Protective Equipment the bathrooms. A safety plan might include briefing
delivery drivers and vendors about safety protocols
Personal protective equipment is vital across unique to the facility.
many industries, including craft beverage produc-
tion. Breweries and distilleries should ensure that Safety Tips for Brewers and Distillers
employees wear the proper clothing and footwear
to do their jobs safely and without distraction or Flooring-related slips, trips and falls are among the
hazards. Protection for the eyes, ears and hands most critical safety concerns in a brewery or distill-
should be worn when operating specialized pieces ery. To ensure that the floors are safe to walk on,
of machinery that can put the body at risk. spills should be cleaned up as quickly as possible,
relevant signage posted, and obstructions moved
PPE has played an even more significant role in out of walkways. Obstructions include cords,
the craft beverage industry due to the COVID-19 boxes, bottles, cans and employees’ personal bags.
pandemic. Depending on where a producer oper- Employees should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes
ates and what the ever-changing guidelines dictate, to protect themselves from broken glass, chemical
front-of-house staff members who interact with the spills and slippery surfaces.
general public may also need to utilize face masks,
face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer and other sani- Chemical leaks, spills and handling are significant
tation measures. concerns for craft beverage producers because
of how dangerous these substances can be when
Responsibilities of misused. Goggles, protective footwear and safety
Workers and Supervisors aprons can help prevent injuries due to chemical
exposure. Make sure to clearly label hazardous
Ensuring that a brewery or distillery operates in a materials, so employees know to avoid these prod-
safe environment starts with good communication ucts or use extra caution when handling them.
among everyone who works onsite. Owners and Ensure proper ventilation in areas where chemicals
managers can begin this process by asking employ- are used, particularly in small spaces.
ees if they feel safe in the workplace and encour-
aging them to raise concerns about any potential Initial and ongoing safety training is important to
hazards they have noticed in the facility. prepare employees for potentially dangerous situa-
tions and common scenarios that could turn deadly
Buoni at Pennsylvania Distilling Company told without a moment’s notice. In smaller operations
Beverage Master Magazine that employee safety with just a few staff members, it might be neces-
training is conducted by him directly. This includes sary to cross-train all employees on the various
testing equipment controls and safety procedures. safety procedures, so everyone is prepared to han-
dle diverse tasks throughout the day. Being proac-
“Our safety checklist includes proper use of PPE, tive with training is always preferable to training in
fire extinguishers, proper storage of products and response to an incident. In addition to how to safe-
chemicals, proper use of pumps and compressors, ly use specialized equipment, it may also be bene-
understanding of peripheral equipment including ficial to train employees on first aid, CPR and basic
the steam boiler and chiller, use of any electrical safety tips for seemingly simple tasks like opening
equipment, grounding of tanks and pumps, food boxes and stocking supplies.
processing safety and how to lift objects like grain
bags safely,” Buoni said. OSHA compliance is required of brewery and
distillery owners in order to keep their licenses to
At Half Brothers Brewing, “Each new employee operate. Laws and regulations in the alcohol indus-
has an SOP manual and exam they must complete try frequently change, so producers should keep
before working alone in the building and factory,” up with any updates. OSHA is known to show up
said Gunderson. unannounced to inspect and ensure that safety
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