5 Ways Breweries Can Prevent Workplace Accidents

Workplace accidents in breweries cost companies millions yearly in workers' compensation, equipment repairs, and lost productivity. Many breweries are forced to shut down because they can't recover from the financial impact of serious accidents. 

But here's the good news: most brewery accidents are preventable with the right safety systems.

Get Your Safety Management System Right from Day One

Every brewery needs a clear plan for keeping workers safe. This starts with writing down exactly who's responsible for what regarding safety. Your managers need to know their safety duties, and your workers need to know what's expected of them. Keep these documents simple and specific - fancy language won't help anyone stay safer.

The next step is to check your brewery regularly for safety issues. Walk through your facility at least once a month with a checklist. Look for obvious problems like wet floors or blocked exits, but also check less obvious things like loose handrails or damaged equipment guards. When you find problems, fix them immediately and write down what you did.

Including fire safety in routine safety management is also a crucial step. A recent fire safety survey by Emergency Lights revealed that 42% of respondents lack a fire extinguisher on every level of their home, posing a serious risk. Breweries should take similar precautions by ensuring all areas are equipped with the proper fire prevention equipment. Regular inspections of electrical systems and hot surfaces are also key to reducing fire hazards. Training staff on emergency protocols will help ensure a quick response in case of an emergency.

Keep Your Equipment and Machinery Safe

Every piece of equipment in your brewery needs proper care and attention. Your forklifts and pallet trucks are especially important - they can cause serious accidents if handled incorrectly. According to workplace safety experts at salvilaw.com, equipment-related accidents are among the most serious in breweries, often resulting in severe injuries and liability issues. 

Train your workers thoroughly on how to use this equipment and document that training. Ensure they check their vehicles daily before use and never try to lift more than what the equipment is rated for. A properly trained worker on well-maintained equipment is much less likely to have an accident.

Kegs might seem simple, but they need special attention, too. Never let anyone mess with keg safety devices - they're there for a reason. Every keg system needs a pressure regulator, and you should only use kegs from your brewery unless you have a very good reason not to. Check every keg's Sankey valve, steel ball, and o-ring regularly.

Deal with Your Most Dangerous Areas First

Wet floors are one of the biggest safety threats in any brewery. Make it a rule that spills get cleaned up immediately - no exceptions. Clear your walkways, stairs, and work areas of boxes, hoses, and other trip hazards. Put non-slip mats in areas that tend to get wet, and make sure your drainage systems work properly.

Heat is another major hazard. Every hot pipe needs proper insulation, and every hot surface needs a warning label. Your workers also need the right protective gear - safety goggles, heat-resistant gloves, and proper clothing that covers their arms and legs. Ensure everyone knows which areas and equipment can cause burns, and create specific procedures for working with hot liquids and steam.

Get Your Training Program Right

Safety training isn't a one-time thing. Start with thorough training when someone joins your team, and keep it going throughout their time with you. Train your workers before they start any new task, and ensure they know they shouldn't do anything they haven't been trained for. Keep your training practical and hands-on - people learn better by doing than just listening.

Lifting is a big part of brewery work; doing it wrong can lead to serious injuries. Train your workers on proper lifting techniques, but don't stop there. Use machines like hoists and conveyors wherever possible - they're more reliable than human muscle and won't tire. When something's too heavy for one person, make it a rule that two people lift it together.

Keep Track and Keep Improving

You can't improve what you don't measure. Keep detailed records of all accidents, near-misses, and safety inspections. Look for patterns - are certain areas or tasks causing more problems than others? Use this information to improve your safety program.

But don't just focus on what goes wrong. Track what's working, too. When you go a certain number of days without accidents, celebrate it. When workers come up with good safety ideas, recognize them. This helps keep everyone focused on safety.