Brewers Association releases brewery safety training course

As part of its mission to increase safety awareness, the Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers, has launched the Brewers Association Online Brewery Safety Training course.

Created in conjunction with Grand Valley State University, the free 10-part course includes videos, quizzes and other resources, focusing on the specific tasks that are performed in a brewery, including grain handling; mashing; transfer and boiling; whirlpool and cooling; fermentation cleaning and sanitizing; fermentation and cellaring; filtering and carbonation; keg cleaning; and keg filling and bottling.

“Safety is a serious issue, and establishing or refining a sound safety program is imperative for all breweries,” said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association. “The Brewers Association Online Brewery Safety Training course addresses the need for occupational safety and health training in the brewing industry and serves as a comprehensive resource for safety training and education. The BA encourages both member and non-member companies to take advantage of this important resource.”

In the list of “most important things to consider when running a craft brewery,” safety is No. 1. You don’t have to take my word for it, just listen to Damon Scott, lead brewer at No-Li Brewhouse, talk about keg safety:

“There have been many reports regarding catastrophic or potentially catastrophic keg failure. These incidents have mainly focused on plastic kegs, but safety is equally important when dealing with metal kegs.”

Click here to continue reading more safety-focused insight from the industry’s top brewers.