The craft brewing industry has exploded across New England in recent years — from
small taprooms to large production facilities. But with growth comes responsibility,
especially when it comes to workplace safety. Breweries combine several types of hazards
— chemical, mechanical, ergonomic, and even confined space — which means OSHA
takes a close look when it comes to compliance.
At East Shore Safety, we work with breweries throughout Massachusetts and the
surrounding states to help them understand and meet their OSHA obligations. Here’s what
every brewery owner and manager should know.
✅OSHA Training Requirements for Breweries
OSHA requires that employees be properly trained to recognize and protect themselves
from workplace hazards. In a brewery, that typically includes:
- Hazard Communication (HazCom): Employees must understand chemical labeling, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and proper handling of cleaning and sanitizing agents.
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): For anyone servicing or maintaining equipment such as kettles, conveyors, or canning lines.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Training on when and how to use gloves, eye protection, respirators, hearing protection, etc.
- Forklift (Powered Industrial Truck) Training: Required if forklifts or pallet jacks are used for moving materials or kegs.
- Confined Space Awareness: Breweries often have tanks, silos, and vessels that qualify as confined spaces. Workers must understand entry procedures and hazard controls.
- Emergency Response and First Aid: Knowing what to do in the event of a chemical spill, burn, or other injury can save lives.
Annual refresher training and documentation of all training sessions are essential for
compliance.
🛠 Required Written Safety Programs
OSHA mandates certain written programs for specific hazards. For breweries, the
following are typically required:
- Hazard Communication Program
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program
- Respiratory Protection Program (if respirators are required)
- Confined Space Program
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment and Program
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
- Chemical Hygiene Plan (for laboratories or quality control areas)
- Hearing Conservation Program (if noise levels exceed permissible limits)
Having written programs in place isn’t just about compliance — it’s about creating a
consistent safety culture and ensuring all employees know what to do in potentially
hazardous situations.
✅ OSHA Inspections and Brewery Safety Audits
Breweries can face OSHA inspections for various reasons: employee complaints,
accidents, or even random emphasis programs. Common violations seen in brewery
settings include:
- Incomplete or missing written programs
- Failure to provide required employee training
- Unlabeled chemical containers or missing SDS sheets
- Improper confined space entry procedures
- Inadequate machine guarding or energy control procedures
To prevent costly fines and downtime, it’s wise to conduct regular third-party safety
inspections. East Shore Safety performs on-site audits that mirror OSHA’s inspection
process — identifying gaps and helping your team correct them before they become
violations.
🔒 Building a Safer Brewery with East Shore Safety
Class sizes are limited to ensure personalized instruction and Q&A time. Contact us today to reserve your spot in an upcoming class or to schedule on-site training for your team.
- Customized written safety programs
- Annual and new-hire safety training sessions
- Facility inspections and safety audits
- Regulatory compliance tracking
Whether you operate a small microbrewery or a large production facility, East Shore
Safety can help you build a safer, more compliant workplace — so you can focus on
what you do best: brewing great beer.
Interested in a brewery safety consultation?
📅Contact East Shore Safety today to schedule an initial audit or compliance review.