WorkSafeBC has put together new safety resources for the craft brewing industry.
Since the industry has grown so quickly in the last 10 years, tripling in size from 54 employers to 160, the provincial agency says there’s a risk of workplace hazards.
“Craft-beer brewing is a complex process that involves multiple stages of production,” said Megan Martin with WorkSafeBC. “We know brewers and distillers spend a lot of time and effort focusing on the quality of their products, and we want to make sure they produce them safely.”
From 2008 to 2017, WorkSafeBC says there were 284 accepted claims for injuries in craft breweries and distilleries. The most common injuries were falls, overexertion, getting struck by something, repetitive motion and exposure to heat and cold.
The new guide, posters and video WorkSafeBC has released address hazards specific to the brewing and distilling process, touching on topics like confine spaces and carbon dioxide.
The Richmond News has reached out the city’s three craft breweries for comment.
