WA inspection campaign looks at work safety at breweries

WorkSafe in Western Australia is currently conducting an inspection campaign to check on workplace safety standards in the brewing industry.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the campaign would focus on identifying any common safety risks: “The campaign aims to identify risks to the safety and health of workers in the industry and to provide employers with information on how to comply with workplace safety laws. The number of small breweries has grown considerably over recent years; and over the next couple of months, inspectors will visit breweries across the state.

“The brewery industry, like most other industries, has its own unique set of hazards, including issues such as manual handling and pressure vessels.

“The manual handling of heavy barrels and kegs - especially when these need to be stacked for storage - is one of the areas inspectors will be examining to ensure that safe handling procedures are in place. Large heavy bags of substances such as grain and hops can also present manual handling hazards.

“Inspectors will be focusing on hoses and connection points of tanks (pressure vessels) that are generally used for brewing, as well as looking at WorkSafe’s priority areas such as electricity, hazardous substances and slips, trips and falls.”

The industry has been contacted to make it aware of the inspection campaign and to let members know what will occur when an inspector visits. Approximately 30 breweries will be visited across the state.

“These inspection campaigns are aimed at providing employers with information on how to comply with occupational safety and health laws, and employers who are not complying with the laws are being provided with information to assist them to do so,” continued Lyhne. “Inspectors will take enforcement action if they believe a brewery is in breach of legislation, but we firmly believe that raising awareness with proactive campaigns is the best way in which to lessen the risk of work-related illness and injury.