Whether you’re a professional or amateur, if you’ve ever brewed beer properly, you’ll know that there’s so much more to it than mixing a few ingredients together and leaving it to ferment. There’s a science to it, and a lot of potential safety hazards that you’ll have to be conscious of throughout the process.

For instance, the process of brewing alcohol will naturally result in the generation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as the yeast consumes the carbohydrates in the grains. Similarly, the process and the equipment used can also lead to the release of Ammonia (NH3).

Even in smaller doses, both of these gases can cause problems.

Carbon Dioxide can lead to:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Elevated blood pressure and heart rate
• Asphyxia
• Convulsions

Ammonia meanwhile, can be even more dangerous, and in smaller quantities. Exposure to NH3 can lead to:

• Headaches
• Burning of the eyes, nose throat and respiratory tract
• Oedema (fluid build-up that leads to swelling)
• Lung Damage
• Memory impairment
• Blindness
• Seizures.

In larger doses, both gases can lead to comas, and even be fatal.

What’s more, the build-up of these gases, Carbon Dioxide in particular, can occur in many places around a brewery, especially in confined spaces, such as storage, fermentation and mixing tanks, bottling stations, as well as kegs and storing areas. This also means that if gas levels are left unchecked, not only will they have an adverse effect on brewery staff, the dangers can also be transported over to pub staff who have to handle the barrels on their end.

As well as being dangerous, carelessness when it comes to keeping dangerous gases monitored and in check can also hurt your finances tremendously.

Carlsberg and Consequences

This was the case for Carlsberg. At their site in Northampton, they failed to prevent the exposure of two contractors to a buildup of ammonia, who were there to work on one of the refrigeration systems.

While they were removing a compressor, they were hit with a large uncontrolled release of ammonia. As a result, one of the contractors, David Chandler, was killed, while another, David Beak, was left with serious injuries. A further twenty people were also left in need of hospital checks after showing symptoms of ammonia exposure.

The leak took several days to contain and Carlsberg was later fined £3 million for their part in the tragedy.

The investigating HSE principal inspector, Samantha Wells said “Both the client, Carlsberg, and the principal contractor should have worked together to ensure that the risk was adequately managed. Not only Carlsberg had a duty here. There was also a very clear duty on the principal contractor.”

It’s clear then, that no matter where or who you’re working with, you need to be making sure you and your workers are working safely. That’s why Point Safety provides a number of gas safety measures, so no matter whether you’re a brewery or a contractor, you can get the tools you need to keep yourself and your workforce safe.

To find out more about what solution is best for you, get in touch with our friendly, expert team today.