Brewers Association Enters OSHA Industry Alliance with New York

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By Chuck Skypeck

Technical Brewing Projects Director

November 14, 2022

 

The New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA), the Brewers Association (BA), and the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) have established an alliance with the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region II Regional Office and the New York State Department of Labor 21(d) On-Site Consultation Program. The alliance will foster a collaborative relationship to provide the brewing industry in New York with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect the health and safety of their workers.

Alliance Will Prioritize Brewer Safety and Reducing Injuries

“The Safety Subcommittee is excited to see another alliance come together,” said Rachel Bell, BA Safety Subcommittee chair. “Previous alliances have reduced exposure to hazards and increased proactive, preventative strategies in breweries of all sizes and across all company departments. One of the BA’s strategic objectives is to ‘foster the commitment to holistic safety, quality, and operational excellence,’ and we look forward to seeing this in action and seeing more alliances in the future.”

“New York State has over 500 breweries and growing,” said Paul Leone, Executive Director of the NYSBA. “As brewers continue to focus on making great beer, managing supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and working hard to make their breweries a great place to visit, they also need to focus on keeping themselves and all their employees safe from getting hurt on the job. The New York State Brewers Association is proud to partner with the BA, MBAA, OSHA Region II, and the New York Department of Labor On-Site Consultation Program to offer an opportunity for all breweries to go through a consultation to ensure they are doing everything within their power to ensure a safe workplace for all.”

Since these initiatives have been launched, total recordable injuries and illnesses in breweries have declined at a rate of 34% over the last five reported years.

Matt Stinchfield, BA Safety Ambassador

The BA and state brewers’ guilds have developed other OSHA alliances in Colorado, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and have seen positive outcomes in safety awareness and injury reduction firsthand. “Since these initiatives have been launched, total recordable injuries and illnesses in breweries have declined at a rate of 34% over the last five reported years”, said BA Safety Ambassador Matt Stinchfield. “In the long term, this alliance will drive injury rates downward, while increasing regulatory compliance.”

New York OSHA Alliance Objectives

“With more than 500 breweries and a strong, well-organized state-level trade association for craft
brewers, having an industry alliance in New York gives us an opportunity to share information, training
resources, and best safety practices to educate employers and protect workers better,” said OSHA
Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson.

Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and alliance participants. The members of this alliance will work together to achieve the following objectives, among others:

• Develop and deliver effective training and education programs
• Promote access to existing resources, such as the BA’s free Online Brewery Safety Training
• Share information among OSHA personnel and safety and health professionals regarding industry best practices
• Encourage members of the BA, MBAA, and NYSBA to participate in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Campaign with onsite safety and health promotional activities
• Provide free safety and health consulting using the New York Department of Labor On-Site Consultation ProgramOpens in new window

The agreement establishing the alliance was signed on November 9, 2022 and will remain in force for two years. The signatories are Richard Mendelson (Regional Administrator, OSHA Region II), Joe Luckert (New York State Department of Labor On-Site Consultation Program), Scott Melvin (Executive Deputy Commissioner, New York State Department of Labor), Paul Leone (Executive Director, New York State Brewers Association), Chuck Skypeck (Technical Brewing Project Director, Brewers Association), and Andy Tveekrem (Past President, Master Brewers Association of the Americas).

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WRITTEN BYChuck Skypeck

Chuck joined the Brewers Association staff in 2013 after a long career as a craft brewer. He opened Tennessee’s first brewpub, Boscos, in 1992. As an owner and director of brewery operations for Boscos Brewing Company, he opened additional brewpubs in Memphis, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2007, Chuck opened and operated Ghost River Brewing in Memphis. He has served as chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Advisors, chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Directors, and was a member of the first Board of Directors for the Brewers Association. In his capacity as technical brewing projects manager, Chuck works with the Technical Committee and the safety, sustainability, quality, draught beer quality, engineering, and supply chain subcommittees to encourage and facilitate best practices in all phases of Brewers Association members’ brewery operations.