Pressure Relief in Distilleries

“Pressure’s what you make of it.”  — Daniel Ricciardo Years ago, a colleague told me, “If the pressure is too high, it’s going to find a way to relieve. If you don’t plan for pressure relief, then you don’t get to pick how and where it relieves. And that can be disastrous.” For every piece [...]

By |2026-01-16T14:24:13-06:00January 16th, 2026|Craft Distillery Safety, Process Safety, Process Safety Management|Comments Off on Pressure Relief in Distilleries

Process Safety in Distilleries: Electrical Classification

“To be beyond any existing classification has always pleased me.”  — Boyd Rice Every distiller understands that they are working with extremely explosive hazards. There is ethanol, a flammable liquid.  And there is milled grain, a source of combustible dust. Despite this, when I visit distilleries, I often see areas that should be electrically classified [...]

By |2025-11-06T11:07:10-06:00November 6th, 2025|Craft Distillery Safety, Process Safety, Risk Assessment, Workplace Safety|Comments Off on Process Safety in Distilleries: Electrical Classification

The PSM Standard: Are Craft Distilleries Covered?

“A rule without exceptions is an instrument capable of doing mischief to the innocent and bringing grief—as well as injustice—to those who should gain exemptions from the rule’s functioning.”  — Derrick Bell I don’t remember when I first realized that there is a difference between process safety management and Process Safety Management. Process safety—the aspect [...]

By |2025-11-06T11:11:04-06:00October 23rd, 2025|Chemicals, Craft Distillery Safety, Process Safety, Process Safety Management|Comments Off on The PSM Standard: Are Craft Distilleries Covered?

Confined Spaces: Even in Craft Distilleries and Microbreweries

“I have a horror of being in confined spaces.”  — Hayley Mills At a craft distillery that is not too far from Bluefield’s offices, the owner spoke about his need to climb into the pot still to clean out the stillage, especially the spent grains. He saw me wince and said, “Yeah, I know. It’s [...]

By |2025-11-06T11:12:04-06:00September 11th, 2025|Craft Distillery Safety, Procedures, Process Safety, Workplace Safety|Comments Off on Confined Spaces: Even in Craft Distilleries and Microbreweries
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