New York brewing groups form alliance with OSHA

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.

“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 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

• 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 Program

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).