The Brewers Association (BA) is opening a limited number of slots for a free online draught line safety training program “Hazard Reduction Practices for Cleaning Draught Beer Lines.” In its second year, this training was created to address the lack of industry standards and best practices around beer line cleaning and the hazards that it poses to those performing or adjacent to the task. Two distinct online courses will be offered in 2022, including a new training program for workers who need an awareness of the procedures and hazards involved but who do not perform or manage line cleaning operations.

Three instructor-led courses are scheduled to run from March 7 through April 22, 2022. Please note that the scheduled instructor-led courses have limited availability and participants will be expected to demonstrate prerequisite experience or knowledge. New on-demand courses will open in June 2022 with unlimited capacity for all other retail and brewery staff that work adjacent to line cleaning operations. Check the Brewers Association website for more details.

Course Overview

This short course is intended to enable persons responsible for draught line cleaning operations to implement safer work practices in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. In addition to receiving a certificate of completion, students will learn how to control safety and health risks surrounding draught beer handling, create a safer and healthier workplace, and a workplace culture that accomplishes all the above.

Length: Two weeks (15 hours)
Format: 100% online, including short on-demand videos and self-paced assignments
Model: Instructor-led, with two live virtual classrooms
Class Size: Under 40 students

All sections of this training program are free and will take place online. Registration opens on February 14, 2022.

Who Should Take this Course?

• All staff responsible for cleaning draught beer lines
• Brewery and retail workers, including owners and front-of-house staff
• Wholesalers (where applicable)
• Line cleaning technicians
• Other draught system professionals

Student Takeaways

• Implement safe and effective practices when cleaning draught beer lines.
• Interpret a safety data sheet (SDS) to inform methods and materials.
• Conduct a hazard assessment and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Course Instructor

Matt Stinchfield, Brewers Association Safety Ambassador, has over thirty years of experience in environmental health and safety programming and training, craft beverage manufacturing and related safety, hazardous substances management, remediation planning and implementation, and regulatory affairs. Matt is an experienced safety trainer having developed numerous courses in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), OSHA, and Department of Transportation (DOT) realms, and holds several Hazardous Materials Management (HazMat) certificates.

Course Dates

Each course will be offered over a two-week period to allow for several interactive opportunities with a live instructor. Student assignments are self-paced and must be completed within the following two-week windows.

• March 7 – 18
• March 28 – April 8
• April 11 – April 22

This Brewers Association project, at the time of initial publication of this document, is funded by a grant of $132,664 federal funds, which constitutes 100 percent of the program budget. 0 percent, or $0 of the program budget, is financed through non-governmental sources.