It’s a nightmare scenario, and perhaps the most fearsome cause of workplace injury in the brewery: You’re working at that kettle that is the beating heart of the business—normally a locus of reliable routine and standard procedures—when something unexpected happens, spurring that boiling-hot, potentially deadly liquid to emerge.
Boilover injuries are relatively rare—but they do happen, and they are traumatic and can necessitate months of recovery time. The Brewers Association has published new guidance to help breweries take precautions and prevent boilovers in the first place.
Boiling-hot wort is more dangerous than boiling-hot water because of its higher heat capacity and sticky nature, leading to more severe damage and longer contact times. “Wort burns result in irreversible damage to the body,” the guidance explains, “including cell death, denaturation of proteins, and severe immune system responses that can result in delayed organ failure and death.”