(62e) Process Hazards in the Distilled Spirits Industry

Distilled spirits manufacturing is a mature industry and historical process hazards are well recognized. However, new technologies and operating paradigms present challenges to the tried and true practices of the past. Distillers and bottlers face process safety challenges that must be considered as part of the design or modification of unit operations.

Process hazards inherent in the production process include:

? Flammable liquid hazards from alcohol processing and storage

? Combustible dust hazards from grain handling

? Toxicity hazards from ammonia based refrigeration

A wealth of resources and technology is available to address these hazards. However, the impact of increased automation, employee turnover, and other operational changes on process safety is not always fully considered. Effective management systems (e.g. hazard reviews, change control) are critical in meeting process safety goals.

This paper will review the applicability of process safety regulations to the distilled spirits industry and discuss means to incorporate preventive and mitigation measures in the design and operation of production processes. Engineering and administrative controls for managing risk will be reviewed, with a focus on bulk storage, blending, and filtration operations. These operations have corollaries in other industries, such as food and beverage, where similar hazards are encountered. The discussion will be supplemented with a review of incidents and the observations of the author in implementing capital projects for the distilled spirits and other industries.

Key word: distilled spirits, flammable liquid, process safety