PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — A worker died of injuries suffered when a beer keg exploded at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, N.H.
Nancy Notis of Portsmouth Regional Hospital confirmed the worker died Tuesday.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles said the worker, whose name has not been released, was found unresponsive in the loading dock area shortly after 7 a.m. He said the man had been filling kegs with air as part of a cleaning process that removes residual beer from them when one exploded. Achilles said the worker suffered chest and head injuries.
Company President Andy Thomas said Redhook is doing everything in its power to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident, and has closed down all nonessential operations, including the pub.
A freak death if ever there was one. I have no idea who this person was but Im sorry that he met such a death and Im sorry for his family and loved ones.
Kegs are made out of metal. Metal stresses. Contents in that keg, be it beer or air are under pressure. This person most likely had done this process a thousand times at least. One never knows what is going to happen next.
Horrible news, and agreed that it’s a freak accident. Given the staggering number of kegs that are filled worldwide, this isn’t a normal occurrence. Likely the keg was damaged just enough to cause the fail but pass inspection. Very sad for the worker’s family and friends, and Red Hook Brewery. But any vessel under pressure is prone to failure under the right conditions. It’s an unlikely risk, but one that unfortunately has to be considered with the job.
Condolences to the family. What a way to go though. I’d be bragging about it when I got to heaven that’s for sure.
Wow! Talk about an unsuspecting fate! Don’t think I plan on getting near a keg anytime soon! Are kegs approved by the DOT like dive tanks are? If not they probably should be. My thoughts are with this man and his family!
Must not have had a pressure relief valve on the equipment or it malfuctioned.
You think alcohol related deaths involve actually consuming it. What a way to go out is right. Hopefully it was fast and not painful tho. Sorry to the family.