Red Hook Brewery worker killed by exploding keg.

[vonZwicky]

I've seen the exploding keg topic appear from time to time in this and in other forums. Thought I pass along this very sad news from today:

http://m.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20120424/NEWS/120429898&template=wapart

 

[david_42]

I wonder how much pressure that took?

 

[iijakii]

Could anyone explain what he was doing? I don't really get why you'd pressurize a keg like that during cleaning.

 

[vonZwicky]

Could anyone explain what he was doing? I don't really get why you'd pressurize a keg like that during cleaning.

I suspect that the keg was returned to the brewery in an already over-pressurized state. The handing, jostling, tapping, etc. just set it off. Using air to evacuate returned kegs is normal, but I doubt Red Hook uses excessive pressure for this.

 

[l3asturd]

Sad news. I also suspect the keg was damaged. Not sure what kind of pressure they use to purge, but it was enough to cause the keg to rupture in two pieces.

Note: This is one of the main reasons these breweries don't like giving damaged kegs to the public.

 

[vonZwicky]

I've worked at a local brewery for the last several years and I've seen a lot of kegs come back. Occasionally one will come back obviously ruptured from over-pressurization. I've seen a couple that haven't burst, but are domed out on top and bottom- I'm afraid of those. An older brewer I know recalls a man was killed (1970's) by a keg on the Mardi-Gras parade route. Lacking a regulator, he pieced together fittings to hook a CO2 bottle directly to a keg of Dixie. BOOM!