A pallet is the horizontal, portable platform for storing or moving goods that are stacked on it.
It has become a staple in every aspect of modern goods transportation, handling and haulage. They are built to be moved by pallet trucks and forklifts.
Most pallets are made from wood, but you can also get pallets made from plastic, steel, even paper! Wood is widely used because it meets the five parameters used to determine pallet suitability. They are stiffness, strength, durability, functionality and price.
That being said, wooden pallets are subjected to a ton of abuse in the warehouse. From being stomped by warehouse workers to being flung from end to end, pallets receive too many knocks and drops. This, in turn, affects their structural integrity.
Common pallet accidents stem from:
- Poor pallet design.
- Poor pallet construction.
- Use of an unsuitable pallet for a load.
- Bad handling of the palletised load.
- Sustained use of an obviously damaged pallet.
Of these, warehouse staff are guilty of examples 2 and 3, and these are what leads to most accidents. The standard pallet is 48 x 40 inches, and should generally not carry more than 2,000 kg. These recommendations are largely ignored by warehouse staff and management, Yet when there is an accident, everyone s quick to point at ‘faulty’ equipment.
From freight toppling and spilling to potential injury of employees, old and broken pallets can cause many issues in the warehouse. To prevent accidents, when working with a palletised load, take note of the following:-
1. When loading/stacking pallets, ensure the load is arranged and stacked. Many warehouse operatives simply toss packages on pallets, with little regard for the way they balanced. Proper balancing from the onset will minimise potential spillage and damage of freight
2. To minimise damage to goods in transit, ensure that pallets with loose packages are securely wrapped by hand or using a pallet shrink wrap machine.
3. When pallets are stacked on top of each other, ensure that they are the same size and that the stack doesn’t lean. You must also take note of the condition of the pallet when stacking the pallet. Broken, splintered pallets must not be stacked with sturdy ones.
4. Work out load limits and enforce them. Not doing so and overloading the forklift is a leading cause of hydraulic system failure in forklifts and cracking in pallets.
5. Ensure that you buy high quality pallets from a reputable manufacturer. While you can save money and buy used pallets, a thorough examination must be carried out before hand, to ensure structural integrity.
6. Periodically carry out a pallet inspection program. Examining for breaks and rot will help weed out defective pallets on time, before they cause any accidents.
The humble pallet does not move itself around. It boils down to the warehouse operatives to pay attention to health and safety rules and keep to them. From forklift drivers to stackers and packers, everyone needs to be proactive in practising an agreed warehouse safety program.
Monarch Shelving supply pallets and pallet racking to help your business run smoothly.
From plastic to wooden, in sizes ranging from 48 x 40 inches to 36 x 36 inches, we have them in stock, ready to be delivered to you. Call us today!
