A large number of pallets are used every single day to help transport goods and products. Even more, pallets are lying around and waiting to be used. This is why so many companies out there use wooden pallets to help them run their business. However, there are also a lot of businesses that have questions about wooden pallet safety and if a wooden pallet is still safe to use.
Choose only safe treatment methods when you need to upcycle pallets.
Wooden pallets made in Canada or America will have gone through pest control treatments called heat treating. This involves heating the pallet at a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes in a kiln.
Don’t let looks deceive you.
Cherry and oak wood both release sap during the curing process. The sap covers the wood in a dark stain, which can make the pallets look older than they are, but the heat-treating process will not compromise the strength or durability of the pallets. Kiln-dried pallets will not be harmful to your health.
Avoid using MB pallets.
MB or methyl bromide fumigation is a type of strong pesticide linked to human health issues and ozone layer depletion. MB can kill off invasive species, like pine beetles, but this treatment is now banned in certain countries like Canada and many other countries. This is because it poses a huge health risk to workers handling the pallets. You might still be able to find pallets like this in some places.
Blue, red or brown pallets?
Pallets can usually last up to ten years. Pallet rental companies maintain the pallets to be used many times over. Coloured pallets come from different pallet firms. Coloured ones like blue, red or brown pallets can bring up some controversy. Rental companies own these different coloured pallets. They will not be treating their pallets with methyl bromide. Rental pallets can sometimes be used for international shipping, which raises some concerns. Some countries will fumigate their incoming pallets. Not every country will be compliant with international standards.
Keep in mind that you should always be using a mask to prevent you from breathing in any particles or pollutants. One important thing to understand is that if you cannot accurately determine whether or not the pallets you have are safe to use, you should not use them. You should not use them for indoor projects like headboards, coffee tables, or other types of pallet furniture unless you know that it comes from a trusted source.
