Pallets make shipping and storing items much easier for businesses. When handled properly, pallets are a huge asset to businesses of all sizes. This quality quickly fades when pallets are handled improperly. Broken pallets, unsafe work conditions, injury, and product loss can all result from not following these tips on pallet handling.
– Pallets are for products, not people. When pallets are packed, the weight is distributed evenly. Swapping out packed products for a single, or multiple people is a dangerous action because balance is difficult, and without proper distribution, pallets are susceptible to breaking.
– Work with a clean workspace. Pallets are heavy, when they are placed on a surface with lots of debris, the uneven ground may cause problems later when trying to lift them back up, or worse, they could topple if not set on level floors.
– Be mindful of height. Another preventative measure that ensures pallets don’t tip product is to not stack them higher than the base is wide. A good rule of thumb is to avoid exceeding three to five feet.
– Use shrinkwrap to hold things in place. Shrinkwrap is a really great way to maintain the weight distribution on a pallet and stop the items from sliding around during transport.
– Be aware of your surroundings. Know where your body is positioned in relation to the pallet. Stay out of dangerous areas surrounding the pallet, when transporting, avoid the front and sides of the pallet, and stay behind where it is supported most.
– Wear the right clothing. Obviously, if you know you’re going to be moving pallets around, you aren’t going to show up in open-toed shoes and clothes with low visibility. Steel-toed boots, orange vests, and helmets are fairly standard on sites that move pallets often.
– Lift pallets properly. Don’t try and show how strong you are by lifting or trying to lift a pallet on your own. You’ll end up with more than just a bruised ego. Pallets should only be lifted with a forklift driven and operated by someone who has been trained.
– Don’t use broken or rotting pallets. Pallets are made of wood and naturally break when too much pressure is applied; in addition, moisture gets into them and they may rot. If there are any signs of breakage or rotting, don’t use them and throw them out. Pallets can be heat treated to minimize this risk. That is exactly what we do at GEO Pallet LTD.
With these tips in mind, you will easily lower your risk for disaster. For all your pallet needs, standard or custom, contact GEO Pallet LTD. our team supplies sustainable pallets and can answer any questions that you might have.
