18 WESTERN PALLET
Do you share pallet handling best practices with your customers? Following the death of an employee at a big box retailer after tripping on an empty pallet and hitting his head in 2016, the issue of pallet safety was raised in Ontario. As a result, that province's Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) developed resources to help raise awareness regarding unsafe practices involving pallets.
"Without an effective pallet safety program, any operation that receives or ships goods on pallets could be putting workers at risk," stated Norm Kramer, WSPS consultant, in an article.
Kramer acknowledged that pallet users often face a number of safety challenges, including limited control over the condition of pallets entering their facility. “Pallets may be damaged or substandard,” he continued. “These pallets may go unnoticed until a load sags or shifts.” If a substandard pallet is detected, stacking products on better quality pallets is time consuming and may disrupt the flow of work. Improperly placed or stored pallets are another concern, as shown by the big box tripping fatality.
Kramer stressed that “It’s the employer’s responsibility to have a safety program in place, and assign competent personnel and resources to it."
He offered nine suggestions on how to improve pallet safety in a pallet handling workplace.
1. Create a pallet safety program that includes inspecting pallets, removing damaged pallets from use, and properly handling and storing pallets. Tap into the expertise and experience of the joint health and safety committee and employees who regularly handle pallets.
2. Dedicate competent personnel and resources to develop and maintain the program. Show visible support for their efforts.
3. Train supervisors and workers on all safe practices and procedures.
4. Regularly review your pallet handling practices with an eye to making improvements. Train people on any changes.
5. Implement a process to identify and remove damaged pallets from service, and restock loads on undamaged pallets.
6. Use the pallets for the purpose they were designed for. For instance, respect their load bearing limits, and use expendable pallets only once.
7. Source pallets only from a reputable supplier. If you consistently receive damaged pallets, discuss with your supplier(s) how to prevent this.
8. Identify the best locations for placing pallets with goods stored on them, as well as empty pallets. Eliminate blind spots and tripping hazards.
9. Establish a zero tolerance policy. “Avoid a culture of complacency,” says Norm. “Don’t assume that just because nothing has gone wrong so far, nothing ever will.”
9 Ways Pallet Users Can Prevent Pallet-Related Injuries