Here are two tips for manufacturers who need to start using pallets in their facilities.

They should keep some extra-strong wood adhesive on their premises

Manufacturers who plan to start using pallets on their premises should stock up on extra-strong wood adhesive and ensure that their staff can access it at all times. The reason for this is that wooden pallets that are used in a busy manufacturing facility will be subjected to plenty of wear and tear. Staff might toss heavy materials on them repeatedly throughout the day and those who operate the forklifts that transport the loaded pallets might occasionally bump into shelving units during their journeys. This may result in the pallets splintering or chipping.

This type of minor damage does not mean that a pallet should be replaced. However, it is important for the staff who notice this damage to fix it, and some strong wood adhesive could allow them to do this. For example, if they can see that the corner of a wooden pallet has splintered and a sharp sliver of the wood is protruding upward, they can glue this splintered section back down. Likewise, if a section of a pallet gets chipped, they could glue on the small chunk that was chipped off.

This will ensure that the pallet does not have any hazardous protrusions or rough chipped areas that might, for instance, cut through the plastic wrap that is holding together the materials that have been placed on top of the pallet. It will also reduce the chances of staff injuring their hands when they go to pick something off a pallet.

They should ensure their staff can recognise signs that a pallet needs to be replaced

As explained above, pallets that sustain small amounts of damage will still function perfectly well and don't need to be replaced due to having a few imperfections. However, it is important for manufacturers to ensure that their staff are taught to recognise the signs that a pallet requires replacement. Whilst it may take years for a pallet to reach this point, it is still essential for staff to be able to pinpoint when it's time to stop using it. Some indications of this might include the pallet having multiple deep cracks across its boards or any of its components showing signs of rot.

The reason for this is that when a pallet reaches the point where it needs to be replaced, it may not be safe to use. The boards of a worn-out pallet could, for example, collapse if loaded up with heavy items; if this happens whilst the pallet is in transit, on a forklift, the heavy goods could go flying and might hurt those that they collide with.