Damaged pallets reduce productivity and increase costs, and are often caused by forklifts. The cost of pallets and their repairs can increase over time, affecting profits. Although they can be damaged in many different ways, the forklift’s Mishandling is a common cause and luckily many instances of injury to pallets can be avoided with careful handling and intensive training. 10 Tips to Reduce Forklift Pallet Damage:
①, reduce the speed
1. This is one of the most important tips for limiting forklift damage, and it is related to many other tips you will read below.
2. Reduced speed gives the forklift operator more reaction time to properly handle the pallet and reduces instances of short forks, improper tooth spacing and other errors.
3. In addition, the deceleration prevents the mast, tines or other parts of the lift from striking the pallet or the product it is carrying. Less rushing and using the forklift more gently will also extend the life of the forklift.
4. The important time to slow down is when picking up the load and when putting it down. This is also critical when stacking or forking pallets.
②, use the correct pallet
1. Does the pallet have sufficient carrying capacity?
2. Small differences in pallet material size and structural layout will make a big difference in its carrying capacity.
3. Overloaded or wrong pallets are more likely to break, crack or chip, and are more likely to be damaged by forklift mishandling.
4. The distribution of weight is another important factor in using the correct pallet. Even if the pallet meets the load weight, uneven weight distribution can affect performance. Improper weight distribution can stress the pallet in ways it wasn't designed for, which can lead to failure.
5. Using a pallet design system can help ensure that pallets are loaded correctly and can perform their intended purpose.
③ Do not turn until the tines are completely withdrawn from the pallet
1. The type of damage that is detrimental to pallets is stringer damage. These are critical components that hold the pallet together, and the failure of the stringers will immediately result in a significant loss of the pallet's load-carrying capacity.
2. This particular type of damage is usually caused by the forklift driver releasing the load prematurely and turning it out of the pallet, which allows the tines to strike the stringer, causing strain and damage.
3. The forklift driver must ensure that the tines are fully withdrawn from the pallet before being turned out of the pallet.
④, do not drag or push the pallet
1. To "drag" pallets means to push them across the floor.
2. The pallet is not designed to be pushed along the ground, doing so would put undue lateral stress on the pallet and destroy its load carrying capacity.
3. Towing can also cause physical damage to the pallet's components, weakening the pallet's components and increasing the chance of failure.
⑤. Do not use short fork pallets
1. Short fork means that the fork tines of the forklift are not fully inserted into the pallet before lifting. Make sure the front of the forklift mast is as close as possible to the pallet and product, with the pallet ends on the tines.
2. The pallet is designed to support the weight of the product and requires the tines to be fully inserted. When the tines are not fully inserted, they put extra pressure on the deck and nails of the pallet, which puts pressure on the pallet, making failure or damage more likely.
3. Pallets are also more likely to slip and fall when short forked, especially when handling in a hurry.
