Plastic Pallets

and OSHA

Emergence of Plastic Pallets

Wood has been the primary material used for making pallets throughout the industrialization period due to it's low cost. However, plastic pallets are slated to take over this role due to their several advantages. When it comes to the handling of hazardous materials and oil based liquids, plastic pallets are ubiquitous.

Benefits
By far the greatest benefit are their ability to withstand the effects of degradation. These effects include weathering, corrosion resistance as well as attack by insects. It can resist rain and rust unlike metal pallets. An early disadvantage was their susceptibility to cracking as their load capacity increased. This side effect has to a great extent been nullified due to advances in technology and plastic pallets are now extremely adept at handling loads.

Many countries and firms require that pallets undergo a process of cleaning or sterilization before each use. Plastic pallets weather this process very easily and suffer no ill effects. Finally, these pallets are stackable. This means that due to the extreme precision with which they can be manufactured, they can be placed one on top of another (with or without loading) and in various racking arrangements efficiently.

OSHA guidelines regarding Spill Pallets
Spill Pallets are used to satisfy the secondary containment requirements of OSHA regarding hazardous liquids and oil based products. Plastic pallets are exclusively used for this purpose due to their no porous nature and their ability to maintain their integrity upon contact with materials such as these. Also, there is great variability in the exact type of plastic that is used for spill pallets. This allows plastic pallets to be developed for different sorts of material.

Secondary Containment
As discussed earlier, secondary containment, refers to having a "backup" storage in case the primary containers leak or suffer damage. OSHA regulations specify that the secondary containment needs to be able to handle 10% of the total volume in the primary container, or 100% of the volume of the largest container (whichever is more.)

Summary
For hazardous materials and oil carrying containers, plastic spill pallets are the only option. Even in other fields such as grocery management, plastic spill pallets are replacing wooden pallets due to their long life and space saving ability as well as the ease with which they can be moved around in a variety of ways.

Andy Clarke writes about industrial safety and industrial safety supplies such as spill pallets and spill kits. For more information on this topic please visit http://www.spill911.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Clark

New Warning - Potential Dangers

of Heat Treated Wooden Pallets


HEAT-treated debarked wooden pallets are supposed to last for life. But when it comes to repaired timber pallets this may not be the case.

That's the stark warning of Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com, the UK's leading independent supplier of plastic pallets, following the announcement of the proposed extension of ISPM15 Wood Packaging Regulations to all Intra-Community movements of timber pallets and packaging in Europe.

Hardisty commented: "The recent discovery of pine wood nematode in Portugal and Spain has led the European Commission to consider extending the use of ISPM15 to curb the spread of the disease, which can only be a good thing, but of real concern is whether these regulations are being adhered to.

"It's true to say the Forestry Commission now carries out spot checks on wood shipped from Portugal, but there is still a chance that untreated Portuguese wood packaging material (WPM) could slip through the net.

"UK businesses must be made aware of the dangers of using untreated wooden pallets and they must ensure that damaged timber pallets are repaired in accordance with ISPM15 regulations.

"All wooden pallets with shattered blocks, broken slats and other major damage caused in transit are required to be repaired by an approved supplier of ISPM15 compliant products to ensure that each added component is heat-treated and individually marked in accordance with the standard.

"Worryingly, according to the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), only 841 companies in the UK are members of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme and have been assessed by the Forestry Commission to provide ISPM15 compliant products. When you compare this figure to the volume of timber pallets in circulation in the UK - approximately 45 million - the likelihood of every damaged wooden pallet being repaired by an ISPM15 compliant supplier is small.

"If you are concerned about getting caught up in the problems over ISPM15 regulations, now might be the time to consider using plastic pallets. With inter-continental shipping costs to the US and Asia running at well over £100 per 1,000kg pallet, it makes sense to invest an extra £2 or £3 per pallet - often a tiny fraction of the value of the goods being exported - and choose the plastic option."

Pallet truck lifting loads

Higher than designed

a major safety hazard

PALLET trucks are a must for working around a storehouse or factory, making it far easier to transfer heavy loads. And with a pallet lorry, moving those huge and heavy pieces is a cinch.

But there are points to consider before choosing a truck. First you will need to choose if you need a power or a manual pallet truck - making this choice can help to narrow down your selections. A power pallet lorry will be far easier to manage than models which are operated by hand.

They will also be simpler to maneuver around the warehouse floor. The principal downside to a power pallet truck is their higher cost, and before picking a pallet truck you need to figure out the weight and dimensions of your biggest loads. Most warehouses and factories rearrange items of the same weight and size on a consistent basis.

Measure and weight your heaviest loads to find the pallet truck that can safely handle them. You will also need to figure out the size of the pallets to be moved around as the selected pallet wagon will have to be able to accommodate the size.

Another point to settle is the height you’ll need to lift the pallets. Most pallet trucks are built to lift pallets up to ten inches off the ground. So before picking a pallet truck, calculate the space from the ground to where the pallet should be located.

Employing a pallet truck to lift loads higher than it is designed for is a major safety hazard. If you’ll be using the pallet lorry in a small space you should be aware of the turning radius of the pallet truck. And in restricted spaces you’ll need a pallet truck capable of a high level of turning.

Plastic Pallet

Makers

Fire Back


REMEMBER a few months ago, when the trade group for wood pallet makers charged that plastic pallets are a fire hazard?

The war of words is continuing today, says Don Loepp, writing in Plastics News, with a company that provides a pool of all-plastic pallets calling on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to "launch a comprehensive investigation of wood pallets and the risks they may pose to the nation's food supply."

"Wood pallets may present a serious risk to America's food supply. The over 1 billion wood pallets in circulation in the U.S. are a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and carry other undesirable substances that can cross-contaminate food," said Bob Moore, chairman and CEO, of Intelligent Global Pooling Systems Co. LLC in Orlando, Fla.

"Wood is inherently porous and can easily absorb bacteria and fluids, creating a risk for food products where Listeria, E. coli and salmonella are a concern," he said.

Moore pointed out other issues with wood pallets -- but nothing really new, since plastic pallet makers have been making this case against wood for years.

The Pluses

of Going

Plastic



CONVENTIONALLY, large wooden pallets were used in shipping products by air, sea, rail and highway. But many companies have made the shift from wooden to plastic pallets, a decision based on sound reasoning at various levels of concern.

Durability

A major advantage of a plastic pallet is the durability of the material over wood, benefiting both shipper and receiver across several areas.

To begin with, plastic pallets won't splinter, while the wooden are prone to splintering during shipping. These splinters can be messy with potential safety hazards for handlers. Splinters could also damage the goods for the pallets are supposed to be protecting. Plastic is a highly cohesive material that is unlikely to chip during even rough transport, with no chance of large splinters breaking off.

Cost efficient. The more durable a pallet the more money saved by the shipper or receiver. Wooden pallets are far more likely to break apart sooner than plastic pallets. A plastic pallet could conceivably be used for years before it has to be replaced, if it ever does.

Flexibility

In addition to their durability, plastic pallets also have the advantage of accommodating different types of goods within the same pallet. Most plastic pallets will include dividers of various sizes, allowing the pallet to be adapted to the goods shipped or received.

The flexibility of plastic pallets may also mean savings when it comes to transportation costs. Wooden pallets must be stacked in a certain way once emptied; plastic pallets, on the other hand, can be collapsed and fit into a much smaller space. This means less room is used on the transport vehicle, resulting in lower costs and fewer trips.

Lastly consider the environmental impact of plastic and wood. While it is true that plastic will break down at a much slower rate, this means that a plastic pallet will be used for a much longer period of time (in reality far longer). The continual construction of replacement wooden pallets is much more harmful to the environment than plastic pallets, which can not only be used over and over for years, but have the potential to be recycled, and be made from recycled materials.

Product Refused,

Gatorade

Goes Plastic For

Immediate Gain

Gatorade's Oakland facility ships nearly 300,000 pallets of sports drink each year. So when the wooden pallets they were using began breaking down, it was a major problem, reports Allison Manning of Modern Materials Handling magazine.

The wooden pallets needed constant repair, says Gatorade process improvement engineer Brian Finegan, adding that more than 3,800 pallets worth of product were lost due to poor pallet quality in 2007.

The final push to switch to a more reliable pallet began when customer Costco refused to accept the product on the wooden pallets because of missing boards and exposed nails.

Finegan turned to a plastic pallet (iGPS, 800-884-0225, www.iGPS.net), which rented for the same amount as the wooden pallets. After a six-month feasibility trial on the plant's 32-ounce line of beverages in July 2007, an immediate improvement was seen in the way the pallets reacted to the plant's almost 25-year-old palletizers.

“Every pallet was the same dimension,” Finegan says. “They ran through perfectly and smoothly. We weren't losing product like we were on the other line.”

The completely recyclable plastic pallets are 37% lighter, weighing about 50 pounds, which saves money on fuel. Plastic pallets don't require inspection before being loaded, reducing labor costs. The plant floor is also safer, with less wood debris on the ground and less potential for injury. The results were so good that the Arizona Gatorade plant has started using the plastic pallets on four of six of their production lines.

Eight months after the 32 and 20-ounce lines switched, the plant is still reaping the benefits of the plastic pallets, with no customers refusing the product.

Since switching, Finegan has worked with the Reusable Packaging Association and Oakland-based StopWaste.org, speaking at workshops and educating other distributors about wood alternatives.

“If people really understood all the benefits of plastic and how it has tremendous impact across the board, they'd be much more willing to give it a shot.

Pepsi Moves to Plastic Pallets


Environmental benefits, trackability motivate switch from wood


Three of PepsiCo’s business units are elminating wooden pallets from their supply chain in favor of plastic pallets from Intelligent Global Pooling Systems.

From April the Quaker and Gatorade business units began integrating iGPS pallets completely across all SKUs into their networks. As soon as all inventory on wood pallets turns, they plan to ship exclusively on the iGPS platform. The Tropicana chilled business converted in May.

The plastic pallets are 100 percent recyclable, PepsiCo said in a letter to customers, since old or damaged units can be remolded into newer ones. They are fire-retardant, edge rackable and 20 – 27 lbs. lighter than the average wood pooled pallet. Additionally, each iGPS pallet contains a unique RFID / bar code tag allowing for individual asset tracking through the customer’s supply chain if desired.

“PepsiCo’s Quaker, Gatorade and Tropicana business units are world-class enterprises and we are extremely pleased with the confidence they have demonstrated in iGPS,” said Bob Moore, CEO of iGPS. “We share their absolute commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability and look forward to serving their needs.”

Top MD Warns of Potential

Heat Treatment Hazards.

HEAT TREATED debarked wooden pallets are supposedly life-lasting. But when it comes to repaired timber pallets this may not be the case.That’s the stark warning of Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com, Britain's leading independent supplier of plastic pallets, following the announcement of the proposed extension of ISPM15 Wood Packaging Regulations to all Intra-Community movements of timber pallets and packaging in Europe.

“The recent discovery of pine wood nematode in Portugal and Spain has led the European Commission to consider extending the use of ISPM15 to curb the spread of the disease, which can only be a good thing, " says Hardisty.

"But of real concern is whether these regulations are being adhered to. It’s true to say the Forestry Commission now carries out spot checks on wood shipped from Portugal, but there is still a chance that untreated Portuguese wood packaging material (WPM) could slip through the net.

“UK businesses must be made aware of the dangers of using untreated wooden pallets and they must ensure that damaged timber pallets are repaired in accordance with ISPM15 regulations.

“All wooden pallets with shattered blocks, broken slats and other major damage caused in transit are required to be repaired by an approved supplier of ISPM15 compliant products to ensure that each added component is heat-treated and individually marked in accordance with the standard.

“Worryingly, according to the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), only 841 companies in the UK are members of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme and have been assessed by the Forestry Commission to provide ISPM15 compliant products. When you compare this figure to the volume of timber pallets in circulation in the UK – approximately 45 million – the likelihood of every damaged wooden pallet being repaired by an ISPM15 compliant supplier is small.

“If you are concerned about getting caught up in the problems over ISPM15 regulations, now might be the time to consider using plastic pallets. With inter-continental shipping costs to the US and Asia running at well over £100 per 1,000kg pallet, it makes sense to invest an extra £2 or £3 per pallet – often a tiny fraction of the value of the goods being exported – and choose the plastic option.”

Plastic Pallets the Smart Answer

DO you continuously have a pile of broken, unusable wood pallets that you have to repair or replace?

Is your product getting damaged during shipment or storage because of broken wood pallets?

Do you have specific sanitation requirements that your wood pallets just aren't appropriate for?

Are you having problems getting your product through customs because of your wood pallets?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, plastic shipping pallets are a smart alternative for you. They are available in a wide variety of footprints and types such as nestable, stackable, rackable, fire retardant, drum, and export pallets to name a few. They are ideal for production, warehousing and distribution applications. Companies are switching to plastic pallets because they recognize the economic, ergonomic and environmental benefits that they offer.

Improved Efficiency

• Less hang-ups on pallet jacks caused by wood splinters and nails.
• They work well in a closed loop system as they are able to make a large number of trips before they need to be recycled.
• Many versions are compatible with conveying and automated handing systems and reduce the chance of equipment jams due to substandard pallets.
• Save warehouse space by stacking easily and uniformly, allowing them to be stacked higher than wood pallets. Some plastic pallet versions also nest, offering up to 4-to-1 nesting ratio over wood pallets, saving even more valuable warehouse space.
• Reduction in sorting costs due to damaged pallets.
• Consistent tare weights when shipping product.
• Reduced time spent sweeping up wood chips and loose nails.

Reduction in Product Damage

• The durability, consistent support, and smooth molded design of plastic pallets provide a more stable environment to ship and store your product on, resulting in less product damage.
• They won't warp, dent, chip, splinter, rot or rust over time, all things that can affect the integrity of a wood pallet and ultimately compromise the safety of your product if they fail.
• There are no nails or missing boards to deal with which can also cause product damage.

Improved Sanitation

• Plastic Pallets are available in USDA/FDA approved material, making them ideal for food applications.
• Most chemicals, solvents, acids, salt sprays and the like will not compromise their integrity and they don't absorb moisture; support the growth of mold, mildew or fungus; or harbor rodents or insects.
• Their smooth and sometimes open designs make them easy to clean and sanitize.

Reduction in Work Injuries

• Lightweight and easy to handle.
• No splinters, nails or broken boards to deal with that can cause mishaps and/or injuries.
• Because of the increased stability of plastic pallets, they stack better and reduce the chance of injury due to pallet failure.

Low Cost Export Pallet

• Plastic pallets are approved for use in foreign countries that prohibit wood pallets because of insect problems.
• They are an inexpensive alternative to fumigated wood pallets which are costly, time consuming, and DO NOT ASSURE the goods will be accepted by the E.C. countries.
• They eliminate costly delays at customs due to possible rejection of wood pallets.

Increased Aesthetics

• Plastic Pallets are available in smooth, contoured designs making them perfect for Point of Purchase (POP) Displays for product and are much more aesthetically pleasing to the eye of the customer.
• They can be manufactured in custom colors and with identification if desired.

Recyclable

• 100% Recyclable.
• They are easy to recycle. Many manufacturers offer recycling programs so they can be reused to make other products.
• The fewer wood pallets that are used, the fewer trees are cut down to produce them and the fewer wood pallets that end up in our landfills when they are disposed of.

As you can see, plastic pallets are economically, ergonomically and environmentally a smart alternative to wood pallets that can increase your productivity, reduce product damage and work injuries, all the while, saving you money and let's not forget saving our forests. Visit DACO for more information about plastic pallets!

Lori Anderson is a Business Development Specialist and has been working in the Material Handling Business for over 18 years, in both sales and marketing areas. She currently writes about the many material handling products available that can help companies increase their productivity at http://www.DACOcorp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lori_Anderson