Even though plastic pallets are known to be the best aid in comparison to the wooden counterparts when it comes to moving goods from one place to the other, there are times when misuse and manhandling results in broken pallets.
A recent survey can up with the fact that plastic pallets break or disintegrated due to the forklift leg especially when the pallets with goods are moved from one place to the other. It starts with an initial crack or a chip, and that is how the quality of the pallet reduces and finally letting people discard or recycle it.
Since plastic pallets are known to aid keep goods safe while transportation, there is the need to take precautions to prevent damage. Here are a few ways that can help you protect the pallets from forklift damage./p
Keep an eye on the entrance
Plastic pallets are made in a way that allows forklifts to smoothly go inside the width and accordingly lift it. When approaching the pallets, it is necessary to position the legs of the forklift in the right place so that it smoothly goes into the right gaps before lifting the pallet from the ground. There are times when the forklift is rushed into the pallet, the stringers get to witness the entire load, and that leads to cracks on the pallet surface. Slowing down when approaching the pallet would ensure that the legs are in the right place.
Ensure that the pallets are stacked evenly
There are times when uneven stacks lead to tumbling of the load when the forklift legs are inserted in the gaps at the bottom. The moment the entire stack is lifted, the pressure comes to the bottom, and any unevenness would allow the goods to fall off during movement. When the pallets aren’t stacked well, the weight of the goods get unevenly distributed and this leading to cracks and damage to the pallet. While such unevenness goes unnoticed, it eventually leads to breakage.
Avoid short forking
There are times when workers, to save time, tend to not insert the legs of the forklift completely and simply take it halfway. This allows the weight of the goods to be imbalanced, and the front of the pallet gets the entire load. This leads to bending of the pallet and thus giving it a disfigured shape. While this practice is frequently conducted, you are likely to watch the pallets change in shape while having to replace them frequently. Training your workers to make use of the forklifts well would solve the problems.
Take things slow
When it comes to lifting the pallets with the forklift, there is the need to go slow the moment you approach it. For those dealing with plastic pallets in Melbourne agree with the fact that coming with a lot of force or probably keeping the legs too low or high wouldn’t allow them to get the right aim. This often ends with the entire stack toppling over or probably getting dragged along. While this happens, the corners and the base tend to get affected first. Continuous friction can lead to permanent structural damage to the pallets. Therefore, there is the need to take things slow and approach the pallets slowly while lifting it.