The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that slips and falls are among the most common workplace injuries. Whether it's a worker slipping on a wet floor or getting their foot lodged between boards in a stack of aging pallets, OSHA data indicates that these avoidable accidents occur regularly at warehouses and distribution centers. Broken bones are another common injury related to improper pallet handling.

Pallet mishandling occurs when a worker does not follow proper handling procedures or a company's pallet usage standards. Educating workers on overall pallet use and handling is the best way to prevent accidents and property damage.

Educating your employees on proper pallet handling begins with ensuring that the pallets being used are in good condition. This includes a thorough inspection to ensure no rough edges, protruding nails or splinters. Additionally, make sure that the load on a pallet is evenly distributed to reduce the strain on workers lifting heavy loads. When a worker must lift a heavy load, keep the pallet close to the body to reduce strain on the back. Ideally, it should be positioned at power zone height which is the center of the chest to mid-thigh area.

It is also important to store pallets correctly when not in use. This includes keeping the stacks flat and limiting the number of pallets to no more than four or five deep. Stacks that are too deep can be unstable and can block access to exits, throughways, fire extinguishers and emergency equipment.