August 20th, 2024

How to Safely Use a Roll Pallet

Putting Pallet Safety at the Forefront of Your Operations

As you’ve probably learnt from us by now, roll pallets are an essential tool in the global chain of supply and logistics. They are used for the transportation and storage of goods in a variety of industries, including retail, food distribution, pharmaceuticals and laundry to name but a few. The type of businesses that require regular transportation and manual handling of goods, entirely depend on roll pallets and containers.

Improper handling of these pallets, however, contributes to a large number of workplace injuries. Every staff should be equipped with proper techniques and safety measures to handle pallets effectively. That is why RollPallet UK has developed a safe pallet handling system that every retail business should adopt to reduce the occurrence of injuries in the workplace.

Let’s begin by highlighting the main benefits roll pallets provide for UK business owners, before going through the steps required to use them safely in the workplace.

Benefits of Roll Pallets for UK Business Owners

Roll pallets play a crucial role in the logistics industry, hence, they cannot be overstated. Here are some of the reasons why roll containers and pallets are essential for UK business operators.

1. Improved Efficiency

Roll pallets are easy to handle, manoeuvre, and transport, making them ideal for businesses looking to streamline their supply chain operations. They can be easily loaded and unloaded from delivery trucks, reducing the time it takes to transport goods.

2. Safe Transportation of Goods

Roll pallets are designed with a sturdy frame that can withstand the rigours of transportation, reducing the risk of damage to goods hence cutting on transportation costs. They can also be customised with additional features such as locks and straps to keep goods secure during transportation.

3. Reduced Labour Costs

Roll pallets can help reduce labour costs in the logistics industry. They are designed to be easily handled and manoeuvred, reducing the need for manual labour.

Roll containers can also be easily stacked and nested together, reducing the time it takes to load and unload them from the truck or trailer.

4. Increased Storage Capacity

They can be folded and stacked for increased storage capacity making them ideal for businesses with limited storage space. It is essential to save time, space, and resources whilst simultaneously reducing errors and improving flexibility within the workplace.

Every logistics business ought to have a cost-effective storage optimisation plan, streamlining inventory management to achieve increased efficiencies which in turn results in reduced costs.

5. Hygienic Design

Plastic base roll pallets are designed with a hygienic design, making them ideal for transporting food and other items that require a high level of hygiene. They can be easily cleaned and sanitised, reducing the risk of contamination during transportation.

Safety Tips for Using Roll Pallets in the Workplace

Whether moving bulky items in transit, operating roll containers in busy warehouse environments or maximising floor space saving in tight spaces, there’s an inherent safety risk to manual handling in the workplace.

Here are some common safety measures worth following to ensure optimal conditions for your workforce (and the valuable good they’re handling).

1. Adequate Training and Equipment Familiarisation

One of the fundamental aspects of roll handling safety is ensuring that all employees involved in these operations receive comprehensive training. RollPallet UK recommends providing thorough training programmes that cover proper roll pallet handling techniques, equipment operation, and safety protocols.

This training should be mandatory for all employees, including operators, supervisors, and maintenance staff.

Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that employees are familiar with the specific roll pallet they will be using. Each type of pallet may have different operational procedures, safety features, and limitations when it comes to heavier loads and the differences between standard and contemporary pallets in given situations.

By providing detailed pallet familiarisation, employees will be better prepared to handle them safely and efficiently.

2. Safety in Loading and Unloading

To prevent accidents and long or short-term injury, it’s essential to train staff on how to load a roll pallet safely. Here are a few general rules of thumb based on our recommendations.

• Always inspect a roll pallet or container before use, including the wheels and castors.
• Ensure the roll pallet is stable on a flat surface with the brake applied before loading.
• Packages should be stacked in layers rather than columns. This way it’s less likely they’ll get overturned. Packages stacked in layers will be more stable when moved.
• Always stack heavier items at the bottom to lower the centre of gravity, and reduce the risk of the items falling.

3. Load Weight Capacity

Always adhere to the weight capacity limits specified by the roll pallet manual handling manufacturer.

Overloaded and unevenly loaded pallets can lead to instability, equipment failure, or even potential accidents.

4. Proper and Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for safeguarding employees when handling roll pallets. The use of appropriate PPE can protect workers from potential hazards like cuts, abrasions, and impact injuries.

Employers should ensure that PPE is readily available, properly fitted, and regularly inspected for any signs of wear or damage.

5. Roll Pallet Inspection, Repair and Maintenance

It’s impossible to fix what you don’t notice is broken. Make inspections a scheduled part of your routine – the frequency of checks will depend on how heavily the pallets are used.

Here’s your pallet inspection checklist:

• Bent or damaged frames: Look carefully at joints, corners, and anywhere the metal tubing is under stress. Even minor dents can compromise a cage’s structure, making it more prone to failure under load.
• Loose or damaged castors (wheels): Check wheels for smooth swivelling and secure attachment to the cage base. Damaged or missing wheels make even small loads difficult to move, increasing the risk of both worker injury and product damage.
• Damaged or worn-out shelves (if applicable): Any bowing, cracking, or severe rust on wire mesh shelves means they won’t support their rated capacity.
• Rust or corrosion: Pay particular attention to welded areas and points where the finish may have worn thin. Early intervention for rust is key to preventing larger-scale damage.

Be sure to mark any faulty equipment and take it out of service until repaired or replaced.

6. Proper Choice of Roll Containers

Different types of roll pallets are available in the market, ranging from heavy-duty durable steel containers to 3-sided pallets with folding sides that can be easily stored when needed. One of the best ways to ensure the safe use of containers in the workplace is to choose roll cages that are appropriate for the requirements.

Just in case you are having trouble deciding which roll pallet product is best for you, you might find our ‘Choosing the Right Pallet‘ guide useful in understanding the differences between the different products available to buy and how to select the right fit for your firm’s ever-evolving needs.

7. Moving Roll Pallets Safely

For safe movement of roll containers and pallets in the workplace, several rules should be put in place. These can include the following.

• Limit moving cages to one at a time
• Don’t move cages and pallets faster than a slow walking pace
• Push the roll pallet rather than pull
• Take extra care on ramps or uneven surfaces

It’s important to take special care when moving roll cages to minimise damages and increased risks of accidents. Moving the nesting mesh trolleys up and down on a slope or rough surface can cause dangerous incidents while a little carelessness with an incline can cause a serious accident..

Therefore, the best solution is moving heavy goods slowly and pushing them down the ramps, instead of trying to predict how a loaded roll container will behave on an inclined surface.

In situations where roll containers must be moved over such surfaces, many workers should help move the container, preventing it from tipping over or getting out of control.

It’s also good practice to predict the movement of nested containers on wheels over an inclined plane with a lightweight, and not to load heavy weights–it can help the safe movement of the roll container.

8. Proper Communication and Signage

Clear and effective communication is vital in maintaining safety during roll-handling operations. Employers should establish proper communication channels to ensure that all employees involved in these activities can effectively convey important information.

Employing signage throughout the workplace can greatly enhance safety. Posting signs that indicate specific roll handling procedures, hazards, and safety precautions will help reinforce safe practices and remind employees to remain vigilant.

9. Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement of pallet control and use is key to enhancing safety within your organisation. Regularly assess your existing safety protocols, training programmes, and equipment to identify areas of improvement.

Take the time to solicit feedback from employees regarding their experiences and observations related to pallet handling, then use this input to refine your safety initiatives.

Consider implementing technologies or automation solutions that can enhance the efficiency and safety of pallet handling operations.

For example, automated pallet stacking systems can reduce the manual labour involved in pallet storage and retrieval, while improved tracking systems can help monitor pallet movement and identify potential issues in real-time.

How RollPallet UK Elevates Your Workplace Safety

As needs vary throughout different types of businesses, roll pallets and roll cages need to be versatile and adaptable. The safety measures for handling pallets should be prioritised and put in place within the logistics businesses.

Investing in these safety measures is an investment in the efficiency and longevity of your entire business, so why not maximise the value of your roll cages and keep your operations running smoothly?

By following the recommended safety tips provided by RollPallet UK, you can significantly realise a reasonable and justifiable cost reductions. Additionally, we offer a huge collection of safe pallets you can choose from, including roll containers to suit a range of industries such as manufacturing organisations, 3PL and logistics operators and retail.

For easy storage and for areas where optimisation of space is an issue, we supply a wide range of nestable and foldable roll cages to save space when not in use, much like our additional range of demountable roll containers.

For more detailed information on pallet safety or advice on the type of cage containers ideal for your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated sales and support team. Together, we can work towards fostering a workspace that is not only compliant with the highest safety standards but also optimised for peak productivity.