Tips to Follow When Moving Pallets
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Written by: Advance Pallet
While pallets are naturally safe and secure when loaded properly, anything of this size and weight still poses a potential safety risk. Because of that, if you want to move pallets as efficiently as you can without compromising safety, there are a myriad of best practices you should follow.
Manual Pallet Moving Methods
Many people incorrectly assume that the only way to move a pallet is through a forklift. Thankfully, this isn't the case. The options available to you include but are not limited to the following.
Roller Crowbar
A roller crowbar is essentially a long bar with wheels. It's the type of equipment that you can find in virtually any warehouse or manufacturing environment. Note that while a roller crowbar usually costs more money than a traditional pallet jack, it also requires less effort to use.
Dolly
Once a standard dolly is positioned directly underneath a pallet, a lever can be used to pull the pallet up onto the dolly itself. This is a great way to move not only light loads, but loads that need to get in narrow spaces that other equipment cannot fit through.
Wheeling
If yours is the type of warehouse that has a lot of spare plywood around, secure castor wheels on each corner. Then, using a lever, you can lift the pallet you need to move onto the platform you've just made for transportation. Many find this an efficient way to move a pallet because of its DIY nature.
By Hand
Finally, if you absolutely must, you can always unload the pallet, move it to the desired location, and then load it back up again. Just make sure that you properly secure the load once the transportation has been completed.
SAFETY GUIDELINES AND TIPS
By far, the number one safety guideline to follow when moving a pallet is to never do so alone. Even if you're using a pallet jack or some other inherently stable piece of equipment, you still want to make sure someone is around to help in the event that something should go wrong.
While moving a pallet, always wear protective gear like gloves. Before the pallet moves at all, verify that the load itself is secure the same way it would be if you were putting it onto the back of a semi-truck.
Finally, make sure that the moving technique you're using makes sense given the load you're working with. Do not attempt to move a very heavy load by hand or through a DIY method, for example, as this will almost immediately create a major safety risk.
When to Consider Using a Forklift
If you're trying to move a pallet over very uneven terrain, with a construction site being a prime example, you'll likely want to use a forklift. You'd also want to consider a forklift if safe transportation of the pallet depends on maximum height and load capacity.
Other Tools and Tips For Efficiency
Other tools that you can use to efficiently move pallets include pallet stackers, pallet carts, ropes, and sheets.
To find out more information about best practices to follow when moving a pallet, or to get answers to any other important questions you might have, please don't hesitate to
contact Advance Pallet today.
Advance Pallet, Inc.
600 N. Woodbury st.
South Elgin, IL 60177
Phone: 847-697-5700
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