If you are like most distribution centers and manufacturing operators then you probably have to deal with empty pallets, in some cases a ton of pallets. They clutter your receiving areas and take up space you could be using for other purposes. Some of the pallets you store have splinters, some have nails protruding from them, an accident just waiting to happen. Still, you hold on to them for a period of time until you can ship them back out. But while they sit in your facility, they can create problems, so here are a few tips on how to properly store pallets.

Is there a single good reason to stack pallets on their sides? We don’t think so. After all, stacking them on their sides isn’t giving you any more room as they still take up the same amount of space. You see those empty pallets leaning against a building column or against a wall and never think twice about it before. But they are just a trap waiting to be sprung. The dangers of tripping, snagging, or falling are very real.

Even if you are stacking your pallets horizontally, you may be stacking them too high. Anything over 20 to 25 pallets high can become unstable and the risk of a collapse becomes even greater. And the higher the stack, the more weight that will come barreling down on you.

Take a closer look at the pallets you have stacked in the corner of your warehouse. Even if they aren’t stacked too high, check to see if they are stacked neatly. Pallets that are stacked haphazardly or pallets of varying sizes stacked together pose a threat. So stack your pallets neatly.

This useful information is provided to you by RMH Systems, serving Chicago with pallet rack solutions since 1995.