Medical Device Link.

Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News Magazine
PMPN Article Index

Originally Published February 1999

OUR VIEW

Safe Pallets Reduce Risk Exposure

Concern about the safety of pallets is increasing, driven by an upturn in the number of lawsuits relating to low-quality, improperly designed, damaged, or badly repaired pallets. Users have been the primary target of many of these lawsuits, some involving damage claims in the millions of dollars. Pallet users in the pharmaceutical packaging industry, as in all industries, should be aware of the risk that these unsafe pallets pose.

Mark White, director of the pallet and container research laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA), told a group of pallet users that he estimates that litigation involving pallets has recently increased three to four times. He explained that the quality of the pallet directly relates to the risk and liability that users assume. The higher the quality and the better it is maintained, the lower the risk. In many recent cases, lawyers representing pallet users have expressed regret that their clients used low-quality pallets or tried to build or repair the pallets themselves. Their lament usually sounds like: "A buck saved here and there on the pallet is quickly eaten up in a multimillion dollar lawsuit."

There are steps that companies can take to protect themselves from such litigation. It's as easy as one-two-three:

• Use only pallets that are designed to properly and safely carry the weight of a specific unit load. Proper design can minimize the risk of a pallet failing under load or injuring or killing a warehouse worker or even a consumer, as pallets are being increasingly used in retail environments. To ensure safety, ask suppliers to make sure that pallets meet or exceed safety requirements. Many providers use the Pallet Design System (PDS), a computer-aided design software tool that designs the right pallet for specific needs at the lowest possible cost. PDS also ensures that pallets are designed to carry the weight of a specific unit load. Having pallets designed using this tool is a cost-effective investment that protects pallet users against legal and liability risks.

• Use only high-quality pallets that are built, maintained, and repaired to meet the rigorous demands of either the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association's national standard or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' national standard, MH1, Part 3. Coupled with proper design, use of quality construction and repair standards will prevent problems. Users should specify that pallet suppliers adopt a quality assurance program like NWPCA's SPEQ (specified pallets, engineered for quality) program that is based on products to ensure that users get the pallet they ordered or that suppliers develop a quality system according to ISO 9000, an approach based on processes.

• Do not build or repair pallets. Instead, employ a pallet professional who uses tools like PDS, NWPCA's national pallet standard, and a quality assurance program like SPEQ to ensure that pallets can safely carry the weight of the unit load. Proper use and handling of pallets is essential to avoid liability exposure. Inspect each pallet for damage prior to each use, and don't ever use pallets in need of repair.

• Under no circumstances should any person ever stand, step, or lean on a pallet. A pallet should never be used as a personnel lift or for any purpose other than its intended use. Make sure unit loads are not stacked higher than specified, and train employees how to properly handle pallets.

I encourage users to visit NWPCA's Web site to learn more about pallets, pallet quality, and the products and services available from pallet providers in your area.

John J. Healy, president, National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA), Arlington, VA. Mr. Healy may be contacted by e-mail at palletinfo@aol.com or by phone at 703/519-6104.