Determining whether a pallet is safe for reuse can be difficult. Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself when making this determination.
Does the pallet have stains or any indication of spills?
Pallets are used to transport a wide variety of products, so if you see an unidentified stain or spill on a pallet do not reuse it. You never know what substances or chemicals could have been spilled and don’t want to risk it.
Is it a “national pallet?”
National pallets are pallets without a stamp. This means they haven’t been treated with chemicals that prevent the spread of pests or fungus on international pallets. For this reason, national pallets are generally safe for reuse.
Has it been heat treated and debarked?
The codes “HT” and “DB” stand for Heat Treatment and Debarked. If the pallet you’re examining has been through these processes, you’ll see these letters stamped onto the wood. Heat treated, debarked national pallets are about the cleanest pallets you can get and are safe to reuse.
In addition to asking these questions, it’s important to be informed on the most updated pallet standards. Click here for helpful information on the standards for wooden pallets.