Pallets are essential in industries such as warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing — but when handled improperly, they can pose serious safety risks.
Common hazards include injuries from improper lifting, unstable stacks causing falling loads, and equipment-related incidents such as forklift tipping or dropped pallets. Damaged or weakened pallets significantly increase the likelihood of load collapse and accidents.
The most frequent injuries linked to pallet handling are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), especially back, shoulder, and arm strains or sprains. Other potential injuries include lacerations, splinters, crushed or pinched fingers and feet, as well as slips, trips, and falls.
Although OSHA does not have a standard dedicated specifically to pallet handling, several general OSHA regulations address hazards related to the use, handling, and storage of pallets. The following section outlines the key OSHA standards applicable to safe pallet operations.