Are Your Pallets “Palatable” Premier Pallets
One of the most important decisions by the management of any entity is to consider the health and safety of its employees as well as its customers. This can extend to many facets of a business – right down to what pallets are used in a factory, for exampl
/ If you are in the food industry and wooden pallets are your pallet of choice, then you need to be extra vigilant from a health perspective. No factory can jeopardize the health of its employees or wants a recall of products due to pathogens such as listeria in their products. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website, listeriosis has a mortality rate of about 24%, and as outbreaks have occurred in the near past, it is not impossible they could happen again. If it does, it could cost lives, cause reputational damage, and impact on wasted costs.
In order to offer an unmatched service, quality products and strive for international standards and benchmarks, Premier Pallets regularly stays abreast of industry news. According to an article published on www.reliableplant.com – a platform often referred to by global industrial plant professionals for information on reliability and workplace safety – there may be other overlooked dangers to consider when opting for wooden pallets.
According to this article, wood shipping pallets were tested and seen to be carrying bacteria and life-threatening pathogens that could spread easily and endanger the American food supply. The result of a round of testing from the New Orleans area indicated that an alarming “43% of wood pallets tested at an independent scientific laboratory came back positive for E. coli, listeria and/or salmonella, which sicken tens of thousands of Americans every year. One wood pallet tested positive for all three food-poisoning bacteria. The results were consistent with similar findings by USDA and FDA”.
“In pharmaceutical and food industries, the demand for mould-free wood pallets and packaging has intensified,” says Rick Leblanc – a sustainable packaging, pallets and supply-chain freelance writer, commentator and consultant – as quoted in a news article published on www.reliableplant.com. The Government of New South Wales, Australia, further asserts that among the dangers of mould are the spores that are carried in the air, which may cause health problems if inhaled by people who are sensitive or allergic to them.
The choice of pallets goes beyond aesthetics and can play an imperative role. It is therefore against this backdrop that companies should undertake this exercise – sooner rather than later. The proof is in the eating (literally). Be better safe than sorry by having your wooden pallets tested regularly – or choose to replace them with plastic alternatives. Also survey your employees to see how many suffer from blocked noses, irritation of the eyes, and asthma attacks.
For more information on Premier Pallets, call +27 87 944 1882, visit www.premierpallets.co.za, or email pallets@premierpallets.co.za.