Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi
We have some large single bay pallet racking in one of our warehouses. We recently had a delivery of goods on over sized pallets. When these pallets where placed in the racking bays one side of the pallet over hangs the racking by a fair few inches so the corner wooden support blocks of the pallet are not properly supported by the racking. This over hang is causing the pallet to smile (bend slightly). I know this is bad practice, but cant find any technical guidance that covers over hanging or smiling pallets...I need a clear technical explanation of why over hanging and smiling pallets are hazardous..
can anyone help?
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Rank: Forum user 
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Beacuse part of the pallet is no supporting the load properly? Tansfer the imposed load into the racking stuctural members. Hence it is bending.
Obviousl it will fail if sufficiently oveloaded/unsupported - then I guess the goods on the pallet will fall off?
Is it anymore complicated than that?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Smiling pallets indicate the material of pallet construction is being flexed by the load supported between the contact points of the racking - Place a ruler (wooden or plastic) across a gap then start to push in the middle, the ruler smiles and can eventually give way
The scenario described indicates the load and storage method were not considered when selecting the pallet - pallets not considered for return (e.g. CHEP) and therefore of suitable construction for a wide range of duties invariably end up chosen by price so tend to be the absolute minimum duty and typically assume floor storage or racking with supports between the load bearing members.
Issues that can occur include:
1) the pallet failing (generally at a weak point in its construction e.g. a timber knot) shedding its load
2) difficulty in the use of handling equipment to safely pick the load from the racking either necessitating multiple incremental movements, or forcing the forks under the load by pushing the pallet against (hopefully) some form of stop e.g. a wall behind the racking
3) The pallet being nudged from its support causing the load to collapse due to a glancing blow from passing vehicles against the overhanging portion
If this is a regular shipment the purchaser needs to raise delivery method with your supplier, if it is a one off I would have the load placed on the floor.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Smiling pallets indicate the material of pallet construction is being flexed by the load supported between the contact points of the racking - Place a ruler (wooden or plastic) across a gap then start to push in the middle, the ruler smiles and can eventually give way
The scenario described indicates the load and storage method were not considered when selecting the pallet - pallets not considered for return (e.g. CHEP) and therefore of suitable construction for a wide range of duties invariably end up chosen by price so tend to be the absolute minimum duty and typically assume floor storage or racking with supports between the load bearing members.
Issues that can occur include:
1) the pallet failing (generally at a weak point in its construction e.g. a timber knot) shedding its load
2) difficulty in the use of handling equipment to safely pick the load from the racking either necessitating multiple incremental movements, or forcing the forks under the load by pushing the pallet against (hopefully) some form of stop e.g. a wall behind the racking
3) The pallet being nudged from its support causing the load to collapse due to a glancing blow from passing vehicles against the overhanging portion
If this is a regular shipment the purchaser needs to raise delivery method with your supplier, if it is a one off I would have the load placed on the floor.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Roundtuit...Thanks very much, your reply was very helpful
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi The HSE has several references for guidance on these matters. Here is a link to the best one. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg76.pdfBut, the general rules for pallets in racking is The pallet should be in good condition, suitable for the load and the racking (undamaged and it need to fit with the blocks on the beam). Goods must be secured to the pallet - banding or shrink wrap. It would be a good idea to get a buyers agreement on size and quality of pallets.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You might fiond some useful info from SEMA (http://www.sema.org.uk) who cover guidance on pallet racking etc. You may also want to consider introducing a regime of checking your racking on a routine basis - I will send you a PM with some info that might be of interest.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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stonecold wrote:Roundtuit...Thanks very much, your reply was very helpful Helpful? I thought it was brilliant :)
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