FACTS
- Inadequate pallets or packaging materials can cause cargo to shift during transit, leading to damage.
- Overloading or unevenly distributing weight on a pallet can cause the pallet to collapse or the cargo to shift, which can lead to accidents and injuries.
- Cargo securement violations are the most common violations in roadside inspections.
- FMCSA regulations require that cargo be secured to prevent shifting or falling during transport.
- Cargo securement devices must be in good working order and properly installed to be effective.
- Drivers are responsible for ensuring that their cargo is properly secured, and they can be held liable.
- Proper training and education on load and pallet securement is essential for workers.
- Regular inspections of pallets, and cargo can help identify potential problems.
- Improper load and pallet securement can result in fines, legal liability, and reputational damage.
- Proper load and pallet securement practices, businesses can ensure workers safety.
STATS
- Used shipping pallets the raw material for a million home DIY projects, kindling for countless fire in home fireplaces and the bases for in-store displays everywhere sent more than 30,000 people to emergency rooms over a recent 5-year period.
- About 400 million new wooden pallets are produced annually in the U.S., with about 2 billion in use in the shipping chain at any given time.
- An estimated 30,493 people visited an ER because of a non-occupational injury involving pallets at home and retail locations.
- Approximately 14% of injuries occurred in retail establishments, such as grocery or big-box stores where pallets are used to display product.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 8,140 nonfatal occupational injuries involving pallets, skids, and containers in 2020 in the United States. The BLS also reported that the transportation and warehousing industry had the highest incidence rate of injuries involving pallets, skids, and containers, with a rate of 28.9 per 10,000 full-time workers.
- According to the FMCSA, load securement violations were a factor in 441 large truck crashes in 2019, resulting in 483 fatalities. This represents approximately 10% of all fatal large truck crashes in that year.
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides additional information on injuries and accidents related to load securement in the transportation industry. In 2019, load securement violations were a contributing factor in 1,111 large truck crashes, resulting in 1,387 injuries.