As technology changes rapidly, so does the look and feel of many warehouses. Equipment and processing continues to evolve, along with the rules for preserving worker and work place safety. Switching from hand wrapping pallets to the use of a semi-automatic or automatic stretch wrapper is no exception.

Like any piece of equipment, a pallet wrapper presents certain safety considerations.

Here are 6 items to keep in mind:

1. Matching load to turntable

The entire pallet should fit within the perimeter of the turntable – no overhang or extending edges. If an overhang droops or sags, it could hit the machine’s base and damage the wrapper or the load. Extending edges present dangers to the operator.

2. Wrapper features

Look for a wrapper that has an automatic stop feature for when a film break is detected, so operators do not need to reattach film to a rotating load. There should not be any exposed wires or motors on the machine, and the control panel and film delivery system should be on the same side of the mast to avoid operators walking between turntable and mast. Rollers in the film delivery system should also be guarded to prevent loose clothing or operator’s hands being pulled into the system when the rollers are turning.

3. Finding the best location on the floor

A stretch wrap machine should not be installed on soft ground or an uneven surface, or be plugged into an extension cord. The machine should be far from smoke and dust, and located in a dry, well-ventilated area where normal environment temperature is within 32-104 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Transporting safely

Be sure to use a properly sized forklift when moving a stretch wrap machine.  Do not push, drag, or slide the machine, and do not transport from the turntable when the mast is lowered.

5. Educating employees

Remind workers to never step onto a stretch wrapper platform. Although it is not a high speed machine, a wrapper does move fast enough to cause harm – from minor injuries to those as serious as an amputation – to someone who gets too close, writes Mark Leon, safety and health consultant for University of South Florida SafetyFlorida Consultation Program.

An operator could be hurt if he were trapped between the rotating load and the machine’s mast. This is a notorious pinch point. Well designed wrappers have enough clearance between the edge of the turntable and the mast to prevent this type of issue.

6. Putting up barriers

Consider guard barriers like a post and chain, a guardrail system with top-rail and mid-rail, or a cage, Leon wrote for SafetyFlorida. He added that employees should be trained in how any guards work and have them in place while the machine is operating. If floor space is preventing setting up safety barriers or making maneuvering difficult, consider moving the wrapper to another location, Leon wrote.

Operator safety should always be a priority.

Stretch wrappers are very safe to operate, but, when purchasing a new stretch wrapper, you should be looking for wrappers designed with safety features in mind.

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This post was published on September 15, 2016 and updated on September 18, 2016.