I read an article over pallets being treated and contain harmful chemicals, if they have a certain stamp on them. well i checked mine and they do. My question is if i paint over them and seal it with a clear sealer will it be safe to make into a side table??
They can use the general duty clause or a section like this: 1910.176(b) Secure storage. Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse. In this case, the empty pallets are now the material. Upright the slide. They do make pallet racks (or you can make your own where they can be stacked upright. They look sort of like a bike rack.
This is the closest OSHA reg I could find: 1926.250(b)(8)(iii) Lumber shall be so stacked as to be stable and self-supporting. If the pallet is stacked on its side it is therefore 'unstable'. The $1,000 is pure conjecture, it depends on the classification of the citation. Good question I was unaware of this requirement.
Pallets should be flat but you have to relize OSHA has had its teeth pulled in the last 20 years of no real inforcement except a small fine for someone getting killed instead of a 50 million dollar fine
Pallet Storage Regulations
there is no such reg in the CFR 1910, regarding empty pallets, people like to make up OSHA regs either based on half truths or ignorance
