There is a TON of info online about pallet safety, including a few articles here on Instructables. You have to realize when working with pallets as a medium that you can and will never know just where your pallets have come from and what they may have transported. There's simply no sure-fire way to know if your particular pallet is free from potentially harmful toxins and chemicals, so this is really a game of educated caution rather than black and white safety.

This isn't meant to scare you away from using pallets in your creations by any means, but awareness is key in keeping yourself and your home safe. The best way to do this is to have an understanding of how pallets come to be, and how to read their markings to ensure that you're avoiding the kind of pallets that may be harmful to you.

The first thing you should look for when trying to find a pallet is any sort of stains, coloration, spills, mold, spots, paint, powders, etc. If your pallet has any indication that it isn't completely clean, don't use it. There are PLENTY of pallets out there and it isn't worth gambling on a questionable one.

The next step in identifying a safe pallet is looking for a pallet stamp. Every pallet that is used in international shipping and transportation requires a branded stamp that indicates a number of very important details about the pallet's origin. For the most part, a pallet without any stamp on it was made domestically and does not require any safety markings. If a pallet lacks a stamp and looks clean, it is most likely safe for use, but you can't be entirely sure.

As mentioned above, pallet stamps paint a partial picture of a pallet's history. Being marked with a stamp does not necessarily mean that this pallet has been used for international transport, but there are a few key details here worth examining:

The IPPC Logo: The International Plant Protection Convention is a regulatory commission that was formed in the 1950's to prevent the spread of pests that could endanger plant life in particular regions around the world. Untreated wood can harbor unwanted insects and pests, and regulations were put in place to treat wood used for transport (i.e. pallets, crates, boxes) to prevent pest infestation. All pallets used internationally SHOULD abide by these regulations. If you find a pallet with a stamp on it that does not have the IPPC feather logo, you have no way of knowing how it was treated, and thus should avoid using it.

The Treatment Code: There are a number of different ways that pallets can be treated, and IPPC standards have changed over the years to allow for various treatment types. Some of these involve chemicals that you don't want to tangle with, while others indicate that a pallet was treated safely. Sometimes your pallets will have multiple codes on them. Here is a look at some of the most common treatment codes you are likely to see in the United States:

• HT - By far the most common treatment code you will see stamped, Heat Treatment is the modern process for treating wood used for transport. This process uses a kiln to fire the wood to a core temperature of 56ºC, which helps deter wood-boring insects. This stamp indicates that the wood has been treated without chemicals and is safe for use.

• MB - Increasingly less common, this stamp indicates that the pallet was treated with the chemical Methyl Bromide, or bromomethane. This chemical is used primarily as a pesticide or fungicide around the world. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol aimed to regulate its use along with multiple other chemicals found to impact the ozone. Though still used occasionally in the commercial agricultural industry, it is becoming more heavily controlled and, thus, more rare. If you encounter a pallet stamped with MB, it is likely from Asia or Oceana and should be avoided and - if necessary - properly disposed of.

• DB -The process of "debarking" wood involves a planer or other cutting tool to remove rough outer-layers of wood. Aside from generally smoothing the wood, this is done to allow for a more thorough treatment of wood before being approved for transport. Newer pallets no longer require this stamp by the IPPC, as most modern wood treatment procedures require debarking as a standard part of their process.

• EPAL & EUR - These codes are respectively the modern and outdated codes indicating that a pallet was made for transport in a European territory. EPAL/EUR pallets are the most widely used in the world, though are not as common in the U.S. Pallets marked 'EPAL' have undergone the debarking and heat treatment process and have been inspected by the European Pallet Association, and are thus safe for use. 'EUR' is a no-longer used regulatory code that officially ended in 2013. The regulation of pallets marked 'EUR' was not necessarily held to the current standards, and so are not guaranteed to be safe. However, these pallets are still inspected throughout their lifespan and will often be updated with the 'EPAL' stamp as well.

The Country Code: In addition to codes indicating the pallet's treatment method, you may find other markings on a pallet that indicate the country of origin. A list of the two letter codes associated with these countries can be found here. In addition to the country code, you'll often see a string of several numbers following these letters, which simply indicates a serial number from the plant it was manufactured at. Not all pallets will have either of these stamps on them.

Other Stamps: If you're a regular pallet hunter, you will undoubtedly come across other acronyms stamped on your pallets. Often times, this will indicate the name of the pallet inspection firm, manufacturing company, or an uncommon type of wood. If you encounter a stamp you are unsure of, it may be best to avoid it just to be safe, or inquire online to see if others may have come across it before.

Colored Pallets: Every so often you may come across a pallet that looks to be dyed red or blue. These colored markings are used to easily designate the brands of three of the largest pallet pool companies in the world. BLUE CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool) pallets are manufactured by an Australian company, while RED pallets usually indicate one of two companies: LPR (La Palette Rouge) from Europe or PECO (formerly the Pallet Exchange Company) from the US. These companies run global pallet rental services that allow transporters and manufacturers to use their pallets on commission, and they can be picked up from and returned to numerous locations throughout the world. These pallets are never truly owned by the businesses who lease them, and as such you should avoid taking these pallets. Many sources also claim colored pallets to be potentially dangerous as they may often be used to transport chemicals.

Pallet Wood for Fuel: Lots of people look to burn pallet wood in their fireplace or wood stove because pallets can be so abundant and cheap. Let me caution you NOT TO DO THIS. Some people will argue that they've never had any issues burning them before so it must be perfectly safe... All of the information I mention above is meant to make you cautious and aware that you can't ever really know where your pallets have been or what they may have carried, and that's exactly the reason not to burn and inhale them. I have heard a couple of pallet-burning horror stories that may just be old wives' tales, but it is honestly not worth putting yourself or family at risk by filling your home with potentially toxic fumes.