Switching from wood to plastic pallets – what’s your experience?

We’re thinking about finally moving away from wooden pallets at our food processing plant in Dubai, and I’m hoping to get some honest feedback from people who’ve already made the jump. Our current wooden ones are just causing too many headaches with the humidity—they warp, they splinter, and we keep having to deal with pest control documentation for export shipments. I know plastic pallets are supposed to be more hygienic because they don’t absorb moisture or harbor bacteria, and I’ve seen options that are specifically designed for food manufacturing with smooth surfaces that are easy to sanitize. Some even have reinforced steel bars for heavy loads and perforated decks that drain liquids, which seems perfect for our environment. What I’m really wondering is whether the higher upfront cost actually pays off in the long run compared to constantly replacing damaged wooden ones. I’m particularly interested in what’s available locally in terms of smooth surface plastic pallets for worker safety UAE, especially since we’ve had a couple of near-misses with splinters and our safety officer is pushing for a change. I’d appreciate any insight on whether the switch actually made a noticeable difference in your day-to-day operations.