Times are tough for publicly funded organizations like emergency medical services and fire departments, and the need to cut costs in many cases has become mandatory. For example, both volunteer and professional fire departments operate on extremely tight budgets, with volunteer firefighters often contributing their own money to purchase needed equipment. One way to boost cost efficiency (and safety) is to replace the wood you use as cribbing blocks with recycled plastic cribbing blocks by Turtle Plastics.

In some markets like Australia, which has experienced fast-rising wood costs, our cribbing blocks are actually a cheaper alternative. In the US, wood pricing remains volatile as other markets such as housing construction grow, while recycled plastic pricing remains far more stable. Beyond wood prices, the increased durability and longevity of our cribbing blocks mean greater cost-effectiveness over time compared to wood.

The Hidden Costs of Wood Cribbing Blocks

Many roadside emergency, rescue, and public safety organizations use wood blocks to stabilize a vehicle in an accident or to steady a piece of equipment during repair or maintenance. Wood is a traditional mainstay in such situations, but it does have issues.

Wood blocks need replacing more often based on species of wood and exposure to biohazards or environmental elements like rain or extreme heat/cold. These factors degrade wood blocks. Additionally, you have natural splitting and knotting in wood that requires it to be replaced. Wood is also prone to warping, rotting, and insect infestations, which can compromise its structural integrity over time.

The Advantages of Turtle Plastics Cribbing Blocks

Our engineered plastic blocks solve wood’s shortcomings. Unlike wood, they are resistant to rot, warp, and insect damage, even when exposed to water. They can be decontaminated without compromising their structural integrity, making them ideal for environments where cleanliness is crucial. Some customers have even “torture-tested” our products by inadvertently dropping them off bridges, with the blocks passing these tests with flying colors. However, it’s important to clean the interlocking pyramid surfaces regularly to prevent mud buildup.

Key Benefits of Turtle Plastics Cribbing Blocks

Here are some key advantages of using our plastic blocks:

• Load Ratings: Each block features precise weight capacity specifications for confidence.
• Interlock System: Prevents dangerous shifting during rescue operations.
• LOTO Compliance: Secure stabilization for lockout-tagout procedures.
• Ergonomic Design: Built-in straps and stackable shape simplify handling.

Engineered for Demanding Jobs

Our blocks are designed to meet the demanding needs of emergency services. When used correctly, Dura Crib brand of products can create a compliant and safer work environment by providing technicians who repair equipment with a proper ‘lock out tag out’ of stored energy. This type of hazardous energy is created when hoisted or jacked equipment is not given a secured platform. Wood cribbing does not interlock, is not tested and is subject to unseen degradation via environmental factors or absorption of fluids. All these factors create an unsafe and unpredictable work surface that cannot contain stored energy. Under 29 CFR 1910.147 LOTO, for stored energy not being controlled and ‘locked-out’ can also be used as the basis of a citation.

For fire departments, we offer blocks that mirror traditional wood shapes but add crucial upgrades: they interlock to prevent movement in transit, feature non-slip surfaces to enhance vehicle safety, and reduce the risk of injury from sharp edges.

Contact us to discover how Turtle Plastics helps rescue and other organizations maximize budgets while improving operational safety.