Everything You Need to Know About Cribbing in Lift Systems

Cribbing, also known as a box crib, is a temporary work structure used to support heavy objects in an industrial setup. It involves building a temporary structure to support heavy machinery and building material. Crib walls were earlier used as retaining walls and are used as log cabins and are more cost-efficient than other walls.

If you or your employees work in an industrial setup, wherein working around with heavy machinery, knowing about the basics of cribbing, and following certain safety measures to prevent accidents that can lead to serious injuries, fatalities, and equipment damage.

Let us take you through different cribbing methods and safety factors to consider while working around with a box crib.

Types of Cribbing

Wood Cribbing- Wood cribbing is one of the most commonly used methods to render stability to heavy objects and equipment. Multiple blocks of wood are laid beside each other and then crossed over with other woodblocks. This technique spreads the load and creates multiple load transfer surfaces. The weight limit for a 44 cribbing structure is about 24,000 lbs., and for a 6’×6′ structure, it’s about 60,000 lbs. Another thing to keep in mind with wood cribbing is to never let the height be greater than three times the width and

Concrete Cribbing- While wood is the most popular material for cribbing, concrete is another sturdy material that is used in the construction industry. The benefit of concrete is that it can hold a heavier load, which makes the crib walls more secure. Also, unlike wood, concrete does not rot or deteriorate in the rain and other weather conditions, which makes it ideal for long-term projects.

Safety Factors to Consider With Cribbing

When it comes to wood cribbing, there are few things to keep in mind to prevent any fatal accidents. To begin with, make sure that stable and flexible wood is used for cribbing which is capable of withstanding the weight of heavy equipment. If your cribbing makes noise, replace it immediately. If this is not done in due time, it can shatter, which can, in turn, damage your equipment and prove to be life-threatening for your employees.

Brittle woods are susceptible to splitting or snapping under heavyweight. As such, these woods should always be avoided for cribbing.

For all your cribbing stabilization solutions, you can reach out to Unique Lift Parts.