Mining Safety in Peru: Replace Timber with Stacko™ and Timba™

A silent problem in mining workshops

Mining safety in Peru has advanced significantly. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, 2024 ended with only 17 fatal accidents across the entire sector — the lowest figure ever recorded. However, hidden risks persist in an everyday task: heavy machinery maintenance.

The European Agency EU-OSHA estimates that 14% to 17% of workplace accidents are maintenance-related. In mining, many of these accidents occur due to the use of wooden blocks as temporary supports: a material with no structural certification, no known safety factor, and one that can collapse without warning. In operations where components weighing 20, 40, or even 60 tonnes are being supported, this improvisation is unacceptable.

Why timber is no longer safe

Timber has been the default support material in mining workshops for decades, but it has fundamental limitations that make it unsuitable for modern high-risk operations:

• No certification or safety factor: timber strength depends on the species, moisture content, grain direction, and climatic conditions. There is no verifiable or repeatable load capacity.
• Unpredictable deformation and fractures: timber absorbs moisture, swells, shrinks, and progressively loses load-bearing capacity. In mining environments with exposure to oils, fuels, and water, this deterioration accelerates.
• Hazardous handling: wooden blocks are heavier than engineered alternatives, produce splinters that cause injuries, and require significant physical effort to position.
• Rapid and invisible wear: internal cracks may not be externally visible. After a few uses, timber becomes structurally unstable but continues to be used due to the lack of standardized alternatives.

Timba™: the certified evolution of the wooden block

Timba™ Blocks are support blocks made from rigid industrial polyurethane, designed as a direct timber replacement in mining environments, shipyards, and industrial workshops. Manufactured by National Plastics & Rubber (NPR) in Australia and distributed exclusively in Peru by Endeavant.

Each Timba™ block has a certified load rating of 30 kg/cm², tested under two international standards: AS1170.0:2002 (Australian/New Zealand structural loads) and ASTM D1621-10 (compressive properties of rigid cellular plastics). Unlike timber, the load capacity is verifiable, repeatable, and documented.

Three series for every need

Timba™ is offered in three series covering a wide range of applications:

• 100 Series (100mm wide): available in lengths of 600mm (3 kg, 18 ton), 1200mm (5 kg, 36 ton), and 1800mm (8 kg, 54 ton). Ideal for linear support of cylindrical components such as axles and pipes.
• 200 Series (200mm wide): available in lengths of 600mm (5 kg, 36 ton), 900mm (10 kg, 72 ton), and 1800mm (15 kg, 108 ton). Greater contact surface for distributed loads.
• 300 Series (300x300mm): 400mm long block weighing 13 kg, with 36-ton capacity. Designed for point loads requiring additional height.

All Timba™ blocks operate within the same temperature range as Stacko™: from -50°C to +40°C (block temperature, not ambient). They do not splinter, do not deform with moisture, do not absorb oils or fuels, and are reusable for years.

Stacko™: the certified modular support system

If Timba™ replaces timber as an individual block, Stacko™ completely redefines how heavy loads are supported. It is a modular interlocking block system that allows the construction of configurable support towers, with a maximum capacity of 60,000 kg and a certified 3:1 safety factor under AS1170.0:2002 (test certificate RE16081).

Each individual Stacko™ block measures 510x150x150mm and weighs only 8 kg — up to 30% less than an equivalent timber block, and 33% less than recycled plastic alternatives (which weigh 12 kg). It is manufactured from virgin raw material with UV stabilization, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency and allowing outdoor storage without degradation.

Configurations and load capacities

Stacko™ offers 8 main configurations covering virtually any maintenance scenario:

• Individual block: 30 kg/cm², maximum load 23,000 kg. For direct component support.
• Single tower + top plate: 100 kg/cm², maximum load 60,000 kg. Towers up to 150 cm high with a minimum of 3 blocks per layer.
• Double tower: up to 46,000 kg with 4-block height. For more confined spaces.
• V-Block configurations: for cylindrical loads from 15 to 120 cm diameter, up to 40,000 kg with top plate.

In all cases, deflection under maximum load is less than 2% — compared to values up to 20% in recycled plastics. Certified testing demonstrates that the blocks withstand loads of 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 times the rated limit without appreciable damage, maintaining performance across the full temperature range (-50°C to +40°C).

Stacko™ vs recycled plastic vs timber

The following technical comparison illustrates why Stacko™ is the professional choice for operations demanding traceability and verifiable safety:

• Safety factor: Stacko™ certified 3:1 | Recycled plastic: unknown | Timber: unknown.
• Temperature range: Stacko™ -50°C to +40°C tested | Recycled plastic: +25°C only | Timber: no data.
• Maximum deflection: Stacko™ <2% | Recycled plastic: up to 20% | Timber: variable and unpredictable.
• Weight per block: Stacko™ 8 kg | Recycled plastic: 12 kg | Timber: variable (generally heavier).
• Storage: Stacko™ outdoor or indoor (UV stabilized) | Recycled plastic: indoor only | Timber: indoor only.
• Material: Stacko™ consistent virgin raw material | Recycled plastic: variable composition | Timber: inconsistent by nature.

Real-world applications in Peruvian mines

In Peru, Stacko™ and Timba™ are already operating in mining sites where timber was previously the only option. Clients such as KMMP (Komatsu Mitsui) and operations served by Dimerc Peru have adopted these systems for their heavy equipment maintenance workshops.

Peruvian mining conditions — altitudes above 4,000 masl, temperatures ranging from -15°C in the highlands to +35°C in coastal operations, and constant exposure to dust, water, and fuels — cause timber to degrade even faster than under normal conditions. Stacko™ and Timba™ are certified to operate across this entire range without performance loss.

Furthermore, the "Zero Harm" policies adopted by Peru's major mining companies require verifiable documentation for support equipment used during maintenance. NPR's test certificates (RE16081 for Stacko™) provide exactly that traceability, simplifying HSE audits and demonstrating compliance to OSINERGMIN.

Safety and productivity you can measure

• Accident prevention: structures with a certified 3:1 safety factor, not an estimate
• OHS compliance: documented traceability aligned with "Zero Harm" policies and ISO standards
• Reduced downtime: fast assembly with the Safe Build Trolley (positioning cart that eliminates the need to pass under suspended loads)
• Operational savings: service life of years versus weeks for timber, with no frequent replacement costs
• Standardization: a single support system for the entire fleet, with documented load capacities for each configuration

Lift the machine, not the risk

Timba™ and Stacko™ don't just replace timber: they represent a paradigm shift in how loads are supported during mining maintenance. Their engineering design, certification under international standards (AS1170.0:2002 and ASTM D1621-10), verifiable safety factor, and superior durability make these products the professional choice for operations that prioritize personnel protection and operational continuity. Adopting Stacko™ and Timba™ is an investment in measurable safety, not in hope.