In order to view all images, please register and log in. This will also allow you to comment on our stories and have the option to receive our email alerts. Click here to register
22.11.2012

Soft verge claims crane

A five axle All Terrain crane in the UK has rolled down an embankment after the road verge gave way.

The incident occurred, we understand in Haggerston, Northumberland last week when a crane belonging to Bryn Thomas crane hire was travelling down a farm track towards or away from a small wind farm. The driver pulled over to let another vehicle pass and the wheels on the soft verge began to sink.
Please register to see all images

The crane rolled twice and ended up close to a stream


Unable to out of the precarious position under his own power, the operator got out of the crane and called for assistance.
We understand that while waiting for a recovery vehicle the crane continued to sink and eventually the bank gave way causing the crane to roll down the bank.

Thankfully no one was injured or hurt in the incident although we understand that some fuel has been spilt.

Vertikal Comment

With more and more cranes travelling on narrow roads never intended for such axle loadings, let alone their verges incidents such as this are inevitable.

The problem is that with another vehicle approaching in the opposite direction there is a natural tendency to pull over at least a little to enable the other motorist to pass. The problem is that there is a high probability that the crane will sink, especially at this time of the year and with the high rain levels.

Crane drivers need to override the tendency to pull over, even if it means getting out of the cab and explaining to the other driver the reason.

Comments

Manchester gob shite
Bryn Thomas crane hire WTF did you open that depot for....

Dec 14, 2012

Manchester gob shite
Update.......The depot Manager is sending his CV to local crane companies looking for work.
No one will employee a idiot who couldn't run the bath.

Dec 14, 2012

Manchester gob shite
The depot Manager and crane driver are now working for Asda stacking shelves in the fruit and veg section.....lets hope they can handle that job?????

Dec 3, 2012


When will people learn? When ever cranes drive on country lanes they should always expect the unexpected and always have their outriggers fully extended and pinned. You can't be too safe!

Dec 2, 2012


Never mind the crane recovery costs involved here, if the bill for that fence is more than £30 I can see another phoenix emerging from the embers. Might I suggest; Bryntom.com(edy) Bryn Tomtom (free satnav with every hire) BT (think that one may be taken) Bling Thomas (free sovereign with every hire)

Dec 2, 2012

Manchester gob shite
They sent the Franna and a tractor to get it out I heard, tandem lift.
The farmer did the method statement ( did a better job than the last AP)

Nov 30, 2012

Manchester gob shite
Site visit by depot manager as well ,lmfao

Nov 30, 2012

Manchester gob shite
John - The depot manager likes his operatives to smoke the ganja on jobs to help them relax .
You gotta roll with it......

Nov 30, 2012


Liability in this case clearly sits with the farmer/landowner for not having the forethought to install a sturdy enough crane-resistant fence. I also notice that the crane appears to be reeved on single whip, probably another contributory factor.

Nov 30, 2012


Ive seen lots of cranes in the UK get into this sort of trouble trying to access sites.
lots of major crane operators have this problem and try and keep it hush hush.
I surpose it depends on the contract CPA or CPA contract lift including site boundry. I have seen a few pics of a few cranes in the last few months alone that have come off the road. The thing is though they never get on this website posted? Must be a sponsorship thing for cranes & access / vertikal.

Nov 26, 2012

Manchester gob shite
Lofty- The depot manager did not want to tell his bosses that his operatives have @&£) up again so they tried to keep it quiet..
They had to phone up and ask for payment to be made to the recovery company..
RIP Mark Thornton

Nov 25, 2012

Fenster
Looking at the pics, the road seems to be intact which would seem that the crane was parked up on the grass verge, from previous comments it seems it spent too long on the grass verge. I believe this one could have been recovered before tipping over, the question is why wasn't it ?

Nov 25, 2012

billybiglift
Hi, Its billybiglift from teesside, I have not left a comment on this forum, just to clarify that billy big lift is not me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thanks for the heads up ste.

Nov 25, 2012

Manchester gob shite
Fly-- The crane went over because they did not want to pay for the recovery fee ( to expensive ) eventually they decided to but it was to late ,it tipped over.
The depot Manager at Newcastle can not get decent operatives due to his personality and business skills , this is why they will eventually kill or seriously hurt someone . We can not name names but everyone involved in the north east crane industry knows Bryn Thomas have employed a bunch of cowboys.............. I hope know one gets hurt ,but with that lot in Newcastle it's only a matter of time......

Nov 25, 2012

The fly
Hi regarding this accident the crane operator was guided in by a banksman the gate was very tight and unknown to anyone during the previous floods the water table had rosé above the road
Also the crane remained in the upright position for 8 hours before recovery came may I add jacksons mod recovery were 25mins down the road so why the long wait to recover?
I spoke to Maurice Johnson a couple of years back regarding the ac 200 at corus it was a fault in the slew lock pin and 2 other accidents had happened in Australia with the same model crane
so really guys lets get the facts right and keep our mouths shut till the facts are known . After all were all squeaky clean and have never done a thing wrong

Nov 25, 2012

vertikal editor
Some of the comments here are getting overheated….Please don’t forget our simple rules… keep it clean, polite, legal and to the point

Nov 25, 2012

billy big lift
Manchester gob shite you are bang on , I know the driver and gaffer well , both clowns , why this man still drives cranes is a joke , and the manager as well say no more , all it dose is give us good guys is a bad name , what Bryn Thomas did was shocking and my heart goes out to that poor lad but thats another story , this guy is at fault and that's all that matters , the bloke
He works for sticks by him no matter what , I hope the the H.S.E nail them to the wall ,

s

Nov 25, 2012

Manchester gob shite
The crane went over because the A.P is not good enough to supervise jobs........They all think it's a joke taking pictures of the crane on its side and laughing????
Bryn Thomas has employed a load of .............. to run a depot........ The industry is suffering because of incompetent operators and so called Managers who let its operatives run riot..."...

Comment edited due to breaking website rules

Nov 24, 2012

billy big lift
yep totaly agree stumpy , out of site out of mind untill it goes all pete tong then you get nailed to the wall , just get the job done ect ect , but you have to cover your own arse every time ,

Nov 24, 2012

Stumpy
Billy,i agree wholeheartedly with you and i am not trying to take any blame away from the operator, but how many times are we going to see this happen? If the companies get their act together and actually do the right things, this will never happen. If the operator is a chancer(which it sounds like) why was he employed!!! And every crane hire company up and down the country has photos of cranes on their sides, down ditches and in fields and some of these guys are very experienced operators. There is no substitute for common sense.

Nov 24, 2012

billy big lift
stumpy, this is the second crane this bloke has had over , m.s.d ac200 in corus in 2008 , didnt put slew pin in full ballast moved the crane over she went , and now this , no one i have spoken to was suprised about this , thats why i said operator error cos i know this bloke and he is a chancer , i have been to campbell town in scotland and that road is 100 miles long of country back roads , van up front with a radio with no problem , so go on about this rule that rule this was driver error end of .

Nov 24, 2012

Stumpy
so yet again the operator is blamed! yes he shouldn't have pulled over, but was there a "proper
' movement order with this vehicle? As Billy says, stop and get your escort(ha ha) to go ahead and warn other drivers that they are coming down. The AP has an obligation to ensure that there is adequate access & egress, so a simple drive along the route would determine what extra precautions are needed, prior to the crane turning up. How many times have cranes had there back cabs smashed by overhanging trees, because of not doing this.
So operator error, AP not doing his job properly or is it the fault of the crane company? Surely a mixture of all 3, but ultimately the company has a duty of care (HASAW Act, LOLER, B@ 7121 etc)to ensure the safety of all.

Nov 24, 2012

billy big lift
i agree this is driver error , get the guys your working for go up the lane and stop traffic before you set off , thats what i do , just glad no one was hurt ,

Nov 23, 2012

Michael Brown
I agree driver error. However i see a need for greater risk assessment in the planning of these type of lifts, access to & from this site is obviously a risk!!!!

Nov 23, 2012


'Pulled over to let another vehicle pass' me arse! Must have been a bicycle !!
Driver error, plain and simple...

Nov 23, 2012