Crane firm directors banned after drivers found falsifying records

FOUR directors of Baldwins Crane Hire have been disqualified after four of its drivers were caught falsifying records.

The Traffic Commissioner has also revoked the company’s licences, immobilising its 81 cranes with sites set to run short of kit across the country.

A probe into the company – which has bases in Warrington, Leeds and Birmingham – discovered drivers faking rest breaks in order to ensure cranes would be on site and ready to work on time.

The revocation of the company’s two licences will take effect from September 10.

The orders for disqualification of Richard Baldwin, Wayne Baldwin, Andrew Skelton and Lorraine Baldwin will take effect on the same date.

Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney said: “The falsification of records to make it appear that drivers had taken appropriate rest goes absolutely to the heart of road safety.

“In the case of this operator, five out of seven drivers investigated in 2014 were found to be so offending.

“A follow-up investigation in 2015 found the offending, if anything had worsened with eighteen drivers found to be offending.”

Baldwins Crane Hire in December 2015 was found guilty of corporate manslaughter and fined £700,000 following the death of a driver in a crash in East Lancashire.

Rooney continued: “I do not know if my decision will mean the end of Baldwins Crane Hire limited, but I make my judgement on proportionality on the assumption that it will.

“The failures at Baldwins Crane Hire are so significant so deep-rooted and inspired by the very top of the business that I find it entirely appropriate that this licence be revoked.”