Construction Management is the highest circulation construction-based publication serving the UK built environment.
News
Carey’s plant transport licence halved after excavator knocked off trailer
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
The collision happened outside East Putney Tube station in October 2024 (Image: Phillip Perry via Wikimedia Commons)
Carey London's plant transport vehicle licence allowance has been halved after one of its drivers struck a bridge, resulting in an eight-tonne excavator falling off a trailer.
The plant was being transported on the back of a Carey trailer when it collided with a bridge on the A205 Upper Richmond Road in London, outside East Putney Tube station, on the morning of 21 October 2024.
The collision resulted in the excavator being knocked off the trailer bed onto the adjacent footpath. No one was injured.
This is not a paywall. Registration allows us to enhance your experience across Construction Management and ensure we deliver you quality editorial content.
Registering also means you can manage your own CPDs, comments, newsletter sign-ups and privacy settings.
It also heard that he had measured the height of the load using a tape measure instead of a measuring stick and had not chained down the excavator.
The driver's goods vehicle licence was suspended for two months. Carey's directors indicated that he would continue to be employed in a more minor role during the suspension.
Carey's operator's licence was cut by half to three vehicles.
‘Unacceptable risk’
Commissioner Richard Turfitt said: "A professional driver is not expected to allow lapses of attention as they are in charge of vehicles which are, by their very nature and size, dangerous. The decision to drive in that state presents an unacceptable risk and the decision-making is not indicative of a professional driver.
“Whilst safety management is often miscategorised as an antidote to common sense, all operators need to appreciate that risk assessment is not simply a matter of waiting for a danger to materialise, to then take action after the event. The outcome of this incident could have been truly catastrophic.
“Effective control measures should prevent an incident from occurring, protecting others from injury, drivers from the lasting impact, the reputation of the business and its liabilities. Compliance should make good business sense to any reputable operator.”
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
Powered Access
CM, in partnership with IPAF, has launched a new survey to explore the industry’s views and experiences with powered access machines on construction projects.
This is not a first step towards a paywall. We need readers to register with us to help sustain creation of quality editorial content on Construction Management. Registering also means you can manage your own CPDs, comments, newsletter sign-ups and privacy settings. Thank you.
