12.01.2023

Leonard White 1958 - 2023

We have received the sad news that veteran UK crane operator Len White died in a road traffic accident on Saturday. He was 64.

In the early 1980s Len White joined Essex Lifting Service as an operator, moving on to Fairview Crane Hire, Quinto crane hire and Baldwins, among others. Those who knew him well describe him as an outstanding crane operator, in an era when operating a crane was a more dangerous job than it is today. When he started out as a crane operator, the ‘Seat of the pants’ technique was not only still widely practiced but was also necessary to do a good job.
Please register to see all images

Len White

Early on in his career he began to develop a reputation for having a keen eye on health and safety, not only taking it seriously, but also discussing its importance with colleagues chatting about potential scenarios and the associated risks of such jobs.

More recently he set up his own Health & Safety training company - Land and Marine Training - combining all of his experience with the dedication and commitment to safety that he was known for.
One of his friends said: “Len had quite a laid back way of training candidates, he was a great storyteller and would happily share his own experiences to pass on his knowledge. There are many, many people in all walks of life that have achieved their qualifications as a result of his method of teaching and testing. He will be sadly missed in the construction industry.”