Tree Related Hazards and Risk Management
However many trees you own, whatever the size of your organisation, and however many resources you have available; you have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure your trees are not dangerous. What is taken as reasonable depends on a number of factors; but in all cases a proactive approach to tree risk management is recommended.
We keep up to date with the latest tree risk management reasearch and policy. This ensures our surveys and systems are in accordance with current legislation and guidance whilst ensuring resources are not wasted on unnecessary work.
Tree hazard surveys for woodlands and medium to large estates
It is generally accepted that a proactive approach is required. This generally involves the creation of different zones related to levels of use. This is then followed by the creation of a schedule of surveys focussing resources on those areas with the highest levels of use. For example, trees along major roads would be surveyed and any recommendations acted upon before those trees next to quiet footpaths.
Tree hazard assessments for small numbers of trees or individual trees.
Generally a visual inspection by a competent arboriculturalist is sufficient in deciding the severity of any hazards posed by a tree. Occasionally it may be necessary to investigate further using specialist tools or by climbing the tree.
We will always try to adopt the simplest and cheapest approach before moving on to more costly diagnostic methods. We will never waste resources on unecessarily complex inspections, nor will we recommend unnecessary works.
In any type of tree hazard assessment there will be two factors to consider; the likelihood of there being a tree failure; and the consequences of any such failure. These two factors allow an assessment of the levels of risk posed by a tree, and allow the recommended works to be prioritised.
Clear and Concise
Our reports are clear and concise and provide easy to understand recommendations for action.
These recommendations are prioritised, allowing for sensible risk managent in a world of limited resources.