subject: Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management – Guidance on trees and public safety in the UK for owners, managers and advisers [print this page] Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management Guidance on trees and public safety in the UK for owners, managers and advisers
The National Tree Safety Group has produced a draft guidance document "Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management" which is set to replace the draft BS8516 "Recomendations for tree safety inspection"
The National Tree Safety Group (NTSG) is a broad partnership of organisations that have come together to develop a nationally recognised approach to tree safety management and to provide guidance that is proportionate to the actual risks from trees. Its membership is open to all interested stakeholder organisations and groups including:-
Arboricultural Association
British Standards Institution
Centre for Decision Analysis and Risk Management, Middlesex University
Institute of Chartered Foresters
London Tree Officers Association
Quantified Tree Risk Assessment
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Tree Council
Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group
British Holiday & Home Parks Association Ltd
Confederation of Forest Industries (UK) Ltd
Country Land and Business Association
English Heritage
Essex County Council
Forestry Commission
National Farmers Union
Ancient Tree Forum
Campaign to Protect Rural England
English Heritage
Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust
National Trust
Woodland Trust
Tree Hazard Assessment is a major part of the work of a tree consultancy. Assessment of the condition of trees and presentation of management recommendations are essential for organisations, schools, hospitals, universities etc. or anyone who has a large land holding. Land owners should have both policy and procedures for tree safety management.
Tree consultants who specifytree surgerywill be waiting for the outcome of the consultation process, which is due out in the new year.Landowners have a duty to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure that people are not exposed to risk. This duty is established in criminal law under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and in civil law under the Occupiers' Liability Acts. The Health and Safety Executive has published advice to their inspectors and local authority enforcement officers as to the expected standards for management of the risk from falling trees. (SIM 01/2007/05)
