Tree Risk Assessment
Trees can contribute significantly to the amenity of an area and provide many benefits from physical and economical to social and psychological. However, due to the size and form of trees they can also pose significant risk and hazards, and therefore it is important to identify hazards/defects and respond to them in a reasonable manner.
Tree risk assessment in the majority of cases is dictated by the target and the size of the identified part of a tree which is more likely to fail and cause foreseeable damage. It is important that tree risk is managed proportionally to the likelihood of failure which includes the detail of inspection, priority of works and future frequency of inspections. Wharton Arboriculture is a Licensed User of HYPERLINK “http://www.qtra.co.uk” QTRA (Please link to QTRA page), which is implemented where appropriate. Additionally Wharton Arboriculture also implements other hazard rating systems where the use of QTRA is not considered appropriate. Alternative solutions follow industry best practice and guidance will be discussed with clients prior to any formal instruction.
Wharton Arboriculture Ltd offers professional tree risk assessments that enable the land owner or manager to minimise the risk of damage or injury caused by trees in their care. A tree risk survey is an essential component in any system that demonstrates responsible and reasonable management of tree risk.
Occupiers Liability Acts
Under statute law the Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, dictates the owner of a property or land has a duty of care, to take steps which are “reasonably practicable” to minimise the risk to people and property resulting from trees. This duty extends to any person who comes onto the property or adjoining properties/land for any reason (including trespassers).
The act of a tree or part of it causing injury to persons or property is likely to give rise to litigation, which could take the form of a claim either in negligence or where the injury is to a person on the same land under the Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 and 1984.
The basic underlying principle both of negligence in common law and the Occupiers Liability Acts, is that an owner of land and trees owes a duty to take reasonable care to protect those reasonably affected.
Wharton Arboriculture will advise tree owners in relation to the level of detailed assessment required to prevent this type of case being brought against a tree owner, through pro-active and regular tree management.
Reasonable Practicability
“Reasonable practicability” is a concept that is a central tenet of English Law and English Health and Safety legislation. Under English Law the owner of land or tenant, or potentially both, can be liable to prosecution depending on ownership or acting management of the estate.
What is considered to be “reasonable practicable” depends on the type of “occupier”. For example:
It may be acceptable for a homeowner to conduct regular visual tree inspections at a basic level, (unless external defects such as fungal brackets or obvious structural defects appear). However “the occupier” must be able to demonstrate that they have taken “reasonably practicable” steps to minimise the risk to an acceptable level.
Occupiers of commercial property may be required to undertake regular tree hazard inspections, record results and take remedial action to maintain a reasonable level of risk, whilst maintaining maximum possible benefits derived from the tree.
Tree Management and Policy
Whilst the surveying and inspection of trees is paramount to fulfilling the duty of care it is important that large land owners and tree managers also implement management plans and policy.
Wharton Arboriculture Ltd has considerable experience in supporting managers of significant sites with high levels of public access. We are able to aid the development and implementation of policy in order that the landowner or manager can meet their duty of care with regard to both public safety and their environmental policy.
Wharton Arboriculture Ltd relies on years of practical experience in the formulation and implementation of tree management policies and strategies with owners of sites with public access. We draw upon our previous experience working within both public and private sectors for this work.
A tree strategy and policy will ensure that resources are correctly allocated both from a risk and budgetary point of view. This will also ensure that the management of trees on any particular site is fulfilling what is considered to be reasonably practicable.
Prioritisation of Management
In order to enable effective management of trees for duty of care, we prioritise survey and arboricultural works to meet budgetary constraints. Wharton Arboriculture Ltd use a range of specialist zoning systems for evaluating levels of risk across sites.
Remote Tree Management
We are able to use our computerised GIS tree management system to manage large numbers of trees, for a range wide of landowners and estate managers. Our service includes responding to queries about individual trees, providing works schedules and liaising with other authorities.
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Analysis of Tree Population Data
We are able to provide analysis of all recorded characteristics of a tree population, including species, maturity, trends in tree condition and future budget requirements.Â
Outputting Works Orders
Using our GIS system to manage tree populations allows us to easily formulate works orders according to individual client requirements. We regularly supervise arboricultural works and have extensive experience in large scale contract management.
Quality Management of Arboricultural Works
Wharton Arboriculture is able monitor and enforces high standards of tree surgery works undertaken on behalf of our clients. Our knowledge of tree work comes from many years experience working within contracting arboriculture both in the UK and overseas.
Formulation of Planting Policy
By drawing together tree and site survey information and subsequent analysis with additional information on changes in site use, we provide comprehensive and sustainable tree planting strategies in report and detailed map format.Â
