Managing Tree Hazards
August 8, 2024, by Rural and Land Management Group | v 2.0 This guideline addresses the risk of trees collapsing and limbs and branches falling, in whole or in part, due to tree characteristics (e.g. defects) and external influences (e.g. impact of fire, wind, flood, powerlines or machinery damage). All trees present risk. This guideline is not intended to cover every hazard or risk associated with every type of tree in all situations
Our guideline
(see full document attached below)
Falling trees, limbs and branches – all constituting a tree hazard – pose a potential health and safety risk for emergency service responders, and for personnel undertaking prescribed burning activities. The incidence of tree hazards in forests and woodlands increases significantly in fire impacted areas because fire weakens trees, particularly those with pre-existing structural defects.
The risks associated with fire-affected trees, such as falling limbs and branches, can persist for a considerable period after fire response operations are completed, and pose a risk to the general public (GHD Report, 2017).1 Flooding events can decrease root-ball stability and increase the risk of tree fall. Strong winds and heavy rainfall associated with storm events also increase the risk of tree limb and branch fall.
AFAC has developed this safe work guideline to inform fire and emergency services and land management organisations when developing agency specific doctrine, and to support a uniform approach to managing tree hazards (e.g. identifying, marking, isolating and treating).