Tree Risk Management Strategies – A Tree Risk Management Strategy (TRM) is a plan for managing trees in a particular area, to reduce associated risks to persons or property. Within the TRM, set objectives will be measured to ensure the projects aims are met, such as improved amenity, increased biodiversity etc. To ensure that the management of trees is undertaken systematically, a Tree Strategy provides the necessary pro-active framework for all decision making and operational processes.
There are a great many benefits provided by trees, within the categories of ecology, amenity, recreational, and financial. Even with all of the benefits that are provided by trees, tree owners have a duty of care to ensure that any persons or property who may be harmed by the structural failure of the trees are considered. A Tree Risk Management Strategy sets the framework for the balance between the values of the trees with their risks, whilst providing the infrastructure to manage them.
The NTSG (National Tree Safety Group) figures for fatalities to the public caused by tree failure in a single year in the UK are 1 in 10 million. Thus, the risk of being struck and killed by a tree or branch falling is extremely low. Unfortunately, injuries and damage to property occurs and the owner owes a duty of care outlined within Section 3 of The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Occupier’s Liability Act 1984 to protect all members of public, employees, and property which may be affected by the trees. The duty is to take ‘reasonable care’ to protect the aforementioned by avoiding acts and omissions that would cause a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to them or their property.
The following key subjects will be covered to organise the strategy from initial assessment of the stock through to facilitating treework and record keeping:
- Zoning – allocating levels of risks to groups of trees in order to manage them efficiently.
- Inspection Frequency – Determining the interval length between inspections relative to risk.
- Inspection Levels – Determining the levels of inspection according to risk level.
- Competency of inspector – Determining the competency/qualification of the inspector relative to risk.
- Timescales and Prioritisation for work required .
Record keeping – Data recording methods to enable efficient management and to produce defensible information.