Product Overview

Summary: This SOP provides a clear, defensible framework for reporting, recording and investigating incidents in arboriculture operations, from near misses and dropped branches to serious injuries and equipment failures. It helps Australian tree businesses respond consistently, meet WHS obligations, and turn every incident into practical safety improvements on site.

Tree work is inherently high risk, with work at height, chainsaws, chippers, cranes and public interfaces all occurring in dynamic environments. When something goes wrong – a near miss with falling limbs, a cut injury, plant damage, or a member of the public placed at risk – the way your business responds can make the difference between a one-off event and a repeat incident with serious consequences. This Incident Reporting and Investigation in Arboriculture SOP sets out a structured, step-by-step process for capturing what happened, making the site safe, notifying the right people, and conducting a thorough, evidence-based investigation.

Designed specifically for Australian arboriculture operations, this procedure recognises the realities of tree work: mobile crews, subcontractors, work on public roads and in parks, and time pressures from clients and weather. It helps you standardise how incidents are reported from the field, ensure notifiable incidents are escalated correctly under WHS legislation, and document corrective actions that are actually practical for tree crews. By implementing this SOP, your business can demonstrate due diligence, support injured workers, protect its reputation with councils and private clients, and build a learning culture where near misses and incidents drive continuous improvement rather than blame.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, timely reporting of incidents, near misses and hazards across all arboriculture crews and sites.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and client contract requirements for incident management.
• Identify root causes specific to tree work (e.g. rigging setup, traffic control layout, communication failures) and implement targeted controls.
• Reduce the likelihood of repeat incidents, serious injuries, equipment damage and public liability claims.
• Strengthen safety culture by providing clear, fair and transparent investigation and follow-up processes.

Who is this for?

• Arborists
• Climbing Arborists
• Ground Crew Team Leaders
• Tree Work Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Business Owners in Arboriculture and Tree Services
• Local Government Parks and Urban Forest Managers
• HSEQ Coordinators
• Contract Administrators managing tree work
• Safety Representatives and Health and Safety Committees

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height during climbing or elevated work platform (EWP) operations
• Struck-by incidents from falling branches, trunks or rigging gear
• Chainsaw cuts, kickback and laceration injuries
• Entanglement and crush injuries involving wood chippers, stump grinders and other plant
• Contact with overhead or underground electrical services during tree work
• Vehicle and mobile plant collisions in roadside or urban environments
• Manual handling injuries from handling logs, branches and equipment
• Public exposure to uncontrolled work zones or debris
• Psychological harm following serious or traumatic incidents

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Incident, Near Miss, Hazard, Notifiable Incident, Serious Injury)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Workers, Supervisors, WHS Manager, PCBU, HSRs)
• 4.0 Types of Incidents in Arboriculture Operations
• 5.0 Immediate Response and Site Stabilisation
• 6.0 Incident Reporting Requirements and Timeframes
• 7.0 Notifiable Incidents and Regulator Notification Process
• 8.0 Communication and Client / Principal Contractor Notification
• 9.0 Evidence Collection (Photos, Statements, Equipment, Site Conditions)
• 10.0 Incident Investigation Methodology (Root Cause Analysis tailored to tree work)
• 11.0 Determining Contributing Factors (People, Equipment, Environment, Systems)
• 12.0 Corrective and Preventive Actions (Hierarchy of Control in Arboriculture)
• 13.0 Documentation, Records and Privacy Requirements
• 14.0 Trend Analysis and Safety Performance Monitoring
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talk Integration
• 16.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Audit of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Safe Work Australia – Incident Notification Fact Sheets and Guidance Material
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS 4373:2007 Pruning of amenity trees
• Relevant state-based arboriculture and electrical safety guidelines (e.g. working near overhead powerlines)