Product Overview

Summary: This Monitoring and Evaluation of Tree Work Impact SOP provides a structured, defensible approach to assessing the safety, environmental and community impacts of arboricultural work. It helps Australian businesses demonstrate due diligence, verify that control measures are effective, and continuously improve how tree work is planned, executed and reviewed.

Tree work can significantly affect worker safety, public safety, infrastructure and the surrounding environment. Beyond safely felling or pruning a tree, duty holders must be able to demonstrate that their controls are working in practice, that risks are being reduced so far as is reasonably practicable, and that environmental and community impacts are being responsibly managed. This Monitoring and Evaluation of Tree Work Impact SOP sets out a clear, repeatable framework for collecting evidence, reviewing outcomes and feeding lessons learned back into your systems of work.

The procedure covers pre-work baseline assessments, on-site monitoring of safety and environmental performance, and post-work evaluations including site condition, stakeholder feedback and incident/near miss analysis. It guides supervisors and managers through measurable indicators such as damage to property or habitat, effectiveness of exclusion zones, equipment performance, and compliance with permits and local council requirements. By implementing this SOP, organisations can move beyond ad-hoc inspections to a structured monitoring regime that supports WHS due diligence, environmental stewardship and stronger community trust.

This SOP is particularly valuable for councils, utilities, and contractors who undertake repetitive or large-scale tree works in streetscapes, parks, easements and construction corridors. It helps align field practices with Australian WHS legislation and relevant environmental obligations, supports robust reporting to senior management and regulators, and provides a documented trail of how risks and impacts are identified, monitored and controlled over time.

Key Benefits

• Demonstrate WHS due diligence by systematically recording and reviewing the safety and environmental impacts of tree work.
• Reduce incidents, near misses and public complaints by using data-driven monitoring to refine work methods and controls.
• Ensure consistency across crews and contractors through a standardised approach to inspections, checklists and performance indicators.
• Support regulatory and client reporting with clear, auditable records of monitoring activities and outcomes.
• Improve long-term asset, vegetation and habitat management by evaluating how tree work affects site condition over time.

Who is this for?

• Arborists
• Tree Work Supervisors
• Parks and Gardens Managers
• Local Government Works Coordinators
• WHS Managers
• Environmental Officers
• Utility Vegetation Management Coordinators
• Landscape Maintenance Contractors
• Project Managers – Civil and Infrastructure
• HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment and Quality) Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falling branches and trees impacting workers, the public or property
• Contact with overhead or underground services during tree work
• Uncontrolled public access to work zones and exclusion areas
• Environmental damage such as soil compaction, root damage and habitat loss
• Noise, dust and debris affecting nearby residents and businesses
• Equipment failures or misuse of chainsaws, chippers and elevated work platforms
• Traffic interface risks around roadside or streetscape tree works
• Inadequate follow-up of incidents and near misses leading to repeat events

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Legislative and Standards Framework
• 5.0 Pre-Work Impact Assessment Requirements
• 6.0 Monitoring Criteria and Performance Indicators
• 7.0 On-Site Safety and Environmental Monitoring Procedures
• 8.0 Community and Stakeholder Impact Monitoring
• 9.0 Post-Work Evaluation and Site Condition Assessment
• 10.0 Incident, Near Miss and Non-Conformance Review
• 11.0 Data Recording, Reporting and Recordkeeping
• 12.0 Corrective Actions and Continuous Improvement
• 13.0 Contractor and Subcontractor Performance Monitoring
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Communication
• 15.0 Audit, Review and Revision of the SOP
• 16.0 Supporting Tools: Checklists, Forms and Sample Monitoring Templates

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and relevant state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and relevant state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS 4373: Pruning of amenity trees
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced by some organisations)
• Local government tree management policies and relevant state environmental or vegetation management legislation