Product Overview

Summary: This Tree Health Assessment Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for inspecting, rating and documenting tree condition with a strong focus on public and worker safety. It helps Australian organisations identify hazardous trees early, manage risk around built environments and infrastructure, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS and duty-of-care obligations.

Trees can be valuable assets or significant liabilities, particularly in public spaces, along road corridors, near schools, around utilities infrastructure and on commercial sites. Poorly assessed or unmanaged trees can fail without warning, causing serious injury, property damage, service disruption and reputational harm. This Tree Health Assessment Safe Operating Procedure establishes a consistent, defendable process for inspecting trees, identifying structural and health defects, rating risk, and determining appropriate control measures such as pruning, monitoring or removal.

Developed for Australian conditions, this SOP supports organisations to move away from reactive responses after tree failures toward a proactive, planned inspection program. It details how to prepare for site inspections, what to look for in different species and environments, how to record findings in a way that stands up to regulatory and legal scrutiny, and how to integrate assessment outcomes into maintenance schedules and WHS risk registers. By implementing this procedure, you create a repeatable system that improves safety outcomes, supports budget planning for tree works, and demonstrates that your organisation is taking reasonable steps to manage tree-related risks in line with WHS legislation and local government expectations.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of tree-related injuries, property damage and service disruptions through systematic, documented inspections.
• Ensure a consistent, evidence-based approach to tree risk assessment across multiple sites, teams and contractors.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance with WHS obligations and duty-of-care requirements for public and worker safety.
• Streamline planning and budgeting for tree maintenance, removal and replacement by linking assessment outcomes to clear action priorities.
• Improve communication between arborists, supervisors, asset managers and decision-makers with standardised terminology and reporting formats.

Who is this for?

• Arborists
• Tree Inspectors
• Parks and Gardens Supervisors
• Local Government Asset Managers
• Facilities and Grounds Maintenance Managers
• Construction and Civil Project Managers
• Utilities Vegetation Management Coordinators
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Landscape Architects and Urban Foresters
• Property and Estate Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Tree or limb failure causing impact injuries to workers or members of the public
• Damage to buildings, vehicles, utilities and other infrastructure from falling branches or whole-tree failure
• Electrical hazards where tree growth or failure encroaches on overhead powerlines or other services
• Trip and fall hazards from root heave, exposed roots or destabilised pavements around trees
• Increased risk to workers performing tree works due to undetected structural defects or decay
• Vehicle collisions associated with fallen trees or obscured sightlines on roads and access ways
• Biological hazards such as pests, pathogens or allergenic species that may impact worker health

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (including risk rating scales and defect types)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (assessors, supervisors, asset owners, contractors)
• 4.0 Competency and Training Requirements for Tree Assessors
• 5.0 Pre-Assessment Planning and Site Preparation
• 6.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 7.0 Site Safety and Access Controls (traffic management, exclusion zones, electrical proximity)
• 8.0 Tree Health and Structural Assessment Criteria
• 9.0 Step-by-Step Tree Inspection Procedure
• 10.0 Risk Rating, Prioritisation and Decision-Making Framework
• 11.0 Documentation, Photography and Record-Keeping Requirements
• 12.0 Integration with WHS Risk Registers and Asset Management Systems
• 13.0 Communication and Consultation with Stakeholders and the Public
• 14.0 Follow-Up Actions, Monitoring and Reassessment Intervals
• 15.0 Emergency Response Considerations for Imminently Hazardous Trees
• 16.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Assessment Program
• 17.0 References, Legislation and Applicable Standards
• 18.0 Appendices – Sample Checklists, Inspection Forms and Risk Matrices

Legislation & References

• WHS Act and WHS Regulations in the relevant Australian state or territory
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces: Code of Practice (relevant to tree work at height following assessment)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS 4970:2009 Protection of trees on development sites
• Relevant local council tree management policies and guidelines (jurisdiction-specific)
• Electrical Safety legislation and network operator vegetation management guidelines (for trees near powerlines)