Tree Lopping and Pruning Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers tree lopping and pruning activities, from site assessment and access control through to cutting, lowering, chipping and completion. It supports planning work, identifying hazards and managing risks associated with people, trees, equipment, plant, weather and surrounding areas.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Assess the site, tree condition, ground conditions, weather and nearby hazards before work starts
• Coordinate work with nearby occupants and other duty holders
• Set up access control and exclusion zones around the work area and drop zone
• Manage work near overhead electric lines
• Plan climbing, access at height, repositioning and fall protection
• Use chainsaws, pole saws and other powered cutting equipment
• Remove branches and timber using rigging and controlled lowering methods
• Operate elevated work platforms, mobile plant and cranes used during the work
• Manage traffic, vehicle movements and shared access areas
• Feed, chip, load and manually handle branches and timber
• Manage fuels, weather conditions, emergencies and residual site hazards

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out tree lopping and pruning work.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant hazard identification — Traffic movements in the workplace; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 3. Step 2 — How to assess risks; p. 15.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — 3.2 Identifying the hazards; p. 16.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work — 5. Controlling the risks; p. 29.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use