Tree Pruning Assessment and Ground Operations SWMS

This SWMS covers tree pruning assessment and ground operations, from planning and site inspection through to tree work, material handling and close-out.

Activities covered include

Plan the work and review available site information
Carry out pruning, reduction and specialty tree operations
Inspect the completed work area and demobilise

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Tree Pruning Assessment and Ground Operations SWMS

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Product Overview

This SWMS covers tree pruning assessment and ground operations, from planning and site inspection through to tree work, material handling and close-out. It supports identifying tree, public, traffic, equipment and site hazards and planning controls for the work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

Plan the work and review available site information
Inspect the site and identify hazards
Manage traffic, public access and exclusion areas
Inspect and set up equipment
Assess tree condition and risk
Access trees and undertake work at height
Carry out pruning, reduction and specialty tree operations
Undertake root pruning and below-ground work
Apply tree health treatments and perform wound care
Handle removed, infected or hazardous material
Coordinate ground support tasks and emergency readiness
Inspect the completed work area and demobilise

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out tree pruning assessment and ground operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity	Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and documentation	Incomplete client information Inaccurate site plans Unidentified underground services Unclear tree ownership or access rights Incorrect assessment of high risk construction work Inadequate consultation with workers or other duty holders Inadequate emergency planning Unsuitable weather conditions
Site inspection and hazard identification	Overhead powerlines Underground utilities Unstable ground surfaces Hidden voids or excavations Traffic interaction Unauthorised public access Aggressive fauna or insects Falling branches and deadwood Hazardous trees with structural defects Adverse weather exposure
Traffic and public exclusion management	Vehicle collision with workers Pedestrian impact from plant Unauthorised entry into drop zone Reduced driver visibility Reversing vehicle strike Public exposure to falling material
Equipment inspection and setup	Equipment failure under load Incorrectly rated rigging gear Defective chainsaws or pruning tools Unstable EWP or ladder setup Uncontrolled chipper ingestion Hydraulic or fuel leaks Dropped tools or unsecured equipment
Tree condition and risk assessment	Tree structural failure Falling limbs during inspection Unstable root plate Infected or brittle timber Hidden decay and cavities Incorrect anchor or rigging point selection
Aerial access and working at heights	Falls from height Falling tools and equipment Anchor point failure EWP tip-over Entanglement in branches Contact with powerlines Delayed rescue from aloft
Pruning, reduction and specialty operations	Uncontrolled branch movement Over-cutting or trunk damage Muscle strain from awkward cuts Injury from chainsaws and cutting tools Exposure to infected plant material Loss of habitat or retained tree value Falling material striking persons or property
Root pruning and below-ground works	Damage to structural roots Undermining tree stability Striking underground services Flying debris from cutting tools Exposure to contaminated soil Ground collapse around excavations or voids
Tree health treatments and wound care	Exposure to chemicals Incorrect trunk injection dosage Needlestick or injection injury Allergic reaction to tree sap Contamination of waterways Inhalation of aerosols or mists
Handling infected, hazardous and removed material	Biosecurity spread Manual handling strain Sharp branches and tools Chip throwback from chipper Dust and fungal spore inhalation Plant entanglement at chipper infeed
Tree care handler and ground support tasks	Struck by falling branches Trip hazards from ropes and debris Noise-induced hearing loss Heat stress and UV exposure Miscommunication with climber Rope burn or hand injury during lowering
Undertaking complex tree risk assessments	Exposure to unstable trees Work near live traffic or public Misinterpretation of risk levels Psychological fatigue from high-consequence decisions Incomplete recording of critical defects
Emergency preparedness and incident response	Delayed rescue of injured climber Uncontrolled fire from fuel Spill of chemicals or fuel Inadequate first aid response Electrical contact incident Suspension intolerance after a fall or injury aloft
Post-work inspection and demobilisation	Residual hanging branches Unstable pruning cuts Trip hazards from debris Unsecured worksite Unreported damage to assets Defective equipment returned to service

Need to add specific site requirements?

Use the BlueSafe Portal to tailor this SWMS with site-specific details, job steps, hazards, controls and responsibilities before work starts.

Acceptance Guaranteed: If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

WHS Act - primary duty of care, consultation, and coordination with other duty holders
WHS Regulations - risk management, falls, emergency plans, first aid, plant, powered mobile plant, and work near energised electrical services
Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace
Code of Practice: Work near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines
Code of Practice: Tree Works (2026)
AS 4373 Pruning of Amenity Trees
AS 4970 Protection of Trees on Development Sites
AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
AS/NZS 1270 Acoustics - Hearing protectors

Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
Initial and residual risk ratings
Assigned responsible persons for each job step
Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections

Suitable for Industries

Arboriculture and Tree Services

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