Risk Management Process for Hazard Trees

(Adapted from the Incident Response Pocket Guide)

Chamberlin, AFD, 9-16-02

Step 1 Situation Awareness

Gather Information

Objectives

Communication

Medical evacuation plan

Who’s in charge?

Skill level of participants

Recent Snag / Hazard tree experience

Weather forecast

Assess the Tree(s) / Snag(s)

Specific Species and Structural Information

Indicators of root failure

Indicators of rot, or bug infestation

Indicators of other structural issues (cracks, fire, lean, hung-up)

Presence of hanging limbs

Step 2 Hazard Assessment

Estimate failure potential

Evaluate wind

Actively evaluate roots, rot, integrity (dig, thump, and bore)

Determine duration of exposure

What other Safety Hazards Exist?

Fire, adjacent weak trees, night, steep slopes, aviation

Consider Severity vs. Probability

Step 3 Hazard Control

Avoid? (flag?)

Eliminate? (Consider all tools and techniques, saw, burn, blast, cable, knocking over with an adjacent tree)

Communicate to others

Step 4 Decision Point

Are Controls / Mitigations in place for identified hazards?

No- reassess situation Yes- Next question

Is the selected plan based on expected events?

No- Reassess situation Yes- Next Question

Have instructions been given and understood?

No- Reassess situation Yes- Initiate action

Step 5 Evaluate

Personnel: Low experience with local factors?

Distracted from primary tasks?

Fatigued or stress reaction?

Hazardous attitude?

The Situation: What is changing?

Is the Plan working?