Tree Safety

For immediate release

09/11/2016

Tree owner’s duty of care

Yesterday’s tree failure at an Auckland day care centre is a salient reminder of the potential hazards unsafe trees can pose in public places says Chris Walsh, Managing Director of Treetech Specialist Treecare. Walsh, who also is a Director of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), says tree owners need to be aware that they have a duty of care to ensure peoples safety.

Trees should be inspected on a regular basis by an arborist with qualifications in tree risk assessment who are able to assess the tree and alert the owner to any observed defects which could present safety issues. Any issues found can then be mitigated with tree management by qualified arborists.

Walsh says it is important to remember that when any construction work is carried out within the vicinity of a tree, a qualified arborist should be engaged during the design phase to ensure that trees are adequately protected. On site supervision by an arborist is essential to minimise any root damage during groundworks. A tree’s stability and health can be compromised if there is damage to the root system during construction and may not show for a number of years.

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