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The
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What arborists can do
HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF TREES
The definition of a hazardous tree will always be open to debate. Trees are shedding systems and may lose limbs of varying sizes during events that are natural, yet not predictable in advance. The full extent of root systems are invisible below the soil surface and the crowns of trees can only be inspected effectively by systematic climbing - a covering of ivy renders inspection largely impossible even then.However, there are indications of hazards that the experienced eye can recognise. The presence, position and extent of certain fungi for instance; or details of the basic structure of the tree - how limbs are attached and the shape of the trunk; patches of dead bark and the extent of deadwood; maybe bud density and the extension growth to the twigs; or the colour, shape and size of the leaves - all these things can help to build an appreciation of a potential hazard. A hazard is something that could possibly be dangerous. The severity of the risk is defined by the likelihood of that dangerous event occurring and by the nature of what will suffer as a result - referred to as the target. A target may be a fixed building, a fast moving vehicle on a main road, or maybe just an occasional visitor to that particular spot who although they might suffer greatly nonetheless, has a low probability of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although different people and places may throw up different priorities - by careful consideration of the hazard and the target a reasonable assessment of the risk can be made.
