Three fatal tree work incidents
Safety Update: Preventing “Struck-By” Incidents in Tree Work (AFAG 2025 Highlights)
AFAG’s initial notifications for 2025 report three fatal “struck-by” incidents:
a branch spring-back during snedding,
a falling trunk while unloading timber from a trailer, and
a branch strike during work in the crown.
While details remain under investigation, the pattern is painfully familiar: people being hit by timber or moving parts of the system. Below is what we’re doing, and what every crew can do, to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
What this means for our teams
“Struck-by” hazards are among the top killers in arb/forestry. Controls must be planned, visible, and enforced, not assumed.
1) Plan the job, prove the competence
Pre-start briefing (RAMS): identify hung-up timber, tensioned branches, decay, broken tops in the subject and adjacent trees.
Competence: only trained, current operators perform the task they’re signed off for (felling, snedding, loading/unloading, aerial cutting, rigging, MEWP, machinery).
Choose the method: where practicable, prefer mechanised options (harvester, grapple-saw, tree shears, loader with grab) over manual exposure.
2) Control the red zone
Exclusion zones: nobody inside exclusion zones during felling and within a clearly marked radius beneath aerial works/rigging areas.
Banksman: one person in charge of the cordon and public interface.
Communication: clear commands, whistles/radios, and a “work paused until confirmed clear” rule.
3) Escape route and work area set-up
Escape route: pre-cleared, 45° behind the fall line, kept free of brash and trip hazards.
Site hygiene: stack brash and timber to avoid roll-off; never build tripping points around your egress.
4) Snedding and branch release
Assess tension/compression before every cut.
Positioning: body out of the line of recoil; use step-in/step-out cuts to bleed tension gradually.
Tooling: sharp chain, correct bar length, chain brake discipline; wedges/lever aids to control movement.
5) Trailer loading/unloading
Designated unloading zone: flat ground, chocks in, exclusion cordon.
Sequence: stabilise the load first; never cut or move binders until timber is contained/secured.
Mechanisation first: prefer a loader/grab; if manual assistance is unavoidable, use tag-lines and stand clear of swing/roll paths.
6) PPE and equipment condition
Mandatory PPE: helmet with visor/eye protection, chainsaw-rated legwear/boots, gloves, hearing protection.
LOLER & pre-use checks: climbing, rigging and lifting kit in date; defects quarantined immediately.
Machine safety: guards fitted, emergency stops tested, no by-passing interlocks.
7) Emergency readiness
First aid: suitable kit on site; at least one +F trained person present.
Rescue plan: for both ground and aerial incidents; MEWP/rigging-assisted retrieval considered where appropriate.
Location: what3words/postcode grid at the briefing point; mobile signal checked; emergency access kept clear.
Supervisor’s checklist
RAMS briefed; hazards annotated on plan.
Competence verified for this task/machine.
Exclusion zones erected & enforced; banksman appointed.
Escape route cleared; site tidy.
Method chosen (mechanised if practicable).
PPE worn; kit/LOLER in date; pre-use checks signed.
First aid, rescue plan, what3words ready; comms tested.
Toolbox talks
Case theme: how spring-back, falling trunks, and unexpected branch movement happen.
Demonstrate tension/compression reading on a sample stem/branch.
Walk the red zone and agree who’s enforcing it.
Dry-run the escape route and call-outs.
Confirm rescue roles and nearest access for ambulance.
Reporting and learning
If you see an unsafe condition or have a near-miss, report it immediately. We don’t apportion blame; we fix systems.
Your report may prevent the next person from being struck.
Final word
Most “struck-by” incidents are predictable with disciplined planning, competent execution, and visible controls.
Let’s make those controls obvious on every site, every day.
