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Landscaping · United Kingdom

Method statement for tree felling

By SiteSortedBuilt from HSE guidance and CDM 2015 · How we write and check theseUpdated

You must assess the risks of tree felling and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

RAMS cover the hazards, who could be harmed and how, the controls and the safe sequence of work, and the crew is briefed and signs. The main hazards are falling from height, road traffic, MEWP tip-over or crush and falling tools and materials.

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RAMS example: tree felling

This is a complete RAMS for tree felling, with 10 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS)
Tree removal and pruning with a chainsaw · Landscaping · Example
Document RAMS-001 · Rev 1

Risk assessment

#ActivityHazardsWho might be harmedRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Assess the tree for lean, decay and dead wood, check for power lines and buildings, and plan escape routes; keep 2 tree lengths clear when felling
  • Contact with overhead power lines
  • Falling tools and materials
Workers, Plant operators, Public, People belowHigh (12)
  • Ask the distribution network operator (DNO) to turn off, move or insulate the lines before work starts. Eliminate
  • Use non-conductive (fibreglass) ladders near any power lines. Reduce / substitute
  • Mark the safe distance with flags, tape or goal posts and keep all plant and people outside it. Isolate
  • Follow HSE GS6: barriers, goal posts under the lines and a permit for work near them. Control (procedures)
  • Use a dedicated spotter whenever plant moves or raises anything near lines. Control (procedures)
  • Treat all lines as live. If plant touches a line, stay in the cab and keep everyone well away. Control (procedures)
  • Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate
  • Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Control (engineering)
  • Falling tools and materials: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (8)
2Set up the drop zone with barriers and traffic or pedestrian control
  • Public entering the work area
  • Road traffic
Public, Children, Workers, Road usersVery high (15)
  • Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Isolate
  • Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for prams and wheelchairs. Isolate
  • Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Control (engineering)
  • Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Control (procedures)
  • Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Control (procedures)
  • Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Control (procedures)
  • Do the work at low-traffic times, or close the road or lane with approval. Eliminate
  • Put solid barriers between the work and traffic where speeds are high, not just cones. Isolate
  • Use a truck-mounted attenuator or buffer vehicle on high speed roads. Control (engineering)
  • Set up signs and cones to Chapter 8 (Traffic Signs Manual) by trained operatives. Control (procedures)
  • Get a street works permit or licence from the highway authority before you start. Control (procedures)
  • Park work vehicles to shield the work zone, with beacons on. Control (procedures)
  • Wear Class 2 or 3 hi-vis clothing (EN ISO 20471). PPE
Medium (5)
3Check the chainsaw, chain brake and PPE before starting
  • Chainsaw injuries
  • Loud noise
Workers, People nearbyHigh (12)
  • Use a different tool where you can, such as a pole saw or hand saw for small branches. Reduce / substitute
  • Use a saw with a working chain brake, chain catcher and low-kickback chain, kept sharp and tensioned. Control (engineering)
  • Only trained and certified operators (for example Lantra or City and Guilds NPTC) use chainsaws. Control (procedures)
  • Never cut above shoulder height or from a ladder. Control (procedures)
  • When felling, keep everyone at least two tree lengths away. Control (procedures)
  • Wear chainsaw chaps, chainsaw boots, gloves, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection. PPE
  • Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate
  • Loud noise: see step 10 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (6)
4Look for nests, wasps and snakes before climbing or cutting
  • Bites and stings
WorkersMedium (9)
  • Check work areas before starting, and get pest control to remove nests. Eliminate
  • Look before you reach into dark spaces. Control (procedures)
  • Ask owners to keep pets away from the work area. Control (procedures)
  • Know who has allergies and keep their medication, such as an adrenaline auto-injector, close by. Control (procedures)
  • Wear gloves, long sleeves and boots. Use insect repellent outdoors. PPE
Medium (6)
5Set up the MEWP on firm ground outside the drop zone
  • MEWP tip-over or crush
  • Contact with overhead power lines
Workers, People nearby, Plant operators, PublicVery high (15)
  • Check the ground before setting up. Use outriggers and spreader pads, and keep clear of trenches, pits and slopes. Control (engineering)
  • Use a platform with tilt alarm and secondary guarding (anti-entrapment) where there is an overhead crush risk. Control (engineering)
  • Use IPAF-trained operators for MEWPs, carrying their PAL card. Control (procedures)
  • Do a pre-start check each day. Keep a trained person on the ground who can lower the platform in an emergency. Control (procedures)
  • Never exceed the safe working load, climb on the rails or use a ladder in the basket. Control (procedures)
  • In boom-type platforms, wear a harness clipped to the basket anchor point. PPE
  • Contact with overhead power lines: see step 1 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
6Cut from the ground or the MEWP, never from a ladder
  • Falling from height
  • Chainsaw injuries
Workers, People below, People nearbyVery high (20)
  • Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Eliminate
  • Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Isolate
  • Use a scaffold, mobile tower or MEWP instead of working off a ladder. Control (engineering)
  • Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Control (engineering)
  • Have a rescue plan so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a full body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard, clipped on at all times when using fall arrest. PPE
  • Chainsaw injuries: see step 3 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
7Drop limbs in sections into the clear drop zone. Before cutting bent or loaded wood, work out which side is under tension and stand clear of where it will spring
  • Falling tools and materials
Workers, Public, People belowHigh (12)
  • Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate
  • Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Control (engineering)
  • Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Control (engineering)
  • Tether hand tools when working at height. Control (engineering)
  • Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Control (procedures)
  • Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE
Medium (8)
8Fell the stem with a scarf cut on the felling side and a back cut that leaves a hinge, call a warning, then step back along the planned escape route
  • Falling tools and materials
  • Chainsaw injuries
Workers, Public, People below, People nearbyHigh (12)
  • Falling tools and materials: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • Chainsaw injuries: see step 3 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (8)
9Refuel with the engine off and the saw cool, on bare ground away from ignition, using an approved fuel can, with an extinguisher at the vehicle
  • Fire and emergencies
Workers, Occupants, VisitorsHigh (10)
  • Provide fire extinguishers suited to the site, checked and easy to reach. Control (engineering)
  • Keep exits and escape routes clear and signed. Control (engineering)
  • Have a site emergency plan: alarm, exits, assembly point and emergency contacts. Control (procedures)
  • Keep a stocked first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on site. Control (procedures)
  • Know the site address and how emergency services get in. Call 999. Control (procedures)
  • Go through the emergency plan with every worker and visitor at induction. Control (procedures)
  • Keep flammable materials and rubbish away from exits and escape routes. Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
10Chip or stack wood: feed the chipper butt first from the side, never reach past the feed control bar or kick material in, and stop and isolate it before clearing a jam; then clean up
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Hand-arm and whole-body vibration
  • Loud noise
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Workers, People nearby, VisitorsHigh (12)
  • Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate
  • Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Reduce / substitute
  • Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Control (engineering)
  • Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Control (procedures)
  • Use low-vibration tools and methods, such as a breaker on an excavator instead of a hand jackhammer. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep tools sharp and well maintained, and use anti-vibration handles and seats. Control (engineering)
  • Limit trigger time using the HSE vibration calculator to stay below the exposure action value, and rotate workers. Control (procedures)
  • Keep hands warm and dry, and take regular breaks. Control (procedures)
  • Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate
  • Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Control (engineering)
  • Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Control (procedures)
  • Assess noise. At 85 dB(A) or more, hearing protection is required and the zone must be marked. Control (procedures)
  • Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate
  • Put skips and waste chutes close to the work. Control (engineering)
  • Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Control (procedures)
  • Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Control (procedures)
  • Use a registered waste carrier and keep waste transfer notes for at least 2 years. Keep hazardous waste such as asbestos separate, with consignment notes (special waste in Scotland). Control (procedures)
Medium (6)

Method statement: sequence of work

  1. Assess the tree for lean, decay and dead wood, check for power lines and buildings, and plan escape routes; keep 2 tree lengths clear when felling
  2. Set up the drop zone with barriers and traffic or pedestrian control
  3. Check the chainsaw, chain brake and PPE before starting
  4. Look for nests, wasps and snakes before climbing or cutting
  5. Set up the MEWP on firm ground outside the drop zone
  6. Cut from the ground or the MEWP, never from a ladder
  7. Drop limbs in sections into the clear drop zone. Before cutting bent or loaded wood, work out which side is under tension and stand clear of where it will spring
  8. Fell the stem with a scarf cut on the felling side and a back cut that leaves a hinge, call a warning, then step back along the planned escape route
  9. Refuel with the engine off and the saw cool, on bare ground away from ignition, using an approved fuel can, with an extinguisher at the vehicle
  10. Chip or stack wood: feed the chipper butt first from the side, never reach past the feed control bar or kick material in, and stop and isolate it before clearing a jam; then clean up

PPE

Chainsaw trousersSafety helmetFace shieldEar defendersRigger glovesSafety bootsHi-vis vestSafety glassesCut-resistant glovesCoverallsFull body harness and lanyard

Plant and equipment

Chainsaw: Lantra or NPTC chainsaw certificateBoom MEWP: IPAF PAL card (3b)TrailerHand tools

Permits and plans

Work at height permit

Emergency

Call 999. Add the nearest A&E, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this RAMS.

Free RAMS template for tree felling

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this RAMS

Pre-start checklist for tree felling

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

The safe sequence of work

  1. Assess the tree for lean, decay and dead wood, check for power lines and buildings, and plan escape routes; keep 2 tree lengths clear when felling
  2. Set up the drop zone with barriers and traffic or pedestrian control
  3. Check the chainsaw, chain brake and PPE before starting
  4. Look for nests, wasps and snakes before climbing or cutting
  5. Set up the MEWP on firm ground outside the drop zone
  6. Cut from the ground or the MEWP, never from a ladder
  7. Drop limbs in sections into the clear drop zone. Before cutting bent or loaded wood, work out which side is under tension and stand clear of where it will spring
  8. Fell the stem with a scarf cut on the felling side and a back cut that leaves a hinge, call a warning, then step back along the planned escape route
  9. Refuel with the engine off and the saw cool, on bare ground away from ignition, using an approved fuel can, with an extinguisher at the vehicle
  10. Chip or stack wood: feed the chipper butt first from the side, never reach past the feed control bar or kick material in, and stop and isolate it before clearing a jam; then clean up

Hazards to watch on tree felling

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 3, 6, 8Chainsaw injuriesChainsaw kickback or contact with the chain causes deep cuts to the legs, arms and face.
Step 4Bites and stingsSpiders, wasps, bees, ticks and dogs bite or sting workers in roof spaces, under floors and in gardens.
Step 5MEWP tip-over or crushThe platform tips on soft or sloping ground, the worker is crushed against a beam or ceiling, or is thrown out of the basket.
Step 2Road trafficPassing cars and trucks hit workers or plant working on or next to a road.
Step 9Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.
Step 1, 5Contact with overhead power linesA ladder, MEWP, crane, tipper or long length of material touches or gets close to an overhead line and electrocutes people.
Very likelyLikelyPossibleUnlikelyVery unlikelyHow bad it could be: Negligible to FatalBA
Highest risk on tree felling: Very high before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United Kingdom 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and fatal becomes unlikely and major injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
  • Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
  • Was the building built before 2000?

Licences and legal requirements in United Kingdom

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

  • Chainsaw: Lantra or NPTC chainsaw certificate
  • Boom MEWP: IPAF PAL card (3b)

Employers must assess the risks of their work and record the significant findings (required where you employ 5 or more people). On CDM projects, contractors give their RAMS to the principal contractor before starting, and brief the workers on it.

Rules that apply: HSE GS6 Avoiding danger from overhead power lines; Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 10 (falling objects); CDM Regulations 2015; Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice (Red Book); Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005; Work at Height Regulations 2005 and LOLER 1998; Work at Height Regulations 2005; CDM 2015 regs 29 to 31 (fire on construction sites). Occupied premises: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales), Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010; Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

Why RAMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • The method statement is only a list of headings that repeats the risk table and never says how the work is done.
  • The method sequence does not match the risk assessment, for example the method strips the roof before the scaffold is handed over.
  • Residual risk is still High after controls with no extra measures or explanation.
  • It reads as copied: another firm, another address, or wording that does not fit UK sites. HSE warns that copying an example and adding your name does not satisfy the law.
  • Work on an older building with no reference to an asbestos survey.
  • Plant and access equipment listed with no inspection, thorough examination or competence evidence.
  • No briefing record, no revision history, or no named supervisor.

Questions

Do I need RAMS for tree felling?

You must assess the risks of tree felling and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

Who signs the RAMS?

The person who wrote it and the person who approved it sign and date it. Every worker signs the briefing register after it is explained to them, and the principal contractor reviews and accepts it before you start.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this RAMS, every revision and the signed briefing register with the site file for the length of the job, and keep a copy in your records afterwards.

What PPE is needed for tree felling?

Usually Chainsaw trousers, Safety helmet, Face shield, Ear defenders, Rigger gloves, Safety boots, Hi-vis vest, Safety glasses, Cut-resistant gloves, Coveralls, Full body harness and lanyard. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More landscaping RAMS

RAMSRetaining Wall Construction10 stepsRAMSPaving and Patio Installation5 stepsRAMSTurf Laying5 stepsRAMSFencing6 stepsRAMSIrrigation Installation5 stepsRAMSGarden Maintenance6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

ScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves contact with overhead power linesRoofingRe-RoofingAlso involves contact with overhead power linesDemolitionSoft StripAlso involves fire and emergenciesBricklayingBrickworkAlso involves falling from height

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkWorking at HeightToolbox talkOverhead Power LinesToolbox talkExtension Leads and Power ToolsToolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise

Blank RAMS template: free RAMS templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)

Sources