Health and Safety - Tree Safety
Published: 18 January 2023
A Tree Trunk
Newcastle City Council pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £280,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,020 by South Tyneside Magistrates on 10 January 2023 following the death of a school pupil when a decaying willow tree collapsed hitting several children in the school playground. The other children escaped with superficial injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the tree had decayed and was in a poor condition.
The Court heard that Newcastle City Council had failed to identify the extent of the decay or to manage the risk posed by the tree. The tree had been inspected by a team from the council in February 2018 and the need for "further investigation" was identified. The HSE said that “There was a lack of further detailed investigation, and the extent of decay wasn't known but would have been revealed on closer examination, and no doubt the tree would have been felled".
Council fined £280,000 after death of six-year-old girl hit by falling tree | HSE Media Centre
Actions for Schools:
- Share this article with the Senior Management Team at the school
- Establish if there are any potential safety risks from trees on site or immediately adjacent to your site
- Include this in your risk assessment, stating location and safety concerns with any trees
- Take immediate action should you have concerns, such as barrier off areas etc.
- Record actions and report to your surveyor
- Arrange for tree survey / inspections by competent person
For further support regarding tree inspections and tree work contact Derby City’s Ground Maintenance and Arboricultural Service by emailing: trees@derby.gov.uk
Contact the Corporate Health and Safety Team by emailing: employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk or your external health and safety provider should you required further information or support
Darren Allsobrook
Darren.allsobrook@derby.gov.uk
Health and Safety Team Manager