New to health and safety?

Everyone involved in tree work - forestry, arboriculture, farm estate maintenance and any other work involving trees - has health and safety duties and responsibilities.

Implementing health and safety doesn't have to be expensive, time-consuming or complicated. Safer and more efficient working practices can often save money but - more importantly - they can help to save lives.

This website shows you the most common causes of injuries and harm to people's health during tree work.

We show you:

• What applies to your work activities
• What your legal responsibilities are
• How you can get more help
• How you can find out more

What to do first

HSE aims to make it as easy as we can for you to make your business and workplace, healthy and legal. Take the first steps by checking out our guides on:

• Getting started in health and safety

Tree work leaflets

Advice on tree work is produced by the Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG) and published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

• Forestry and arboriculture free leaflets

AFAG was set up by the former Health and Safety Commission's Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC) to deal specifically with arboriculture and forestry. Members are from across the forestry and arboriculture industry, with representatives from major industry bodies and organisations. The AFAG leaflets provide practical guidance and as checklists for employers, supervisors and the self-employed.

You can order single free copies of the leaflets from HSE Books, or buy them in priced packs of 15.

PO Box 1999
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995

Find out more

• How HSE communicates with the tree industry and how we can help raise health and safety standards