When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and landscaping & tree surgery teams carrying out tree felling & dismantling — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised site & general hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 9 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 9-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Sectional or straight felling of trees with exclusion and drop zones.
Sequence of works
- 1PLANNING & RISK ASSESSMENT: A competent arborist (CS30/31 or equivalent) carries out a pre-task survey of all trees to be felled, assessing lean, decay, root condition, overhead lines, underground services, adjacent structures, and surrounding trees. A written task-specific risk assessment and method statement is agreed and communicated to all operatives.
- 2SITE SET-UP & EXCLUSION ZONE: Establish and barricade the exclusion zone to a minimum radius of 2× tree height in the intended fall direction and at least 5 m laterally. Erect physical barriers and warning signage. Assign a dedicated lookout operative. Confirm communications plan (whistle signals and voice).
- 3EQUIPMENT CHECKS: Inspect all chainsaws (chain brake, chain tension, anti-vibration mounts, chain catcher, bar and chain lubrication). Inspect all climbing and rigging equipment for defects. Confirm first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and means to summon emergency services are on site.
- 4GROUND CLEARANCE & RETREAT ROUTE: Clear working area and identify/clear a retreat route at approximately 45° to the planned fall line. Remove trip hazards. Don full PPE before starting chainsaw.
- 5FELLING / SECTIONAL DISMANTLING: For straight felling: make directional notch cut (open face) in intended fall direction, then complete back cut retaining a hinge of appropriate width. Retreat immediately along cleared route. For sectional dismantling: rig sections with lowering lines before cutting. Ensure groundworker is clear of lowering zone. Lower each section in a controlled manner.
- 6HUNG TREE PROCEDURE (if required): If tree becomes hung, all personnel stand clear. Warn all team members. Use only mechanical extraction (tractor, winch with wire rope) to free the hung tree. Never cut the butt of a hung tree or work beneath it.
- 7LOG PROCESSING & BRASH MANAGEMENT: Process felled stems into sections of manageable weight using a stable, secure platform or log stand where possible. Use mechanical aids (log grab, telehandler) for heavy sections. Clear brash to designated stacking or chipper area progressively.
- 8ONGOING MONITORING: Lookout monitors exclusion zone throughout all operations. Supervisor checks operative exposure time for chainsaw vibration and noise, rotating operatives as required. Continually reassess changing site conditions (weather, ground stability, adjacent trees).
- 9SITE CLEARANCE & CLOSE-OUT: Remove all logs, brash, and debris from working area as agreed with client. Remove barriers and signage only after confirmed all felling is complete and area is safe. Record any near-misses or incidents. Ensure chainsaw and climbing equipment is cleaned, inspected, and stored correctly.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Struck by falling tree or branch
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a drop zone and exclusion zone of at least 2× the height of the tree in all likely fall directions. Barricade with barriers and signage before work begins. No unauthorised persons permitted within zone.
- › A qualified arborist (minimum CS30/31 or equivalent) must assess tree condition, lean, root stability, decay, and surrounding hazards. A written plan must be agreed before work starts.
- › Use notch/back-cut technique or sectional dismantling with rigging ropes and lowering lines to control the direction and speed of fall of sections.
- › Operative identifies and clears a retreat route at 45° to the intended fall line before making the felling cut. Retreat immediately upon completion of back cut.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Consider whether the task can be completed from ground level using tools with extended reaches, eliminating the need for a ladder entirely.
- › Where straight felling is not possible, use an arborist MEWP as a safer alternative to free-climbing to position operatives for sectional dismantling.
- › Where climbing is required, use a two-point connection (work positioning and backup lanyard) with certified arborist harness, saddle, and ropes (EN 358 / EN 1891 rated equipment). Inspect all PPE before use.
Chainsaw contact injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Only use chainsaws fitted with functioning chain brake, anti-vibration mounts, chain catcher, and rear hand guard. Inspect and test chain brake before every use.
- › All chainsaw operators must hold a current NPTC/Lantra CS30, CS31, CS38 (climbing saw) or equivalent certificate appropriate to the task. No uncertified operative to operate chainsaw.
- › Wear Class 1 (minimum) chainsaw-protective trousers/chaps, chainsaw-resistant gloves, chainsaw helmet system with visor and hearing protection, and cut-resistant boots to EN ISO 17249.
Hand-arm vibration (HAV)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves (EN ISO 10819) as a supplementary measure where exposure cannot be reduced sufficiently by other means.
- › Plan work to limit daily chainsaw trigger time. Rotate operatives to keep individual exposure below the Exposure Action Value (EAV: 2.5 m/s² A(8)) and avoid the Exposure Limit Value (ELV: 5 m/s² A(8)).
- › Select chainsaws with the lowest vibration magnitude adequate for the task and ensure anti-vibration mounts are maintained and in good condition.
- › Enrol all regular chainsaw users in a HAVS health surveillance programme with baseline and periodic assessments.
Noise exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Rotate operators to limit individual daily noise dose. Avoid unnecessary running of the chainsaw at full throttle when not cutting.
- › Provide and enforce use of hearing protection with adequate SNR to reduce exposure below 85 dB(A) at the ear. Chainsaw helmet systems with integrated hearing defenders (e.g., EN 352-3) are standard.
- › Provide audiometric testing for operatives regularly exposed above the Upper Exposure Action Value (85 dB(A)).
Public struck by falling material
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect physical barriers (crowd control barriers, rope and cone lines, or temporary fencing) around the entire exclusion zone. Use clear signage indicating danger and no entry. Barriers must be monitored throughout the work.
- › Appoint a dedicated groundworker as lookout to monitor all access points to the exclusion zone and halt chainsaw operations immediately if unauthorised access occurs.
- › Notify relevant land manager, local authority (if applicable), and neighbouring properties of dates, times, and extent of work.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering safe lifting technique, load assessment, and recognition of when mechanical aids must be used.
- › Use log-splitting equipment, log grabs, skidding arches, or telehandlers to move large sections. Avoid manual lifting of logs exceeding safe weight thresholds.
- › Plan cut lengths so individual log sections can be handled by two persons without exceeding safe lifting limits. Use team lifts for heavy items.
Struck by adjacent tree or hung tree ('widow maker')
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › A competent arborist must assess all adjacent trees for dead wood, decay, co-dominant stems, or previous damage before felling commences. Dead branches ('widow makers') in the canopy must be identified.
- › If a tree becomes hung, all personnel must stand clear. Only approved mechanical extraction methods (tractor, winch) may be used to free it. Never cut the butt of a hung tree or work under it.
- › Direct the fell away from adjacent trees where possible to reduce the likelihood of a hang-up. Rigging and pull lines must be rigged to assist controlled directional felling.
Slips, trips, and falls on uneven ground
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Clear brash, loose debris, and trip hazards from the working area and retreat route before commencing felling. Identify and mark ground-level hazards (roots, holes, ditches).
- › Wear chainsaw-protective boots with anti-slip sole appropriate for woodland terrain (e.g., studded or cleated sole) to EN ISO 17249.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
Competence
- ✓ NPTC/City & Guilds chainsaw and tree-work certificates of competence (CS30/31/38 or equivalent units) for the specific operation
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Welfare units and signage
- › Barriers, cones and pedestrian segregation
- › First-aid kits and eye-wash
- › Spill kits
- › Communication (radios / lone-worker device)
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Welfare provision matching CDM 2015 Schedule 2
- ✓ Traffic management and pedestrian routes
- ✓ Lone-working check-in arrangements where relevant
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a tree felling & dismantling RAMS?
Someone competent to plan the work — usually the contractor doing the job or their supervisor. A template like this gives you the recognised hazards and controls for tree felling & dismantling, but the person signing it off must review it as the competent person and confirm it matches the actual site and method.
How long is the RAMS valid for?
Until something changes — there's no fixed expiry in law. Review it if the method, site conditions, equipment or people change, after any incident or near miss, and at sensible intervals on longer jobs. Date the review and re-brief the team.
What regulations apply to tree felling & dismantling?
PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Work at Height Regulations 2005, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are the main ones, alongside Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.