Manufacturing Safety Alert: Wind and Tree Hazards

Could It Happen to You?

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT

Over the past few years, there have been several reported incidents of trees falling during strong, windy conditions. In one of these incidents, a worker reported the front end of their vehicle was struck by a tree that fell from a hillside while driving home. Although no injuries were reported from any of these incidents, they are considered near-misses and should be reported for further investigation. 

SUGGESTED ACTIONS

Conduct a site assessment before commencing work to assess disturbances and identify any dangerous trees.

• Complete hazard assessments and conduct safety meetings with a focus on overhead hazards.
• Implement hazard control procedures and be cautious of potentially hazardous trees. Watch out for signs of blowdown and structural weakness in trees. 
• Avoid parking vehicles near hazardous trees or overhead hazards.
• Monitor weather conditions that can increase hazards, such as wind or snow, which can affect tree stability. Leave the vicinity if weather conditions are causing twigs or branches to blow or fall off trees. 

MOST IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY 

Perform a hazard assessment that includes identifying tree stability, blow downs and loose branches if there has been strong windy weather. 

This Safety Alert was provided by BC Forest Safety. Click HERE to view the full document