Following the recent damage inflicted on trees and woodlands across the UK by Storm Arwen, the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) have recently issued guidance on how to safely manage windblow and its aftermath:
- FISA recognise that Storm Arwen has produced a myriad of new areas of storm damaged trees, windblow, potentially weakened standing and snapped trees, and created more unstable debris overhead.
- Access routes into sites may be affected.
- Ensure you carefully plan and risk assess how any storm affected and windblown areas are dealt with.
- To deal with windblow, mechanical assistance should always be sourced and used whenever possible. Use competent trained persons wherever possible and equipment fit for purpose.
- Some sites with several storm damaged areas may require access to be either limited or even excluded until made safe.
- Operators of HGVs, please consider in such unique storm conditions there could be a risk to the driver and/or vehicle damage, but also a wider risk to those who have to retrieve your vehicles to clear routes for emergency vehicles.
- In a red warning, whenever possible, your HGVs should be parked up.
