Introduction
Outdoor
recreation offers many enjoyable experiences but there are associated risks,
such as the property damage and personal injury that may be caused by falling
trees or branches. It is the recreation site manager's responsibility to
provide as safe an environment as possible for public use.
If an accident occurs, it may be up to the courts
to determine whether adequate precautions were taken to reduce hazardous
conditions or whether the accidents resulted from natural causes beyond the
manager's control. If managers cannot prove they took reasonable steps to
reduce hazards in their campgrounds, they may be found negligent and held
liable for the accident.
This guide is intended to help minimize the risk
associated with hazard trees by presenting information on their identification
and treatment. It is directed primarily at Forest Service personnel responsible
for managing developed recreation sites. It should be useful also to others
responsible for safety in forested recreation sites, parks, and tree-lined city
streets.
The first section of this guide describes factors
that affect tree hazards. The next section explains hazard tree inspection, in
which trees are evaluated for their potential hazard. The final section
discusses treatments that can be used to deal with the hazardous trees found
during inspections. A list of references also is provided for those who wish to
learn more about hazard tree identification and treatment. |
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