AFAG Initial Notifications - 2026

Arboriculture & Forestry Fatalities

The HSE are sharing these notifications. Because the incidents are under investigation exact details will not be available and will not be provided with these notifications (either because the facts haven’t been established or release may prejudice enquiries).

June 2026 - AFAG Fatal Notification - Struck by a tree

Initial notification is that a self-employed worker was struck by tree resulting in fatal injuries

Being struck by a tree, or branches, during felling or other tree work is a significant cause of death and major injury in forestry, arboriculture, and other land-based industries. Tree
work is common, and the risks need to be well managed.

Key messages are:

• Anyone involved in tree work, including felling, must be trained and competent for the task being done. Keep other people well away from work areas.
• Tree work must be planned and supervised. Check trees for signs of decay and other factors that may affect felling or the work to be done. Where necessary set up exclusion zones.
• Select suitable equipment. Mechanised means of felling, eg harvesters, grapple saws and tree shears, should be considered and used where appropriate.
• Look out for dead wood, insecure/unstable branches, and broken tops in the tree to be cut, and in adjacent trees. Check trees for signs of decay and other factors that may affect felling or the work to be done.
• During felling, keep other people more than two tree lengths away.
• Plan an escape route and keep it clear of obstructions.
• Emergency arrangements should include first aid provision and ability to quickly contact emergency services.

The HSE are sharing these notifications. Because the incidents are under investigation exact details will not be available and will not be provided with these notifications (either because the facts haven’t’ been established or release may prejudice enquiries).

Sharing of these notifications helps to raise awareness of broad themes around risk management and promote safety messages.

These notifications should not be seen as a definitive record of the number of fatalities in any particular period or sector of industry (some fatalities may turn out to be not reportable, or be allocated to other HSE Sectors when details are fully known eg amenities). Formal figures are released annually through HSE’s ‘Fatal injuries in Great Britain’ report: Statistics - Fatal injuries in Great Britain (hse.gov.uk)

Additionally the HSE may also share relevant agricultural initial notifications when sent out to agricultural stakeholders particularly if they may be of use to the forestry / arboriculture industries, for example situations that are common to all sectors eg relevant machinery incidents, chainsaw injuries, and working at height matters.