report to be undertaken for Aesculus hippocastanum

[arbormonkey]

we were called out to see a horse chestnut the other day and have got to carry out a report. It has previously shed a limb and started to decay down the trunk it doesn't look in great health any opinions would be greatly appreciated .

[Stubby]

:001_smile:Fell it .

[felixthelogchopper]

If you are providing a report, make sure you have Professional Indemnity insurance in place.

[Logrod]

If you are providing a report, make sure you have Professional Indemnity insurance in place.

 

Presumably you can save the cost of the insurance if you make sure all your recommendations are to fell immediately?

[daltontrees]

If you are providing a report, make sure you have Professional Indemnity insurance in place.

 

Yeah but insurance won't cover gross negligence, insurers will duck it if the inspector acted outwith his qualifications and experience and/or without the reasonable skills required of a competent inspector. My insurers wanted to see sample reports and instructions before covering me.

 

So don't call it anything other than a contractor's report and don't pretend you know about stuff it you don't.

[felixthelogchopper]

Presumably you can save the cost of the insurance if you make sure all your recommendations are to fell immediately?

 

My understanding would be that an indemnity would protect you from making the wrong decision either way. In other words, if your report said felling a mature specimen was necessary and it turned out not to be so, it would protect you from paying for a replacement.

 

Edit. Assuming you were qualified and had acted competently, of course.

Edited October 19, 2015 by felixthelogchopper
Clarification

[felixthelogchopper]

Yeah but insurance won't cover gross negligence, insurers will duck it if the inspector acted outwith his qualifications and experience and/or without the reasonable skills required of a competent inspector. My insurers wanted to see sample reports and instructions before covering me.

 

So don't call it anything other than a contractor's report and don't pretend you know about stuff it you don't.

 

Couldn't agree more.

[Chris at eden]

Presumably you can save the cost of the insurance if you make sure all your recommendations are to fell immediately?

 

You're being paid to provide expert advice not just to say fell. Anyone can do that. What if the client likes the tree and wants options? What if the tree is TPO'd and the TO disagrees with the content and it goes to appeal? What if its a third party tree and the owner gets a second opinion that disagrees with your assessment? What if there are issues with ground heave as a result of felling and you haven't excluded this in your limitations and/or scoping?

 

At some point you may have to justify what you have said, maybe to the client or possibly in a court setting.

[beechwood]

 

Wise words from 'tree life' says it all.

 

Then follow simple report structure

Clients brief

Observations

Conclusions

Recommendations

Your qualifications and experience.

 

If your uncomfortable with doing/not capable doing any of the above get someone else to do the report for you.

[Gary Prentice]

Think the qualifier in that PPP is " there SHOULD be nothing to worry about":biggrin: