Forestry

compliance Great_Britain Ongoing

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties

Enforced by: HSE

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

General duty to protect employees and others affected by the work. Forestry is a high-hazard sector — felling, chainsaw operation, working at height, lone working and use of all-terrain and lifting equipment carry significant risk. HSE Agriculture, Waste and Recreation sector covers forestry. Northern Ireland: Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

insurance Great_Britain Annual

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance)

Enforced by: HSE

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969

Required for any business employing at least one person, including seasonal and contract forestry workers.

registration Uk Annual

UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018

Enforced by: ICO

Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)

Applies to any forestry business processing personal data — employees, contractors, landowner clients and suppliers. ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.

compliance Great_Britain Ongoing

Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics

Enforced by: EHRC

Equality Act 2010

No discrimination in employment or in services to the public. Northern Ireland has its own equality framework (enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland).

compliance Great_Britain Ongoing

Work equipment, lifting and work-at-height safety (chainsaws, harvesters, climbing)

Enforced by: HSE

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER); Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER); Work at Height Regulations 2005; Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

Forestry fieldwork is high-hazard. PUWER governs chainsaws and harvesting machinery (guarding, maintenance, operator competence — HSE expects recognised chainsaw/arboriculture certificates of competence); LOLER covers timber-lifting and tree-climbing/rigging equipment with periodic thorough examination; the Work at Height Regulations cover tree climbing and aerial work; COSHH covers pesticides, wood dust and chemical exposure. Northern Ireland has parallel regulations made under the 1978 Order.

licensing England_Wales Per_Project

Tree felling licence

Enforced by: FORESTRY_COMMISSION

Forestry Act 1967

A felling licence from the Forestry Commission (England) or Natural Resources Wales (Wales) is generally required before felling growing trees, subject to thresholds and exemptions (small volumes, dead/dangerous trees, gardens, certain pruning). Felling without a licence is a criminal offence. Licences are conditional on compliance with the UK Forestry Standard and usually carry a restocking condition. Scotland: a felling permission from Scottish Forestry under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp/2018/8). Northern Ireland: felling licence from the Forest Service under the Forestry Act (NI) 2010.

permit England_Wales Per_Project

Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) consent

Enforced by: FORESTRY_COMMISSION

Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999

Afforestation, deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries above relevant thresholds (or in sensitive areas) need the Forestry Commission's (England) / Natural Resources Wales's (Wales) opinion and, where significant effects are likely, EIA consent before work starts. Carrying out a relevant project without consent is an offence. Scotland: Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 administered by Scottish Forestry. Assessment is judged against the UK Forestry Standard.