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<br />Recognizing lree Hazards <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />When damage, injury or death occurs because of a defective tree, the law usually holds the tree's owner responsible. (In a <br />public place such as a park, this responsibility shifts to the managers of the tree.) Under the law, it is your duty to exercise <br />care, good judgment, caution, and foresight by inspecting your trees regularly and recognizing situations that may cause them <br />to break or fall. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />What is a Hazard Tree? <br /> <br />What is Not a Hazard? <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />""""'-'..--- <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />....,., <br /> <br />~ <br />.iI' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~J1L. <br />. <br /> <br />A hazard tree has a structural defect that may cause the <br />tree or a portion of the tree to fall on someone or some- <br />thing else of value. <br /> <br />This is a legal grey area, but for a tree to be a hazard, a <br />"target" must be within the falling distance of the tree or <br />its part that fails. A "target" means people. vehicles and <br />structures. Therefore, a defective tree in the woods or an <br />open field or away from paths in an arboretum need not <br />necessarily be considered a hazard. See Bulletin No. 13 <br />for a case to be made on behalf of leaving old or dead <br />trees for wildlife. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />To look for hazardous conditions, inspect each tree systematically. Start by scanning the top, using binoculars if necessary. . <br />After reviewing the CfQ\vn, look dO\,\'m....rard along the trunk, then carefully examine the root zone. On the following pages are <br />some important signs to watch for in your visual inspection. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2. TREE CITY llSA BULLETI!\i No. 15. National Arbor Day Foundation <br /> <br />. <br />