Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form

Client _______________________________________________________________ Date ___________________ Time _________________

Address/ Tree location _________________________________________________________ Tree no. ____________ Sheet _____ of _____
Tree species _________________________________________ dbh_____________ Height ___________ Crown spread dia. ____________
Assessor(s) __________________________________________ Time frame_____________ Tools used______________________________
Target Assessment
Target zone
Occupancy

move target?
within 1 x Ht.
number

Target within
Target within
rate
Target

Practical to

Restriction
practical?
1.5 x Ht.
drip line
1– rare

Target
Target description 2 – occasional
3 – frequent
4 – constant

1
2
3
4
Site Factors
History of failures _____________________________________________________________ Topography Flat Slope _________% Aspect _____
Site changes None  Grade change  Site clearing Changed soil hydrology Root cuts Describe _____________________________________
Soil conditions Limited volume Saturated  Shallow Compacted Pavement over roots ______% Describe __________________________
Prevailing wind direction ______ Common weather Strong winds  Ice Snow Heavy rain  Describe ______________________________
Tree Health and Species Profile
Vigor Low  Normal  High  Foliage None (seasonal) None (dead) Normal _____ % Chlorotic _____% Necrotic _____%
Pests_____________________________________________________ Abiotic ________________________________________________________
Species failure profile Branches  Trunk Roots Describe____________________________________________________________________
Load Factors
Wind exposure Protected Partial  Full  Wind funneling  ________________________ Relative crown size Small  Medium Large
Crown density Sparse Normal Dense Interior branches Few Normal Dense Vines/Mistletoe/Moss  _____________________
Recent or planned change in load factors _________________________________________________________________________________________
Tree Defects and Conditions Affecting the Likelihood of Failure
­— Crown and Branches —
Unbalanced crown  LCR ______% Cracks  ___________________________________ Lightning damage 
Dead twigs/branches  ____% overall Max. dia. ______ Codominant  __________________________________ Included bark 
Broken/Hangers Number __________ Max. dia. ______
Weak attachments  ___________________ Cavity/Nest hole ____% circ.
Over-extended branches 
Previous branch failures  _______________ Similar branches present 
Pruning history
Dead/Missing bark  Cankers/Galls/Burls  Sapwood damage/decay 
Crown cleaned  Thinned  Raised 
Reduced Topped  Lion-tailed 
 Conks  Heartwood decay  ________________________
Flush cuts  Other Response growth
Main concern(s)

Load on defect N/A  Minor  Moderate  Significant 

Likelihood of failure Improbable  Possible  Probable  Imminent 

­— Trunk — ­— Roots and Root Collar —

Dead/Missing bark  Abnormal bark texture/color  Collar buried/Not visible  Depth________ Stem girdling 
Codominant stems  Included bark  Cracks  Dead  Decay  Conks/Mushrooms 
Sapwood damage/decay  Cankers/Galls/Burls  Sap ooze  Ooze  Cavity  _____% circ.
Lightning damage  Heartwood decay  Conks/Mushrooms  Cracks  Cut/Damaged roots  Distance from trunk _______
Cavity/Nest hole _____ % circ. Depth _______ Poor taper  Root plate lifting  Soil weakness 
Lean _____° Corrected? ________________________________
Response growth Response growth
Main concern(s) Main concern(s)

Load on defect N/A  Minor  Moderate  Significant  Load on defect N/A  Minor  Moderate  Significant 
Likelihood of failure Likelihood of failure
Improbable  Possible  Probable  Imminent  Improbable  Possible  Probable  Imminent 
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 Risk Categorization
Likelihood
Condition number

Failure & Impact Consequences

Target number
Failure Impact (from Matrix 1)

Fall distance
Risk

Improbable
rating

Somewhat
Part size

Significant
Very likely

Negligible
Imminent
Probable

Very low

Medium
Possible

Unlikely
of part
Conditions Target

Severe
Minor
Likely
(from

High
Low
Tree part of concern protection Matrix 2)

Matrix 1. Likelihood matrix.
Likelihood Likelihood of Impacting Target
of Failure Very low Low Medium High
Imminent Unlikely Somewhat likely Likely Very likely
Probable Unlikely Unlikely Somewhat likely Likely
Possible Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Somewhat likely
Improbable Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely
Matrix 2. Risk rating matrix.
Likelihood of Consequences of Failure
Failure & Impact Negligible Minor Significant Severe
Very likely Low Moderate High Extreme
Likely Low Moderate High High
North
Somewhat likely Low Low Moderate Moderate
Unlikely Low Low Low Low

Notes, explanations, descriptions

Mitigation options _____________________________________________________________________ Residual risk ________

____________________________________________________________________________________ Residual risk ________
____________________________________________________________________________________ Residual risk ________
____________________________________________________________________________________ Residual risk ________
Overall tree risk rating Low  Moderate  High  Extreme  Work priority 1 2 3 4 
Overall residual risk Low  Moderate  High  Extreme  Recommended inspection interval __________________
Data Final  Preliminary Advanced assessment needed No Yes-Type/Reason ________________________________________________
Inspection limitations None Visibility Access Vines Root collar buried Describe ___________________________________________

This datasheet was produced by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is intended for use by Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) arborists – 2013
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