A coroner in Tasmania has called for stricter regulations concerning private tree felling following the tragic death of a man in 2023. The incident involved a 63-year-old retired nurse who was fatally injured while attempting to cut down a wattle tree at a Buddhist monastery located in rural Tasmania.
Coroner Leigh Mackey highlighted that several recommendations made in 2017 regarding tree felling practices remain unimplemented. The recent accident has reignited discussions on the need for regulations in private tree cutting activities.
An inquiry led by Coroner Mackey into the death of an individual referred to as LO in November 2023 concluded that the incident was preventable, noting that a lack of proper training was a significant factor. “The circumstances surrounding LO’s death demonstrate that cutting down trees can be hazardous and unpredictable,” she stated in her report. “Only individuals with appropriate training and expertise should engage in such activities.”
This incident comes nearly ten years after a series of recommendations were made concerning the training and certification of private chainsaw operators, none of which have been acted upon.
On November 23, 2023, LO visited a property in the Great Western Tiers region of northern Tasmania, which serves as a Buddhist monastery that he frequented for meditation. However, on that particular day, he intended to fell an 18-meter tall black wattle tree that was described as “large and twisted.”
The coroner noted that LO was typically a careful and thorough planner, possessing considerable experience with chainsaws from his work on his own property in Gunns Plains, located approximately 140 kilometers northwest of Launceston. He was equipped with a hard hat and safety goggles during the tree felling process.
As the tree began to fall, LO attempted to move out of its path but was unable to escape in time. The tree crashed down on him, resulting in fatal injuries. When the property owner returned, she discovered LO trapped beneath the tree and promptly called for emergency assistance.
The coroner classified the 63-year-old’s death as an accident, stating, “The weather and environmental conditions were not contributing factors to the incident.” She concluded that the tree fell unexpectedly, both in terms of timing and direction.
In her findings, Coroner Mackey referred to the recommendations made in 2017 by Coroner Cooper, who had investigated multiple fatalities related to private tree felling. “A common factor identified by Coroner Cooper in these cases was the lack of training,” Magistrate Mackey wrote. “He proposed recommendations aimed at the training and certification of private chainsaw users, yet none have been enacted in the nine years since.”
Magistrate Mackey urged the Tasmanian government to explore and establish regulations for private tree felling, particularly in relation to training requirements. She also recommended enhancing public awareness regarding the risks associated with tree felling by individuals lacking specialized training. The state government has been approached for a response to these recommendations.
