The scenario - our neighbours engaged the services of a tree surgeon to take down a dangerous tree today & the guys arrived and in a MEWP proceeded to take the down the tree including overreaching our boundary and an access road and pedestrian walkway in our premises. No prior contact was made with us and no traffic or pedestrian protection was in place. We stopped the work briefly whilst we contacted the "office" of the tree surgeon and was told in no uncertain terms that the work would would continue and if we didn't like it - to report them. OK colleagues - what next?

Personally, If you have had no joy in speaking to them, take photos and call your local 'elf 'n' safety inspector...

I think they may be classed as trespassing, I believe that if workers are working above your land (even if they are not physucally on it) then they must apply for a license and agree arrangements with yourself. The link below may be of interest - although this relates to a crane jib above someone's garden I imagine the same principles would apply for the MEWP? http://www.lifting-world...ve/topic.php?topic_id=77

If he was in your land and you have a photo, get on to the local nick and ask for your neighbourhood officer to call in to you. Or call to the station and make a formal complaint.

Afternoon, Agree with the contact your local HSE Inspector, it may depend on the quality and amount of photos you as to progress. If using a chainsaw then IMO, PPE should have been chainsaw boots, trousers and gloves. Hard hat with integral visor and ear defenders or seperate ear & eye protection. Upper body protection ranged from hi-viz vests to special protective jackets so difficult to comment on that. From your post it appears that no protection for third parties was taken which should interest your inspector and I would have thought the local police but not sure about the latter. Interesting to see what action your local inspector takes. Take Care

Some interesting responses!!! You don’t say whether you made contact with your neighbour or what kind of relationship you have with your neighbour. I agree that the response from the ’office’ was unhelpful and ’provocative’. Yes you may want to report this to the enforcing authority but don’t hold your breathe that it is likely to get much of a response from hem unless they have plenty of ’previous’. I suggest dealing with it in a professional and non confrontational way with your ’neighbour’. I personally see little value in going down either the trespass route and I certainly don’t think I would advocate the Police. Trespass is generally (not always) a civil matter that the Police are unlikely to want or be able to get involved in and their time is probably best used chasing ‘real’ villains. I suggest the answer to your questions lies in what you are seeking to achieve. Me? I would keep it in perspective. Report to the HSE, yeah probably but don’t hold your breathe. Report to the Police; no I don’t think so, I reckon they have better things to do. Talk to your neighbour and explain your concerns etc seems the route most likely to bear fruit as far as I can tell from what you have said. I see little point in being too confrontational about it.

You seem to have mentioned the contractors a lot what about the neighbours did you speak to them while the work was being carried out. The contractor is there to do a job not enter into a debate as to the rights and wrongs. As for risk to the public having someone control access to the path while the work was going on might be deemed suitable often pathways are closed during road works so you have to cross the road and use the one on the other side. So long as someone was ensuring members of the public where not at risk then i don't see that as a major issue. Also you state the tree was dangerous so potentially the neighbour has prevented the tree falling on your property causing damage or falling on to the road / path causing injury to the member of the public. Phil Phil

Clairel, Read the posts again. He specifically states that there was a lack of PPE and states that he has photographs taken to back this statement up.

Thankyou all for your helpful comments. As far as I am concerned this matter can now be closed.