BS5837 vs BS3998 Part 3: Highways, Section 154, and When Standards Clash
Green Horizon b7 7 min read
Highways work is where the neat theory often falls apart. You can have the right standards, the right intent, and still hit constraints that make full compliance impossible.
Section 154: safety duties come first
Section 154 of the Highways Act creates a clear priority: public safety. If a tree is a hazard to the highway, action may be required quickly, with limited access and tight traffic management windows.
Why BS3998 best practice is not always achievable
- Live traffic and limited working space
- Short traffic management windows
- Emergency response and reactive works
- Weather and seasonal constraints
- Multiple duty holders and changing site control
What matters: decisions, justification, and records
If you cannot fully meet BS3998 in a highways context, the key is to document why, what alternatives were considered, what controls were used, and how the decision still met the primary duty of safety.
Practical documentation checklist
- Current tree condition and risk context
- Traffic management constraints and time windows
- Why the ideal method was not achievable
- Chosen method and risk controls
- Competence and equipment confirmation
- Photos before and after
- Sign off by the relevant duty holder
Want help writing this up so it stands up to scrutiny?
Email us the location, the constraint, and what the team can realistically achieve on the shift. We will help you document a defensible decision.