Blasting, mechanical felling, and manual felling all are useful methods for mitigating danger trees. Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

Due to cost and efficiency, blasting usually is employed only when other mitigation methods cannot safely be used.

Mechanized equipment can treat large areas quickly, but may not be cost effective for smaller jobs. Mechanized equipment use also results in less overall exposure to the hazards associated with work under and around danger trees. Mechanized equipment usually is operated by only one person and can be outfitted with features designed to protect the operator from falling objects.

Using chain saws to fell danger trees often is the most convenient mitigation method, especially for smaller jobs. Most national forests have a workforce of trained sawyers. Felling with sawyers is considerably slower than felling with mechanized equipment. Felling also increases overall exposure to danger trees for more people over longer periods of time. Manual felling is the only mitigation method that requires a worker to be standing next to the tree as it starts to fall.

Variables such as worker safety; forest conditions; availability of equipment, workers, or contractors; expected results; available funding; job size; location; and proximity to a forest products mill are factors that help managers determine the best mitigation method. Correctly matching a mitigation method to a danger tree situation can increase employee safety, improve project results, and increase cost efficiency. Table 3 compares production rates, estimated costs, and associated variables for each mitigation method.

Safety considerations, such as operator proficiency, communication consistency, and familiarity with local terrain, will increase the safety of employees mitigating danger trees.