Rock scaling is generally defined as the removal of loose rocks and debris from slopes. These works are typically undertaken by skilled personnel in boom-lifts/EWP, or by rope access with hand tools (rakes, picks, shovels, crow bars).
De-vegetation normally involves the removal of trees and shrubs on rock cut batters and beyond one metre of the crest of the slope. The roots of trees growing on rock cut batters grow into defects and joints within the rock mass, leading to ‘root jacking’, which is a major cause of rock instability. Trees are lopped at ground level and the stump poisoned to prevent regrowth.
In combination with scaling, de-vegetation is often completed during the preliminary stages of rockfall netting installation.