August 21, 2019
Did you know that Canada is the 6th largest producer in the world? And better still, the 4th largest producer and exporter of oil in the world?
However, Canada also accounts for 10% of the world’s forest fires. On top of that, climate change is hitting Canada hard, warming Canada at a rate twice as fast as the rest of the world. While climate change will bring more rain in certain seasons, it will also lead to longer, hotter dry spells, which could lead to more fires.
If you’re ready to join the ranks and strike electric or liquid gold, you probably know that a lot of money has to go into your worksite before any money comes out of it. Before you start breaking ground on your working area, you need to make sure that area is completely clear of vegetation.
Don’t let your worksite become a fire hazard. Read on to find out just how important vegetation management is for utility and oilfield companies.
What is Vegetation Management?
Vegetation management is the process of clearing a space of all trees and other foliage. In the past, this was often done by burning trees and brush, which created air pollution and increased the risk of wildfire. Plus, it took way too long.
Now, many vegetation management companies are dedicated to finding solutions, rather than creating problems. At Pevach Corp, we use heavy machinery to reduce vegetation to mulch or woodchips that can be redistributed elsewhere.
Not only is this a more efficient method, but it’s a lot less wasteful. Mulching doesn’t release toxic pollution into the air and we’re creating a useful byproduct, rather than destroying what once grew from your worksite.
Plus, our machinery gets to those hard-to-reach roots and shoots, which means you’re not going to see a bunch of sprouts popping up in a few months.
Why Do Utility Companies Need Vegetation Management?
Your transmission towers are as tall as sky-scrapers. The powerlines running between them are high above the vegetation that grows on the ground below. All of that foliage is hardly in your way, right?
Wrong. Contact between vegetation and electrical equipment is a leading cause of uncontrolled fires. The area around electrical equipment should be clear for several meters.
Trees that grow to the height of a power line are the biggest targets for electrical fires, but smaller vegetation can also be hazardous. Downed lines can start fires in short vegetation, as can the ejected metal particles of a conductor slap.
Even if your utility company specializes in something other than electricity, vegetation can be an issue. For example, deep roots can damage underground sewage lines and cause leaks or backups. And even though a sewage leak isn’t as dangerous as a spreading fire, it’s still unpleasant!
Why Do Oilfields Need Vegetation Management?
We all know that oil and gas are highly flammable. Oilfields can be dangerous work environments simply because of the risks posed by working around oil wells. Oilfields that have failed to properly clear vegetation pose an even greater danger.
Even if your company takes extreme caution to avoid man-made oil well fires, these fires can be started from something as uncontrollable as lightning. These fires can also be explosive, and if there is brush or foliage within the range of that explosion, you will quickly have a full-blown wildfire on your hands.
The reverse is also a concern. Wildfires in surrounding areas should not spread to your oilfield if enough of your worksite has been cleared away. Wildfires are never a good thing, but they will become much more volatile and dangerous if they begin to interact with exposed oil.
How to Conduct Vegetation Management
When you first contact Pevach Corp, we will send out a vegetation specialist to provide you with a free consultation. This consultation will help you to determine how much of your space needs to be cleared, what kind of equipment it will require on our end to clear it, and how much it will cost.
If you don’t like what we have to say and don’t want to set up an appointment with our team, you don’t have to hire or pay us!
It may seem tempting to try to tackle vegetation management on your own, but it’s not a great idea. Why?
We have tons of experience in creating and managing big vegetation control projects. There’s a lot more to it than just pruning back your peskiest plants.
Even on worksites that don’t require full vegetation clearance, there’s more than meets the eye. For every long-branched tree that needs trimming, there are deep roots that may be closer to your utility or oilfield than you think and need partial removal.
Plus, in hiring us you’ll be saving yourself money. We own all of our equipment, which means you just have to pay for the service. And believe us when we say the service doesn’t cost nearly as much as buying or even renting the myriad of equipment we use.
In the end, it’s best to leave a project this large to the professionals. We’ll tell you if and when we need to come back for a touchup, and you can decide if you want to move forward with these preventative measures or take the risk of igniting a fire.
Consider Vegetation Management a Business Investment
When you’re starting a new company or opening a new location, you’re always going to have to invest pretty big sums of money into those endeavors. When you’re in the business of contained flammables, from oil wells to power lines, vegetation management needs to be factored into your budget.
Why not work with a company with a cause? At Pevach Corp, we understand the environmental impact of vegetation management–and the high cost that can result from unmanaged vegetation. We do our best to create safe working and living spaces without hurting the environment.
Ready to get your free quote? Fill out our contact form and let’s get mulching!
