A major part of our work at PLS Group UK is tree and vegetation management around electrical power networks.

Trees are a continually growing source of danger around powerlines. They can easily get too close to the network if not managed properly by the Network Operator. Electricity wants to get to the ground through the shortest and quickest route possible with trees providing that route if they get too close! This can increase the risk of injury through electrocution amongst other issues!

Utility tree cutting programs are put in place by the Network Operator (what some of us older people would have referred to as the Electric board!). They are obligated to maintain these networks in a safe state to protect everybody who lives and works around them! They are carried out on cyclical basis and run continuously, year in year out.

The program in a nutshell:

SURVEY – Specially trained Utility arboriculture surveyors collect data on all the trees and vegetation positioned around the live network. By using the distance of the nearest part of the tree to the conductors and tree position the risk is evaluated determining whether trees can be worked on safely with the power on or off.  The survey is the first step in creating the cutting program. Another major part of the surveyors job is to gain permission from the landowners to carry out tree cutting works on the effected sites.

CUTTING WORKS- depending on the data gathered at the survey stage, the cutting program is put together and issued to the teams of specially trained utility arborists. They work through the sites both cutting live and dead, liaising with landowners to ensure a high quality service is being delivered!

Arboriculture and forestry are extremely physically demanding occupations working in all weathers. Utility sites throw up unique challenges from busy, urban sites to the most remote, rural locations with extreme terrain and poor access. Everyone that works in this sector has to be able to work through these difficult conditions and PLS are no exception. Our teams work incredibly hard on network tree maintenance and are always at hand for the inevitable winter storm emergencies across the north of England (and beyond) helping to maintain these networks, keeping everyone safe and the lights on.