Pest Control For The Oil and Gas Industry

Commercial Pest Control For The Oil and Gas Industry

All energy companies have one thing in common… having to deal with pests. Since many of these work sites and facilities are in remote locations, pests are known to invite themselves into these areas without permission. Pest intrusions can create a series of issues, from delays and disruptions among employees to health and safety risks that are commonly associated with many specific types of pests.

In order to ensure that your work site is protected against pests, it is important to understand the most common pests to watch out for. Using over 65+ years of experience, we’ve put together a list of the most common pests to expect on any commercial oil and gas job site.

Common Pests To Watch Out For In The Energy Industry

Rodents  

Rodents such as rats and mice, are one of the more common pests to invade an oil and gas facility. This is due to the fact that many energy facilities provide ideal conditions, such as easy access to food, water and shelter and these favourable conditions can result in a growing rodent population around and within the facility, creating a situation where the population may become more territorial and aggressive.

The dangers of an established rodent population are not simply limited to potential bite risks, but can also create an unhealthy space for your employees to effectively do their job. Rodent droppings and urine could put your employees at risk of contracting a variety of pathogens such as hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonella. Rodents can also create a safety and fire hazard because of their chewing on electrical wires.

Bed Bugs And Bat Bugs

Bed bugs can be a menace within your facility where they invade. These little hitchhikers can find their way into oil and gas facilities through infested personal belongings that are brought in by staff; while bat bugs can be brought in by bats roosting inside or around the facility. Once inside, these pests can reproduce and spread across many areas of your facility. These pests can also make your employees susceptible to bites, which in turn could result in an unproductive and distracted team.

The worst part is that because these pests are experts at hiding, so it may be difficult to know that you have a bed/bat bug infestation growing. If you think your facility may be infested by bed bugs or bat bugs, don’t hesitate to contact the bed bug removal experts at Orkin Canada.

Birds

The amount of heavy equipment and large structures needed during the extraction and processing, these conditions allow for many species of birds to thrive on energy exploration work sites. This is because these towering structures may mimic the tall trees commonly found in nature and as a result birds may nest and roost within these areas. 

Pest birds are not only work hazards but can also create a serious health and safety risk for your employees, as bird droppings may host a variety of different diseases and pathogens that may be transmittable to your staff. The uric acid found in bird droppings can also be corrosive and over time, this can damage structures and equipment. Droppings may also be slippery, creating a fall hazard for your employees. While certain species of birds may also be aggressive when trying to protect nesting sites, creating the potential for your employees to be at risk of being attacked.  

 To ensure birds are kept away, professional bird control methods should be implemented, it is important to seek assistance and expertise from professionals. If you would like to learn more about Orkin Canada’s professional bird control program, click here.

Wildlife

Wildlife may be commonplace within oil and gas work sites. Due to the sometimes remote nature of these work sites, building structures and heavy equipment can be prone to wildlife establishing themselves within the area. The availability of food, water and shelter make it easier for wildlife to thrive near or within a commercial energy facility.

This may have an impact on your facility’s operations because many species of wildlife may be aggressive and territorial when trying to protect their habitat or offspring. Creating a potentially dangerous situation for your employees and making it difficult to operate. Wildlife can be associated with diseases such as rabies, ticks, flea, mites, as well causing structural damage. For more information on Orkin Canada’s professional wildlife removal, contact your local Orkin Canada branch today!

Ectoparasites – Ticks & Fleas

Ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas are common on oil and gas worksites and facilities where wildlife is present. As these little pests can find their way into changing areas and locker room areas and feed on unsuspecting employees. These pests can be a serious health risk to affected employees because they can carry and transmit various diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, relapsing fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, typhus and cat scratch disease.

If you recognize signs of flea and tick activity on the work site, it is important to reach out to a pest control professional promptly. If you’d like to learn more about how Orkin Canada’s tick and flea control programs can help you keep your workers safe, contact us today!

Mosquitoes

With disturbances to land surfaces creating holes and gullies filled with water, mosquitoes are able to breed and thrive on your worksite. Though often viewed as a nuisance, mosquitoes can be far more dangerous. With the ability to transmit a variety of pathogens with every infected bite, these pests can create a serious issue on your worksite. Female mosquitoes can also feed on the employees, creating an uncomfortable and inefficient working environment.

In order to keep your worksite protected against mosquitoes, it is important to have an efficient mosquito control program in place. If you’re looking to learn more about the ways that Orkin Canada’s mosquito control program can help your facility, contact us today!

Flies

With the presence of food handling or cafeteria stations on-site, and with the potential for waste collecting, flies are known to be close by. As many species of flies feed on organic matter and waste, creating optimal conditions for flies to thrive. There are common in nature but are attracted by conducive factors inside the facility where they breed, multiply and can become more than just a nuisance.

Flies can also present a disease and contamination risk due to the fact that many species of flies feed and breed in waste, once they fly within food prep and handling areas, any contact with food can immediately contaminate the food products and transmit any potential pathogens.

Spiders

Spiders prefer to reside in dark undisturbed areas, making oil and gas processing facilities ideal for a possible infestation. Though spiders can seem scary, these pests play a pivotal role in controlling insects within your facility.

Not all is well when it comes to spiders, even though most species of spiders found in North America are not as aggressive, there is still a potential biting risk associated with these pests if they are provoked. Making your employees susceptible to possible spider bites and because humans react to spider bites differently, this could result in a potential health and safety hazard to some members of your team. If you believe that your energy facility has been invaded by spiders, contact your local Orkin Canada branch right away!   

Cockroaches

Cockroaches (more commonly the German cockroach) can be brought into your facility through employee belongings particularly food containers and other food receptacles. These are attracted to meats, starches, sugars, and fatty foods. When there’s a shortage of food stuff, these pests may eat household items such as soap, glue, and toothpaste, making employee living quarters particularly susceptible to a potential cockroach infestation.

German cockroaches can also reproduce faster than any other residential cockroach, growing from egg to reproductive adult in roughly 50 – 60 days under ideal condition. This can create a nuisance for many employees and depending on the size of the infestation, may also hamper operations within the facility or work site.

When it comes to providing professional and reliable pest control for oil & gas field sites, Orkin Canada’s team of local experts can help you along with the rest of your operations team professionally manage any pest issue. Don’t hesitate to contact your local Orkin Canada branch right away!

Resources

• • How To Keep Your Facility Exclusive
  • Prepping For Pests: 4 Common Hot Spots To Check Often