This Chemical Spraying (Weeds) Risk Assessment/JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is pre-filled for weed spraying with backpack or other spray equipment, from storing and mixing chemicals to spraying and cleaning up. It covers 11 activities, from pre-operating safety checks to container disposal and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Weed control and spraying contractors
Gardening and grounds maintenance businesses
Landscapers and garden maintenance contractors
Farm and rural property businesses
Council parks and roadside crews
A risk assessment, also called a JSA, JSEA or task risk assessment, records the hazards of a task and how you control them. If the task is part of high risk construction work, the law requires a SWMS for that work, so use our Chemical Spraying (Weeds) SWMS instead.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this risk assessment covers
Pre-operating checks, including the licence or registration needed for commercial spraying
Labelling chemicals and containers
Storing chemicals away from incompatible substances
Decanting into suitable, labelled containers
Handling chemicals, hygiene and inhalation of fumes
Checking backpack sprayers for residue, damaged straps, cracked tanks and worn hoses
Selecting and mixing chemicals, including splashes and spills
Spraying, including weather, people and stock nearby, snakes and insects
Cleaning and maintaining spray equipment
Cleaning and disposing of empty containers
Emergency response to chemical spills, toxic exposure or ignition
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 11 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist
Materials used, including glyphosate, with maintenance checks for spray equipment, hoses and tanks
Training each worker needs, plus a check for commercial chemical application licences
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Further controls action plan to track anything still to be done
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a risk assessment from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your workplace and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, an action plan, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
Comes with a step-by-step implementation guide
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, area and site details.
Check it suits your workplace and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS or a risk assessment for weed spraying?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example spraying next to a road in use as part of construction work, or in an area with moving powered mobile plant. For most weed control a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, like chemical exposure and spills, and a risk assessment or JSA is a practical way to record how. Clients and councils often ask for one. If the job is high risk construction work, use our Chemical Spraying (Weeds) SWMS instead.
Does it cover chemical licences?
It flags the risk of an operator spraying without the licence or registration needed for commercial chemical application, as part of the pre-operating checks. The exact requirement depends on your state or territory.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
