This Spraying Chemicals SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers storing, mixing and spraying herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals with backpack or other spray equipment. It covers 11 activities, from labelling and storage to cleaning and disposing of empty containers, 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
Gardening, landscaping and grounds maintenance businesses
Weed control and vegetation management contractors
Farmers, orchardists and rural contractors
Golf course, sports field and turf maintenance crews
Council parks and open space crews
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of grounds, farming and weed control businesses use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
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 SWMS covers
Labelling decanted chemicals and avoiding unknown or unlabelled substances
Storing chemicals away from incompatible products and checking for leaks
Decanting into suitable, correctly labelled containers
Handling and hygiene to prevent contamination, fume inhalation and spills
Checking backpack and spray equipment for residue, cracked tanks and worn hoses
Selecting and mixing chemicals, with controls for toxicity, splashes and spills
Setting up and spraying around weather, people, stock, snakes and insects
Controlling spray drift onto neighbours, waterways, beehives, stock and sensitive crops
Cleaning and disposing of empty containers
Using each product to its registered label, including rates and withholding periods
Emergency response to injuries and equipment damage
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 and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, from the sprayer and measuring jugs to spill kits and warning signage
Licence requirements, including a state or territory chemical handling licence or Agricultural Chemical User Permit
Training in chemical handling, spill response, safe mixing and PPE use
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS 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 site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site 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 for spraying chemicals?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example spraying on or next to a road in use, or in or near water with a risk of drowning. Most weed and pest spraying isn't construction work, so a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage risks like chemical exposure and spray drift, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, councils and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover chemical licences and permits?
Yes. It notes that, where applicable, operators must hold the relevant state or territory chemical handling licence or Agricultural Chemical User Permit, and it covers using each product to its registered label.
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.
