Agricultural Chemical Mixing and Loading SWMS

Suits farms, spray contractors and rural suppliers who mix and load agricultural chemicals into spray tanks. It follows the job from reading the label and setting up the mixing area to filling, rinsing drums, handling rinsate and cleaning up. It does not cover the spraying itself.

A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299), and mixing farm chemicals is not by itself construction work. No item is pre-ticked. Tick any item that applies to your job, for example confined space if a tank must be entered (s 291). Otherwise this works as a written safe work procedure and chemical risk assessment alongside the label, permit and SDS.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Agricultural Chemical Mixing and Loading SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Splashes of concentrate to the eyes and skin
• Breathing in dust and vapour while measuring
• Wrong mixing order and incompatible products
• Overfilling and backflow into the water supply
• Falls from the tank lid or platform
• PTO shaft and belt entanglement
• Hose bursts and electric shock at the pump
• Residue in empty drums and containers
• Rinsate and wash water reaching waterways
• Spills and fire from flammable products
• Heavy drums and manual handling
• Contaminated clothing and later exposure

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Chemical handling training covering the label, the SDS, PPE, first aid and spill response for each product used
• Training in the mixing equipment, induction hopper and pumps in use
• Fit testing and training for any tight-fitting respirator the label or SDS calls for
• Any chemical user training, accreditation or licence that the product label, a permit or Queensland agricultural chemical rules require for the product
• First aid arrangements for the site that meet WHS Regulation s 42 (first aid equipment, facilities and access to an adequate number of trained persons)
• Site or property induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) ss 351, 355, 357 and 368: hazardous chemical risks, fire and explosion, spills and health monitoring
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Rural Plant Code of Practice 2024
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Chemical Usage (Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988 (Qld): s 7 (unlabelled containers), s 10 (disposal of chemicals and packages), s 11B (reuse of chemical packages) and s 13(1) (a registered agricultural chemical product must be used only in a way stated on the approved label, unless a permit or regulation authorises another use)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Electrical equipment rural industry (pumps and power leads, where used)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.