| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Review product label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | Misuse, incorrect PPE, unsafe application | Read label in full; follow all PPE and mixing instructions; verify product is permitted for site |
| Inspect PPE and equipment | Leaks, failed seals, missing PPE | Check spray nozzles, hoses, tank, spreader gates, and seals; replace worn parts before use |
| Inspect work site | Public exposure, drift hazards, water bodies | Identify sensitive areas such as playgrounds, gardens, and streams; establish buffer zones |
| Don required PPE | Chemical splash, skin contact, eye irritation | Wear gloves, glasses, long sleeves, and boots required by the label |
| Mix product or prepare fertilizer | Splash hazards, inhalation, spills | Mix outdoors; use apron; add water first then product; open bags away from face; avoid windy conditions |
| Load backpack or tank sprayer | Overfilling, spills, splashes | Fill on flat ground; avoid overfilling; clean up spills immediately |
| Apply product | Drift, overspray, exposure to public | Spray on calm days; direct spray away from people, vehicles, and structures; maintain correct pressure |
| Apply granular fertilizer with spreader | Over application, dust, slipping | Set correct spreader gate; avoid spreading near storm drains; watch for slippery fertilizer on pavement |
| Maintain awareness of surroundings | Public approaching work area | Stop application if pedestrians or pets enter area; resume only when zone is clear |
| Avoid spraying in wind or rain | Drift to sensitive areas, runoff | Apply only when wind is low and rain is not expected; follow all label requirements |
| Work near water bodies | Contamination risk | Maintain buffer distances; avoid applying near ditches or storm drains unless product is approved for aquatic use |
| Monitor equipment during use | Leaks, malfunction, overspray | Check hoses and nozzles frequently; stop work immediately if leaks occur |
| Clean equipment after use | Chemical exposure, contamination | Rinse sprayers outdoors in designated area; wear gloves; avoid dumping rinse water into drains |
| Store unused product | Chemical incompatibility, leaks | Seal containers tightly; store in locked, labeled cabinet away from heat and sunlight |
| Remove PPE safely | Skin exposure, contamination | Remove gloves last; wash hands thoroughly; dispose of or clean PPE per product instructions |
| Document application | Regulatory non compliance | Record date, location, product, rate, weather, and operator name as required by local rules |
Chemical resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)
Safety glasses or face shield
Long pants and long sleeves
Steel toe or sturdy work boots
High visibility vest when near roadways
Respirator if required by label
Chemical resistant apron for mixing
Rubber boots for spray applications
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Parks and Grounds Maintenance
* The steps, hazards, and controls displayed above may be incomplete or not suit your department's needs. All job safety analyses should be a completed with frontline worker input to ensure that each potential hazard is identified and mitigated.
Please read about The Essentials Elements of a Solid Job Safety Anaylsis here.
Thank you to our primary sponsor, Roadwurx, which is a simple asset management platform for small public works and road departments.
| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Review product label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | Misuse, incorrect PPE, unsafe application | Read label in full; follow all PPE and mixing instructions; verify product is permitted for site |
| Inspect PPE and equipment | Leaks, failed seals, missing PPE | Check spray nozzles, hoses, tank, spreader gates, and seals; replace worn parts before use |
| Inspect work site | Public exposure, drift hazards, water bodies | Identify sensitive areas such as playgrounds, gardens, and streams; establish buffer zones |
| Don required PPE | Chemical splash, skin contact, eye irritation | Wear gloves, glasses, long sleeves, and boots required by the label |
| Mix product or prepare fertilizer | Splash hazards, inhalation, spills | Mix outdoors; use apron; add water first then product; open bags away from face; avoid windy conditions |
| Load backpack or tank sprayer | Overfilling, spills, splashes | Fill on flat ground; avoid overfilling; clean up spills immediately |
| Apply product | Drift, overspray, exposure to public | Spray on calm days; direct spray away from people, vehicles, and structures; maintain correct pressure |
| Apply granular fertilizer with spreader | Over application, dust, slipping | Set correct spreader gate; avoid spreading near storm drains; watch for slippery fertilizer on pavement |
| Maintain awareness of surroundings | Public approaching work area | Stop application if pedestrians or pets enter area; resume only when zone is clear |
| Avoid spraying in wind or rain | Drift to sensitive areas, runoff | Apply only when wind is low and rain is not expected; follow all label requirements |
| Work near water bodies | Contamination risk | Maintain buffer distances; avoid applying near ditches or storm drains unless product is approved for aquatic use |
| Monitor equipment during use | Leaks, malfunction, overspray | Check hoses and nozzles frequently; stop work immediately if leaks occur |
| Clean equipment after use | Chemical exposure, contamination | Rinse sprayers outdoors in designated area; wear gloves; avoid dumping rinse water into drains |
| Store unused product | Chemical incompatibility, leaks | Seal containers tightly; store in locked, labeled cabinet away from heat and sunlight |
| Remove PPE safely | Skin exposure, contamination | Remove gloves last; wash hands thoroughly; dispose of or clean PPE per product instructions |
| Document application | Regulatory non compliance | Record date, location, product, rate, weather, and operator name as required by local rules |
Chemical resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)
Safety glasses or face shield
Long pants and long sleeves
Steel toe or sturdy work boots
High visibility vest when near roadways
Respirator if required by label
Chemical resistant apron for mixing
Rubber boots for spray applications