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DJI Agras T 40 Spray Drone Chemical Application Risk Assessment

DJI Agras T 40 Spray Drone Chemical Application Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
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  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

DJI Agras T 40 Spray Drone Chemical Application Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with DJI Agras T 40 spray drone chemical application through a structured, management-level WHS Risk Management framework. This Risk Assessment supports compliance with the WHS Act, strengthens Due Diligence, and helps protect your business from operational and regulatory liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance, Legal Compliance and Consultation: Assessment of board and senior management oversight, WHS duties, consultation with workers and PCBUs, and alignment of drone spraying operations with applicable legislation and local aviation and chemical use requirements.
  • Contractor and Supplier Management: Management of third-party drone service providers, agronomists, and chemical suppliers, including pre-qualification, competency verification, insurances, and performance monitoring.
  • System Design, Procurement and Configuration: Evaluation of how the DJI Agras T 40 and associated systems are selected, configured and integrated, including suitability for site conditions, payload limits, geo-fencing, and safety feature utilisation.
  • Pilot and Ground Crew Competency Management: Assessment of licensing, training, competency verification, recurrent training programs, and supervision for remote pilots and ground support personnel.
  • Flight and Chemical Application Planning Systems: Protocols for pre-flight risk assessments, flight path design, no-fly zones, buffer distances, weather and drift considerations, and integration of agronomic prescriptions into safe application plans.
  • Drone, Battery and Equipment Maintenance Systems: Management of inspection, maintenance and replacement schedules for the DJI Agras T 40, batteries, chargers, pumps, nozzles and associated plant, including defect reporting and lock-out procedures.
  • Chemical Selection, Storage and Inventory Management: Assessment of chemical approval processes, label compliance, segregation, bunding, decanting controls, expiry monitoring, and secure storage of hazardous chemicals used in aerial application.
  • Operational Procedures and Control Systems: Development and enforcement of standard operating procedures for loading, take-off, landing, refilling, decontamination, refuelling/charging, and safe exclusion zones for people, livestock and plant.
  • Health Monitoring, Exposure Control and PPE Management: Systems for managing chemical exposure, health surveillance where required, respiratory and dermal protection, PPE selection, fit, maintenance and training in correct use.
  • Emergency Preparedness and Incident Management: Planning for drone malfunctions, crashes, chemical spills, fire, medical emergencies and loss of control, including emergency response plans, spill kits, first aid and incident reporting and investigation processes.
  • Environmental and Community Impact Management: Controls for spray drift, off-target application, sensitive crops, waterways, public areas, noise, and community consultation and complaints management.
  • Information Management, Documentation and Data Security: Governance of flight logs, maintenance records, chemical usage records, safety documentation, and protection of operational and client data captured by the DJI Agras T 40 systems.
  • Fatigue, Workload and Scheduling Management: Assessment of work hours, seasonal peak demands, night or extended operations, roster design and rest breaks for pilots and ground crew to minimise fatigue-related risk.
  • Continuous Improvement, Audit and Review: Systems for periodic review of drone spraying operations, internal audits, corrective actions, performance indicators, and integration of lessons learned into updated procedures and training.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Farm Managers, Aviation Operations Managers and Safety Officers responsible for planning, approving and overseeing DJI Agras T 40 spray drone chemical application activities.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, Legal Compliance and Consultation
  • • Lack of clear organisational WHS governance for drone-based chemical application leading to ad hoc decisions and unmanaged risk
  • • Non-compliance with WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations, Safe Work Australia guidance, CASA regulations and state-based pesticide control legislation
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers, contractors, PCBUs and neighbouring properties about chemical use and drone operations
  • • Poor role clarity between PCBU, officers, workers and contractors regarding WHS duties for drone operations and chemical management
  • • Absence of documented WHS policy addressing remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and agricultural chemical application
  • • Failure to integrate drone operations into existing WHS risk management framework and safety management system
2. Contractor and Supplier Management
  • • Use of third-party operators or contractors without adequate verification of WHS competence, CASA approvals and chemical handling qualifications
  • • Inadequate contractual requirements leading to unclear responsibility for safety management, incident reporting and insurance
  • • Suppliers providing drones, batteries or chemicals without adequate safety information, SDS or technical support
  • • Lack of alignment between the PCBU’s WHS standards and contractor work practices for drone and chemical operations
3. System Design, Procurement and Configuration
  • • Selection of drone model or accessories that are unsuitable for the specific agricultural environment, terrain, climate or chemical types
  • • Procurement of DJI Agras T40 without considering whole-of-life safety requirements such as spare parts, maintenance support and software update pathways
  • • Inadequate configuration of drone firmware, geofencing, fail-safe and return-to-home parameters, increasing risk of uncontrolled flight or crash
  • • Lack of documented design assumptions, operating limits and environmental parameters (e.g. maximum wind, temperature, payload, spray rates) for safe use
  • • Use of incompatible or unapproved chemical formulations, tank materials or spray systems with the DJI Agras T40
  • • Over-reliance on manufacturer defaults without local risk assessment, testing or validation in site-specific conditions
4. Pilot and Ground Crew Competency Management
  • • Inadequate competency of remote pilots and ground crew in drone operation, aerial application principles and chemical safety
  • • Reliance on informal or on-the-job training without documented assessment of skills and knowledge
  • • Insufficient understanding of CASA RPAS requirements, restricted airspace, NOTAMs and local aeronautical information
  • • Lack of competency in interpreting SDS, label directions, spray drift management and environmental protection requirements
  • • Poor human factors awareness including fatigue management, workload, distraction and situational awareness in drone operations
  • • Failure to maintain currency of skills with software updates, new features or procedural changes for the DJI Agras T40
5. Flight and Chemical Application Planning Systems
  • • Inadequate pre-flight planning resulting in flights over people, public roads, utilities or sensitive crops contrary to regulations and internal policies
  • • Failure to consider wind, temperature inversions, terrain and obstacles, leading to increased risk of spray drift or collision
  • • Use of inconsistent or informal methods for planning flight paths, buffer zones and exclusion areas
  • • Insufficient coordination with other farm operations (ground vehicles, workers on foot, other aircraft) leading to conflicting activities
  • • Lack of systematic assessment of neighbouring properties, watercourses and environmentally sensitive areas prior to chemical application
  • • Inadequate planning for remoteness, communications coverage and emergency access routes
6. Drone, Battery and Equipment Maintenance Systems
  • • Inadequate maintenance regime for DJI Agras T40 aircraft, spray systems and accessories leading to mechanical failure or loss of control
  • • Poor battery management including use of damaged, degraded or improperly stored lithium batteries causing fire, thermal runaway or power loss in flight
  • • Lack of traceability for repairs, modifications and replacements, impacting airworthiness and reliability
  • • Failure to detect wear, corrosion or chemical damage to tanks, hoses, seals, nozzles and electrical components
  • • Unmanaged software and firmware updates leading to incompatibility, unexpected behaviour or loss of safety features
7. Chemical Selection, Storage and Inventory Management
  • • Selection of inappropriate or higher-toxicity chemicals when safer alternatives are reasonably practicable
  • • Poor segregation, labelling and storage of agricultural chemicals leading to unintended mixing, exposure or environmental contamination
  • • Out-of-date, inaccurate or inaccessible Safety Data Sheets for chemicals used with the DJI Agras T40
  • • Lack of centralised control over chemical purchasing, leading to uncontrolled proliferation of products and reduced ability to manage risk
  • • Inadequate tracking of chemical inventory and usage, affecting compliance with label conditions, reporting and environmental obligations
8. Operational Procedures and Control Systems
  • • Inconsistent or undocumented operating practices for DJI Agras T40 chemical application between sites, shifts and personnel
  • • Over-reliance on informal knowledge or manufacturer quick-start guides instead of structured procedures
  • • Insufficient integration of drone operations into broader site safety rules (traffic management plans, access controls, PPE policies)
  • • Inadequate management of simultaneous operations such as ground spraying, harvesting or vehicle movements in drone operating areas
  • • Lack of standardised communication protocols between pilot, observer, ground crew and site management
9. Health Monitoring, Exposure Control and PPE Management
  • • Chronic or acute exposure of pilots and ground crew to agricultural chemicals via inhalation, skin contact or ingestion due to system-level control failures
  • • Inadequate organisational arrangements for health monitoring where required by WHS Regulations or SDS recommendations
  • • Inconsistent provision, selection, fit and maintenance of PPE for chemical mixing, loading and drone operations
  • • Lack of processes to identify and manage workers with increased susceptibility (e.g. respiratory conditions, allergies, pregnancy) to chemical exposure
  • • Poor hygiene facilities or policies leading to ingestion or dermal absorption of residues (e.g. eating or smoking with contaminated hands or clothing)
10. Emergency Preparedness and Incident Management
  • • Lack of coordinated emergency response arrangements for drone crashes, loss of control events or flyaways involving chemical loads
  • • Inadequate planning for chemical spills, splash injuries or contamination of watercourses during drone operations
  • • Absence of clear notification pathways for notifiable incidents under WHS legislation and reportable aviation occurrences to CASA where required
  • • Insufficient training and drills resulting in slow, uncoordinated or unsafe responses to emergencies
  • • Poor post-incident investigation and corrective action processes resulting in repeated failures
11. Environmental and Community Impact Management
  • • Uncontrolled chemical drift affecting neighbouring crops, livestock, waterways or residential properties
  • • Noise, privacy and amenity concerns from drone operations leading to community complaints and reputational damage
  • • Environmental contamination due to inadequate management of wash-down water, residual chemical mixes or damaged containers
  • • Failure to consider sensitive ecosystems, protected species habitats or buffer zones required under environmental legislation
  • • Lack of systematic engagement with neighbours and local community about aerial spraying activities
12. Information Management, Documentation and Data Security
  • • Fragmented or missing records of flights, chemical applications, maintenance, training and incidents hindering compliance verification and investigations
  • • Inadequate control of operational documents leading to use of outdated procedures or checklists
  • • Poor management of digital flight logs, mapping data and imagery raising privacy, confidentiality or evidentiary issues
  • • Lack of backup and security controls for critical data, leading to loss of operational history and risk information
13. Fatigue, Workload and Scheduling Management
  • • Extended operating hours during peak spraying periods leading to pilot and ground crew fatigue and reduced situational awareness
  • • High cognitive workload from managing flight control, chemical systems, weather monitoring and communication simultaneously
  • • Inadequate breaks and recovery time between shifts, especially during early morning or night operations where permitted
  • • Scheduling pressures driven by weather windows, client expectations or crop conditions leading to rushed decision-making and risk-taking behaviours
14. Continuous Improvement and Audit
  • • Stagnant safety management system that does not evolve with technology changes, regulatory updates or operational experience
  • • Lack of independent verification of compliance with WHS, CASA and chemical management requirements
  • • Missed opportunities to learn from internal incidents, near misses and industry-wide events involving spray drones
  • • Poor integration of drone operation metrics into organisational WHS performance reporting

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on storage, handling and use of hazardous chemicals.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe work environments including outdoor and remote operations.
  • Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing and controlling WHS risks.
  • CASA Part 101 (Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets): Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements for remotely piloted aircraft operations.
  • AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
  • AS 1940:2017: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids, where applicable to fuel and related substances.
  • Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals: Chemical classification, labelling and Safety Data Sheet requirements adopted in Australia.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned