19885 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Open and close a beehive, work in an apiary, and feed a beehive
Level
2
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: assemble and identify
beekeeping equipment and protective clothing; fit and adjust protective
clothing, and prepare to open a beehive; open and close a beehive, and
recognise brood, bees, and food stores; demonstrate safe working practices
in an apiary, and describe the effects of bee stings; and feed a beehive.
Subfield
Agriculture
Domain
Apiculture
Status
Registered
Status date
21 August 2009
Date version published
21 August 2009
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0052
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Legislation includes but is not limited to the – Health and Safety in Employment Act
1992, Biosecurity Act 1993, Biosecurity (National American Foulbrood Pest
Management Strategy) Order 1998, and their subsequent amendments.
2
Definition
In-house procedures and inter-apiary procedures – the verbal or written instructions
to staff on procedures for beekeeping practices, which must comply with legislative
requirements.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
19885 version 2
Page 2 of 4
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Assemble and identify beekeeping equipment and protective clothing.
Range
equipment – smokers and fuel, hive tools, field book.
Performance criteria
1.1
Beekeeping equipment and protective clothing are assembled according to
supervisor’s instructions.
1.2
Items are identified by name and function.
1.3
Beekeeping equipment is handled safely and without damage.
Element 2
Fit and adjust protective clothing, and prepare to open a beehive.
Performance criteria
2.1
Protective clothing is worn and adjusted to bee-tight fit in accordance with inhouse procedures.
2.2
Hive tool, smoker, and gloves are cleaned and prepared for use in accordance
with in-house procedures.
2.3
Smoker is prepared and lit without risk of fire, injury to self or others, or damage
to property, and with sufficient fuel to remain smouldering and produce a cool
smoke.
Element 3
Open and close a beehive, and recognise brood, bees, and food stores.
Performance criteria
3.1
Colony is subdued by the use of smoke in accordance with in-house
procedures.
3.2
Hive is manipulated and bees are handled in a deliberate, steady, and
controlled manner without unduly alarming or damaging bees.
3.3
Life stages, castes, and food stores are identified in terms of their
characteristics.
Range
life stages and castes – egg, larva, pupa, worker bee, drone,
queen bee;
food stores – pollen, capped honey, uncapped honey.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
19885 version 2
Page 3 of 4
3.4
Hive is reassembled without unduly alarming or damaging bees, and in
accordance with in-house procedures.
3.5
Spillage of honey and wax is minimised in accordance with in-house
procedures.
Element 4
Demonstrate safe working practices in an apiary, and describe the effects of bee stings.
Performance criteria
4.1
Movement within the apiary is carried out in a deliberate, steady, and controlled
manner.
4.2
Bee stings are described in terms of their effects on human beings, prevention,
and treatment.
4.3
Stings are removed using the ‘scratch’ method, and sting site is washed and
covered in accordance with health and safety requirements, and in-house
procedures.
4.4
Bee flight paths are avoided where possible.
4.5
Apiary hygiene is maintained between beehives and apiaries in accordance with
in-house and inter-apiary procedures.
4.6
Manual handling methods are used in accordance with the Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992.
4.7
Smoker is extinguished and stored in accordance with in-house procedures.
Element 5
Feed a beehive.
Performance criteria
5.1
Food stores in the beehive, and general condition of the beehive are assessed
in accordance with in-house procedures.
5.2
Feed is prepared in accordance with in-house procedures.
5.3
Beehive is opened, and feeders checked in accordance with in-house
procedures.
5.4
Beehive container or feeder is filled and replaced into the hive in accordance
with in-house procedures.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
19885 version 2
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5.5
Beehive is closed in accordance with in-house procedures.
5.6
Beehive is monitored following feeding in accordance with in-house procedures.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016