NZQA Expiring unit standard
21554 version 4
Page 1 of 3
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of safety with agrichemicals
Level
2
Purpose
Credits
3
This unit standard is for people handling agrichemicals in land
based industries.
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the
routes of entry of agrichemicals into the body, and types of
agrichemical poisoning; how to minimise health risks to
agrichemical users; and the signs, symptoms, and first aid
management of agrichemical poisoning.
Classification
Pest Management > Pest Control
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is concerned with minimising risks to the health of users from the
use and handling of agrichemicals.
2
Legislation and relevant regulations relevant to this unit standard include but are not
limited to –
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and relevant regulations;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
3
The New Zealand Standard applicable to this unit standard is NZS 8409:2004 The
Management of Agrichemicals, available from http://www.standards.co.nz/.
4
Codes and related documentation applicable to this unit standard include but are not
limited to:
Responsible Care Management System, available from the New Zealand Chemical
Industry Council (NZCIC, PO Box 5069, Wellington).
5
Definition
agrichemical – any substance, whether inorganic or organic, man-made or naturally
occurring, modified or in its original state, that is used in any agriculture, horticulture
or related activity, to eradicate, modify or control flora and fauna. It includes
agricultural compounds, fertilisers, vertebrate pest control products and oral nutrition
products (this definition differs to that given in NZS 8409:2004, where agrichemicals
exclude fertilisers, vertebrate pest control products and oral nutrition products).
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21554 version 4
Page 2 of 3
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the routes of entry of agrichemicals into the body, and types of agrichemical
poisoning.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Agrichemicals are described in terms of their routes of entry into the body.
Range
1.2
inhalation, dermal (including eyes), oral, injection;
evidence is required for at last three.
Agrichemical poisoning is described in terms of the types.
Range
acute, chronic.
Outcome 2
Describe how to minimise health risks to agrichemical users.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Safety procedures when working with agrichemicals are described in terms of
NZS 8409:2004, and current legislation.
Range
includes but is not limited to – transport, storage, measuring,
mixing, applying, re-entry time or period, animal handling interval,
use of protective clothing and equipment; disposal of – washings,
residues, surplus spray mixtures.
Outcome 3
Describe the signs, symptoms, and first aid management of agrichemical poisoning.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Signs and symptoms of agrichemical poisoning are described in terms of
manufacturer’s information.
3.2
Information sources for agrichemical poisoning first aid are described.
Range
3.3
evidence is required for at least three information sources.
Actions to be taken for agrichemical poisoning are described in accordance with
information sources.
Range
evidence is required for at least three information sources.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21554 version 4
Page 3 of 3
Replacement information
This unit standard and unit standard 21562 have been
replaced by unit standard 27213.
This unit standard replaced unit standard 5059.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
27 May 2005
31 December 2015
Review
2
18 August 2011
31 December 2015
Rollover
3
17 October 2013
31 December 2015
Rollover
4
17 September 2015
31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0052
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR 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.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016