NZQA registered unit standard
20885 version 3
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Title
Manage hazardous substances compliance in a science laboratory
Level
6
Purpose
Credits
8
This unit standard is designed for a technician working in a
science laboratory.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: plan
hazardous substances management for a science laboratory;
and audit a science laboratory for compliance with hazardous
substances legislation.
Classification
Science > Science - Core
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Unit 8467, Work safely in a chemical laboratory; or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Recommended skills
and knowledge
Unit 20886, Demonstrate knowledge of hazardous substances
in science laboratories and related legislation; or demonstrate
equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1
All work must be carried out in accordance with the quality management system,
documented protocol system or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) acceptable in
a commercial or research laboratory.
2
Health and Safety practices must conform to Australian/New Zealand Standard
AS/NZS 2243:2006 Set – Safety in Laboratories Parts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 available at
http://www.standards.co.nz and http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store.
3
Legislation applicable to this unit standard includes:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;
Radiation Protection Act 1965;
Resource Management Act 1991.
4
Glossary
Hazardous substances refer to substances:
a
with one or more of the following intrinsic properties:
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
b
20885 version 3
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explosiveness, flammability, a capacity to oxidise, corrosiveness, toxicity
(including chronic toxicity), ecotoxicity (with or without bioaccumulation),
radioactivity; and/or
which on contact with air or water (other than air or water where the
temperature or pressure has been artificially increased or decreased) generate
a substance with any one or more of the properties specified in paragraph (a) of
this definition.
Laboratory procedures refer to documented systems or processes of operation which
may be found in a SOP manual, quality management system, or in protocol system
documentation. These procedures are external and/or internal laboratory
requirements governing laboratory work.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Plan hazardous substances management for a science laboratory.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Planning identifies the procedure for identifying hazards associated with
chemicals.
1.2
Planning identifies situations which may cause exposure.
1.3
Current chemical hazard management procedures are assessed for compliance
with current legislation and standards and consistency with conditions in the
laboratory.
1.4
An emergency response plan for the laboratory is completed in accordance with
current legislation and standards and conditions in the laboratory.
Range
1.5
evacuation, containment, notification procedures.
Planning identifies actions to be taken to control disposal and emission of
hazardous substances from the laboratory in accordance with current legislation
standards and conditions in the laboratory.
Outcome 2
Audit a science laboratory for compliance with hazardous substances legislation.
Evidence requirements
2.1
An audit is completed in accordance with current standards, legislation, size,
and purpose of the laboratory.
2.2
Corrective actions are documented in accordance with laboratory procedures.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Planned review date
20885 version 3
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31 December 2018
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
22 September 2004
31 December 2014
Review
2
21 May 2010
N/A
Rollover
3
27 January 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0152
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.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016