Growsafe Emergency Response and First Aid 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If an agrichemical is accidentally swallowed, what is the general first aid rule in NZ?
- Do NOT induce vomiting — call the Poisons Centre or 111 immediately for advice (Correct answer)
- Always induce vomiting immediately to remove the chemical
- Give the person milk to neutralise the chemical
- Make the person run to increase their metabolism
Correct answer: Do NOT induce vomiting — call the Poisons Centre or 111 immediately for advice
The general rule is to NOT induce vomiting after agrichemical ingestion, as vomiting can cause additional harm (especially with corrosive or petroleum-based products). Call the Poisons Centre (0800 POISON) or 111 immediately.
Question 2: What is the correct first aid for skin contamination with agrichemical in a NZ workplace?
- Remove contaminated clothing and wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Apply sunscreen to the affected area
- Wipe with a dry cloth and continue working
- Apply vinegar to neutralise the chemical
Correct answer: Remove contaminated clothing and wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes
For skin contamination, remove all contaminated clothing immediately and wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and clean water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists or the product is highly toxic.
Question 3: According to NZ regulations, what must happen after any significant agrichemical incident on a farm?
- The incident must be investigated, documented, and reported to WorkSafe NZ if it involves serious harm (Correct answer)
- Nothing needs to happen if no one was seriously injured
- The regional council should be notified only if a waterway was affected
- The incident should be kept confidential to avoid penalties
Correct answer: The incident must be investigated, documented, and reported to WorkSafe NZ if it involves serious harm
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, any notifiable incident involving serious harm, or a near miss with potential for serious harm, must be reported to WorkSafe NZ. All significant incidents should be investigated and documented.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a decontamination shower at an agrichemical mixing and loading area?
- To provide immediate full-body washing if an operator is splashed or drenched with agrichemical (Correct answer)
- To clean spray equipment after use
- To wash muddy boots before entering the office
- To pre-wet the operator before putting on PPE
Correct answer: To provide immediate full-body washing if an operator is splashed or drenched with agrichemical
A decontamination shower provides immediate full-body washing capability for operators who have been accidentally splashed, drenched, or heavily contaminated with agrichemicals during mixing, loading, or application.
Question 5: How should an agrichemical fire be handled according to NZ emergency response guidelines?
- Evacuate the area, call 111, and inform firefighters about the chemicals involved — never fight a large chemical fire yourself (Correct answer)
- Use water to extinguish any chemical fire
- Cover the fire with soil to smother it
- Continue with normal work and let the fire burn out
Correct answer: Evacuate the area, call 111, and inform firefighters about the chemicals involved — never fight a large chemical fire yourself
For agrichemical fires, evacuate upwind immediately, call 111, and provide firefighters with information about the chemicals involved (SDSs). Never attempt to fight a large chemical fire yourself as toxic fumes can be produced.
Question 6: What does the NZ Growsafe programme recommend regarding cholinesterase monitoring for workers regularly handling organophosphate products?
- Regular blood testing to establish a baseline and monitor for depression of cholinesterase levels (Correct answer)
- Cholinesterase monitoring is not relevant to agrichemical workers
- Testing is only needed after a poisoning incident
- Workers should self-monitor by checking their pulse rate
Correct answer: Regular blood testing to establish a baseline and monitor for depression of cholinesterase levels
Workers regularly handling organophosphate products should have baseline cholinesterase blood testing before exposure begins, with regular follow-up tests to detect any depression in cholinesterase levels that would indicate chronic low-level exposure.
Growsafe Emergency Response and First Aid 2
If an agrichemical is accidentally swallowed, what is the general first aid rule in NZ?