Growsafe Emergency Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first priority if an agrichemical is accidentally splashed into the eyes?
- Flush the eyes immediately with large amounts of clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention (Correct answer)
- Apply eye drops from the first aid kit
- Rub the eyes gently with a clean cloth to remove the chemical
- Wait to see if burning or redness develops before taking action
Correct answer: Flush the eyes immediately with large amounts of clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention
Immediate and prolonged water flushing of the eyes is the critical first step. Some agrichemicals can cause permanent eye damage within minutes — delay is extremely dangerous.
Question 2: What information should be provided to Poison Control or emergency services when reporting an agrichemical exposure?
- The product name, active ingredient, amount involved, route of exposure, and symptoms (Correct answer)
- Only the brand name of the product
- Only the symptoms, as the chemical name may be difficult to pronounce
- Only the location and time of the incident
Correct answer: The product name, active ingredient, amount involved, route of exposure, and symptoms
Emergency responders need the product name, active ingredient (or SDS), amount involved, how exposure occurred, and current symptoms to give the correct advice and treatment.
Question 3: What is the New Zealand national Poisons Centre phone number?
- 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) (Correct answer)
- 111
- 0800 HAZMAT
- 0800 CHEMICAL
Correct answer: 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)
The New Zealand National Poisons Centre can be reached at 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) and provides 24/7 expert advice for chemical exposures and poisonings.
Question 4: What should be done with vomit from a person who has ingested an agrichemical?
- Treat it as chemical waste — do not allow contact without PPE and dispose of it safely (Correct answer)
- Allow it to enter the drain system to remove it from the environment
- Clean it up with dry absorbent materials and add to the compost
- Leave it in place until medical personnel arrive to assess it
Correct answer: Treat it as chemical waste — do not allow contact without PPE and dispose of it safely
Vomit from someone who has ingested agrichemicals is contaminated material. It should be treated as chemical waste, handled with PPE, and disposed of appropriately.
Question 5: Why is it generally not recommended to induce vomiting after ingestion of certain agrichemicals?
- Some agrichemicals cause more damage on the way back up, particularly corrosives and petroleum-based products (Correct answer)
- Inducing vomiting always causes dangerous choking in adults
- Only trained medical professionals are permitted to make this assessment
- Vomiting reduces the body's ability to absorb the antidote if one is available
Correct answer: Some agrichemicals cause more damage on the way back up, particularly corrosives and petroleum-based products
Some products — particularly corrosives and those with petroleum-based carriers — cause additional damage to the oesophagus and airway if vomited. The Poisons Centre or label should always be consulted before inducing vomiting.
Question 6: What should an operator do if they inhale agrichemical vapours and feel unwell?
- Move immediately to fresh air, rest, remove contaminated clothing, and call the Poisons Centre or emergency services if symptoms persist (Correct answer)
- Drink water and continue working if the symptoms are mild
- Put on a respirator and continue the application task
- Only seek help if unconsciousness occurs
Correct answer: Move immediately to fresh air, rest, remove contaminated clothing, and call the Poisons Centre or emergency services if symptoms persist
Moving to fresh air removes the source of ongoing exposure. Rest reduces physiological demand. Medical advice should be sought promptly as some symptoms can worsen after initial exposure.
Growsafe Emergency Procedures 1
What is the first priority if an agrichemical is accidentally splashed into the eyes?