Number of references asked for a job application

[Laughingorcrying]

For a job application, what is the most amount of references have you been asked for?

I have only ever been asked for two references max. A family member has applied for a job asking for 4 references (I have seen the application form)
2 employment references and 2 personal references. I feel this is excessive for the type of job in question.

what is the job?

A food Production Operative, earning pennies over NMW.

Normally two but that is tricky because, even though I have worked for the same LA for 27 years my previous two departments where 1) a separate organisation brought in and 2) a large country wide organisation that worked for the LA - all managers have long since left so now I am in a small team with 1 manager - who is my second reference? It's a linear team so no deputy managers etc.

Recruitment is mental now. Some requirements and applications are absolutely ridiculous but many will moan they can't find people because "no one wants to work😤".

There was a recent case of someone in a similar sounding role deliberately contaminating food. That might be a risk factor in wanting additional references.