CST Regulatory Compliance & Safety Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NIST Handbook 44, what is the maximum permissible error (MPE) for a Class III commercial scale at its test load?
- 0.5 scale divisions
- 1 scale division (Correct answer)
- 2 scale divisions
- 3 scale divisions
Correct answer: 1 scale division
NIST HB 44 specifies that Class III devices have an MPE of 1 scale division (d) for loads up to 500d, and 2d for loads from 500d to 2000d.
Question 2: Which federal agency has primary authority over commercial weighing and measuring devices used in interstate commerce?
- OSHA
- NIST (Correct answer)
- EPA
- FDA
Correct answer: NIST
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) sets national standards for weights and measures through its Office of Weights and Measures.
Question 3: A scale technician is asked to place a device 'out of service.' Which action is the correct procedure?
- Verbally instruct the operator not to use it
- Attach an official rejection tag and notify the weights and measures authority (Correct answer)
- Post a handwritten note on the display
- Disable the power supply only
Correct answer: Attach an official rejection tag and notify the weights and measures authority
Rejected devices must be tagged with an official rejection notice and the appropriate weights and measures jurisdiction must be notified per standard enforcement procedures.
Question 4: What does the term 'traceability' mean in the context of scale calibration?
- The ability to locate a scale's serial number in a database
- An unbroken chain of comparisons linking measurements to national or international standards (Correct answer)
- Tracking which technician last serviced a device
- The documentation of a scale's maintenance history
Correct answer: An unbroken chain of comparisons linking measurements to national or international standards
Traceability means calibration can be verified through an unbroken, documented chain of comparisons back to NIST or an equivalent national measurement institute.
Question 5: Which OSHA standard most directly governs electrical safety practices a scale technician must follow when servicing powered weighing equipment?
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout) (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.95 (Noise Exposure)
- 29 CFR 1910.132 (PPE General)
- 29 CFR 1910.23 (Ladders)
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout)
29 CFR 1910.147, the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard, requires de-energizing equipment before servicing to prevent unexpected startup.
Question 6: A retail grocery scale must display the price per unit, quantity, and total price simultaneously. Which regulatory document establishes this requirement?
- NIST HB 130
- NIST HB 44, Section 3.30 (Correct answer)
- NIST HB 133
- USDA GIPSA Handbook
Correct answer: NIST HB 44, Section 3.30
NIST HB 44 Section 3.30 covers computing scales and specifies the simultaneous display requirements for unit price, net weight, and total price.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a 'Certificate of Conformance' issued for a type-approved weighing device?
- It exempts the device from routine inspections
- It confirms the device model meets NIST HB 44 requirements and may be used commercially (Correct answer)
- It serves as a warranty from the manufacturer
- It authorizes the device for use in laboratory environments only
Correct answer: It confirms the device model meets NIST HB 44 requirements and may be used commercially
A Certificate of Conformance from NCWM indicates that the device type has been evaluated and found to meet the requirements of NIST HB 44 for commercial use.
CST Regulatory Compliance & Safety Standards 2
Under NIST Handbook 44, what is the maximum permissible error (MPE) for a Class III commercial scale at its test load?