CST Regulatory Compliance & Safety Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a field inspection on a vehicle scale, which condition would cause a technician to immediately reject the device?
- Minor surface rust on the deck
- An error exceeding the MPE at any test point (Correct answer)
- A worn paint job on the scale housing
- A slightly faded weight indicator label
Correct answer: An error exceeding the MPE at any test point
Any weighing error exceeding the Maximum Permissible Error at any test point is grounds for rejection under NIST HB 44 requirements.
Question 2: Under NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program), what does the 'CC' designation on a Certificate of Conformance indicate?
- The device is certified for cryogenic conditions
- The device has been evaluated and approved for commercial use (Correct answer)
- The device requires a second calibration cycle
- The device is only conditionally compliant
Correct answer: The device has been evaluated and approved for commercial use
An NTEP CC (Certificate of Conformance) confirms that the device type has been tested and meets NIST HB 44 specifications for commercial legal-for-trade use.
Question 3: A scale technician discovers a tamper-evident seal has been broken on a device currently in commercial use. What is the required response?
- Replace the seal and continue servicing
- Document the finding, report it to the weights and measures jurisdiction, and consider rejection (Correct answer)
- Notify only the business owner
- Recalibrate the device and apply a new seal without reporting
Correct answer: Document the finding, report it to the weights and measures jurisdiction, and consider rejection
A broken tamper-evident seal may indicate unauthorized adjustment and must be reported to the weights and measures authority; the device should be evaluated for rejection.
Question 4: Which section of NIST HB 44 covers the 'Maintenance Tolerances' that apply to devices already in commercial service?
- Section 1.10
- Table 6 within the applicable device code (Correct answer)
- Appendix D
- Section 4.40
Correct answer: Table 6 within the applicable device code
Maintenance tolerances (typically twice the acceptance tolerance) are found within Table 6 of each specific device code in NIST HB 44.
Question 5: What is the function of the 'shift test' in scale evaluation?
- Testing scale accuracy at different time intervals throughout the day
- Placing a test load in multiple positions on the platform to check for off-center load errors (Correct answer)
- Verifying the scale performs correctly across operator shifts
- Testing the scale at different ambient temperatures
Correct answer: Placing a test load in multiple positions on the platform to check for off-center load errors
The shift test evaluates a scale's ability to give consistent readings regardless of where a load is placed on the weighing platform, detecting corner or section errors.
Question 6: Which SDS (Safety Data Sheet) section provides information about proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when handling a chemical cleaner used on scale components?
- Section 2 – Hazard Identification
- Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection (Correct answer)
- Section 4 – First Aid Measures
- Section 11 – Toxicological Information
Correct answer: Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
SDS Section 8 (Exposure Controls/Personal Protection) specifies required engineering controls and PPE such as gloves, respirators, and eye protection for safe chemical handling.
Question 7: A state weights and measures inspector finds that a scale's zero-setting mechanism allows adjustment beyond the permitted range. Under NIST HB 44, this is classified as what type of requirement violation?
- An 'Identity' requirement violation
- A 'Design' requirement violation (Correct answer)
- A 'Marking' requirement violation
- A 'Performance' requirement violation
Correct answer: A 'Design' requirement violation
Limits on the zero-setting range are a design requirement under NIST HB 44; violations related to physical construction or adjustment capability are classified as design violations.
CST Regulatory Compliance & Safety Standards 3
When performing a field inspection on a vehicle scale, which condition would cause a technician to immediately reject the device?