CWT Safety Procedures & Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document establishes the legal tolerance requirements that a CWT must apply when testing commercial weighing devices in the US?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- NIST Handbook 44 (Correct answer)
- EPA 40 CFR Part 60
- ANSI/NCSL Z540-1
Correct answer: NIST Handbook 44
NIST Handbook 44 (Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices) is the primary US standard for commercial device tolerances.
Question 2: A newly installed hopper scale at a grain elevator shows erratic readings during wind gusts. The primary safety and compliance concern is:
- Aesthetic appearance of the scale housing
- Wind-induced measurement errors affecting commercial transactions (Correct answer)
- Noise generated by the scale during operation
- The scale's color visibility for operators
Correct answer: Wind-induced measurement errors affecting commercial transactions
Wind can introduce force errors in suspended hopper scales, causing inaccurate measurements that affect the integrity of commercial transactions.
Question 3: When must a service technician re-seal a weighing device after performing repairs?
- Only if the customer requests it
- After any adjustment or repair that could affect metrological performance (Correct answer)
- Only after replacing load cells
- Sealing is optional if the technician documents the repair
Correct answer: After any adjustment or repair that could affect metrological performance
Any adjustment or repair that may affect the accuracy of a commercial device requires re-sealing to maintain the integrity of the device's certification.
Question 4: A vehicle scale technician notices hydraulic fluid pooling beneath a hydraulic scale platform. The immediate safety action is to:
- Continue testing and note the leak in the report
- Absorb the spill with sawdust and resume operation
- Stop testing, barricade the area, and address the hydraulic leak before continuing (Correct answer)
- Reduce test loads to minimize hydraulic pressure
Correct answer: Stop testing, barricade the area, and address the hydraulic leak before continuing
Hydraulic fluid creates slip hazards and fire risks; the area must be secured and the leak addressed before safe operations can resume.
Question 5: Which grounding requirement is most important for preventing static discharge when calibrating a livestock scale?
- Grounding is not necessary for livestock scales
- The scale frame must be bonded to an earth ground to prevent static buildup (Correct answer)
- Only the digital indicator needs grounding
- Static control is the responsibility of the scale operator, not the technician
Correct answer: The scale frame must be bonded to an earth ground to prevent static buildup
Proper bonding and grounding of the scale frame prevents static discharge that can damage electronics and create shock hazards in dry environments.
Question 6: What is the minimum safe distance a technician should maintain from the edge of a pit scale pit when it is uncovered and unguarded?
- There is no required minimum distance
- At least 3 feet with a fall protection system in place if closer (Correct answer)
- 6 inches is acceptable if the technician is careful
- Distance depends on the technician's experience level
Correct answer: At least 3 feet with a fall protection system in place if closer
OSHA fall protection standards require maintaining safe distances from unguarded floor openings or using fall protection systems when working near them.
Question 7: A technician finds that a retail grocery scale's price-computing function gives incorrect totals even though the weight display is accurate. Compliance action requires:
- Certifying the weight function only and noting the computing error
- Condemning the device for all commercial use since it cannot produce accurate transaction totals (Correct answer)
- Allowing use for weight-only transactions
- Recalibrating the load cell to fix the computing error
Correct answer: Condemning the device for all commercial use since it cannot produce accurate transaction totals
A price-computing scale with inaccurate computing functions cannot legally be used in commerce because it produces incorrect transaction totals regardless of weight accuracy.
CWT Safety Procedures & Compliance 3
Which document establishes the legal tolerance requirements that a CWT must apply when testing commercial weighing devices in the US?