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Weights and Measures Annual Report for 2007-2008

The Division of Weights and Measures seeks to ensure that you receive full measure or count when they purchase commodities. The Division staffs eleven professional and one clerical to provide a variety of services to better insure equity in the marketplace. It’s office and Metrology laboratory are located at Western Select, 2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Indianapolis (near I-70 & Shadeland Ave exit).

The following services are provided by the Division:

Training- Sixty cities and counties that have local weights and measures programs that provide a majority of the services in their jurisdictions. Division staff supervises and train all local inspectors of weights and measures. In fiscal year 2007-2008, the Division conducted two training schools on Vehicle scales, Package checking using NIST Handbook 133, using training modules supplied by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Steuben County started a new jurisdiction in June of this year. Also, the Division provided training for eight new local inspectors this training runs about six to eight weeks long per inspector.

Testing of Weighing and Measuring Devices- Pursuant to IC-24-6-3, the Division is for assuring the accuracy of all devices used for weighing, measuring or counting the marketplace. Division staff inspects all weighing and measuring devices in the forty-two counties having less than 30,000 population, including vehicle scales, gasoline pumps, bulk meter on vehicle trucks, LP gas meters, grocery store scales and pharmacy scales. They also test and inspect all vehicle scales and LP gas meters for the sixty cities and counties that have local weights and measures programs, because they do not have the special testing equipment for these devices. The majority of these devices are State Police scales, truck scales, airport refueling meters, and liquefied petroleum gas meters, but other large scales tested include those for vehicle, railroad scales, hopper scales, conveyor belts, and livestock. Together, State and Local inspectors of weights and measures tested a total of 125,756 weighing and measuring devices during fiscal year 2007-2008, with a failure rate of 6.5 percent.

Inspection of Commodities- Also pursuant to IC-24-6-3, the Division is responsible for assuring the accuracy of statement on any packaging that declares a weight or measure. Prepackaged commodities such as meat, dairy, produce, or deli items are check weighed at random to verify that the declared weight is correct. Inspectors check many other types of product shortages or unfair sale practices. Together, State and Local Inspectors of weights and measures inspected a total of 137,402 prepackaged items during fiscal year 2007-2008, with a failure rate of 5.3 percent.

Motor Fuel Inspection - (Octane Testing) - IC 16-44-3 was enacted in 1991 to insure that motor fuels are accurately labeled for proper octane rating. By law, 3,073 retail gasoline service stations in Indiana are required to pay an annual registration fee of $50.00. The fees go into a dedicated fund, the sole purpose of which is to support the Division’s octane testing program. Approximately 1,182 gasoline samples were randomly collected for testing in fiscal year 2007-2008, and only 11 violations were found. In each case, a stop-sale order was issued. When a stop-sale order is issued, the service station owner can either stop dispensing the mislabeled gasoline, or relabel the gasoline dispenser to reflect the true octane rating. If the owner refuses to do either, Division staff will padlock those gasoline dispensers that violate the State law. Of course, Division staff also investigates consumer complaints about poor gasoline quality.

Metrology Laboratory- The Division’s Metrology laboratory houses and maintains weights and volumetric standards which are certified as traceable to those of NIST. These are the State standards to which all other weights and volumetric standards are compared. Our Metrology laboratory tests and calibrates all weights and volumetric standards used by State and local inspectors of weights and measures, and most weights used by private scale companies; these standards are used to test the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices. A fee is charged for testing and calibration of each weighing or measuring device, and the amount charged varies according to the type and size of device. By law, the fees generated go into a dedicated fund which supports our weights and measures programs, and the training of local inspectors of weights and measures. Ours is only the sixth State Metrology in the Nation to become certified under NIST’s National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). NVLAP certification establishes a traceable link to international weights and measures standards as required by ISO-9000 and ISO Guide 24. This is vitally important to companies doing Federal contract work, and to the scientific, pharmaceutical, and automobile industries that sell their products internationally. To maintain NVLAP certification, the integrity, stability, and adequacy of our laboratory facility, standards and equipment are continuously monitored through surveillance, evaluation, and annual audits conducted by NIST. In fiscal year 2007-2008, a total of 10,114 industrial and commercial weighing and measuring devices were tested, with a failure rate of 4.7 percent.

Sincerely,

Larry J. Stump, Director
Division of Weights and Measures
lstump@isdh.in.gov

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