Inside This Issue: - Chairman's Column - 2024 Interim Meeting Reports - PDC, S&T, and L&R - Women in Weights and Measures Column - NTEP Column - 109th Annual Meeting and Special Event - The Meetup - 2025 Interim Meeting and Event Calendar - NCWM National Price Verification Survey - Welcome to New Members - Article by ANSI - Safety Article - Meet CALM
NCWM NEWS National Conference on Weights and Measures
2024 Issue 1
Chairman’s Column.............................1 PDC Interim Report............................3 S&T Interim Report.............................3 L&R Interim Report............................5 WWM Column....................................7 NTEP Column......................................8 109th NCWM Annual Meeting.................................10 The Meetup ........................................12 2025 NCWM Interim Meeting and Event Calendar ..................................13 Employment Opportunities.............16 New Slate of Officers Nominated...........................17 NCWM National Price Verification Survey..................18 Welcome New Members...................20 Article by ANSI..................................23 Professional Certifications and RSA Exams..................................26 Safety Article.......................................28 Meet CALM........................................32
Chairman ’ s Column Gene Robertson NCWM Chairman — State of Mississippi
Dear NCWM Members (Friends), First, let me thank you again for the opportunity to serve you. NCWM is never far from mind and these last six months have passed quickly. We’ve been busy since my last letter. I attended two regional meetings, BOD meetings, a committee development meeting, two virtual meetings with the Chairman’s Council, and lastly the Interim Meeting in New Orleans. The next six months will bring more of the same. Attending regional meetings is one of the highlights of being Chairman and Chairman-elect. These meetings provide excellent opportunities to create continuity across the country and gives us a better chance to get to know members from those regions. One region asked me last year how they compared. I replied that the underlying process is the same across the country, but each region has particular nuances that make it unique. Creating a Chairman’s Council, comprised of former chairs and current chair-elect- Marc Paquette, is one of the best decisions I’ve made since taking this well-paying job, and we have met twice since the annual meeting. This group provides great insight and I’ve learned something from each meeting. The Council’s advice assisted in my preparation for the regional meetings and the committee development meeting, and in the last meeting where the West Coast and the East Coast actually agreed on something. I wish that was recorded. We had good attendance for the committee development meeting in November with most participating in person and a few participating via Zoom. We continued the meeting method that Mahesh started last year and went through the Committee Handbook from cover to cover. Not only does this help new members, but it also gives us a chance to make necessary corrections and adjustments to the handbook, since the handbook is a living document. Action items came out of this meeting such as Constantine’s input on style of reports for committees. He also agreed to chair the Publication Style Guide Focus Group. This group met at the Interim and we will be using the Focus Group’s work at the annual meeting.
NCWM Headquarters 9011 South 83rd Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68516 P. 402.434.4880
E. info@ncwm.com W. www.ncwm.com
Don Onwiler Executive Director Darrell Flocken NTEP Administrator Jeff Gibson NTEP Specialist Elisa Stritt Director of Operations Danyelle Dolan Project Coordinator Allen Katalinic NTEP Evaluator Ed Payne NTEP Evaluator Richard Shipman NTEP Evaluator
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The Interim Meeting in New Orleans was the best attended in recent years and was one of the most fluid. I received numerous compliments on how smoothly it ran this year. I hope everyone enjoyed NCWM providing power strips throughout the ballroom to facilitate the use of electronic devices. We learned a few lessons with it and hope to make it more accessible at the annual meeting in Cleveland. I believe this is a good direction as we weigh the option of going all digital for the Pubs in the coming meetings. Not that I had anything to do with it, but the food at the Chairman’s Reception was great, and the NCWM Staff and I heard many positive comments over the course of the event. The city’s nightlife did not let us down and kept some of us up longer than usual, and street-side rooms were serenaded to sleep each night with the rhythm of the drum buckets. Overall, the committees worked efficiently. The Shipping Law Task Group was formed during the Interim and we are pleased to provide value to CALM and we will continue to provide space for them to meet at our conferences. The interaction between CALM and the newly formed Focus Group on Metrology is a win for both, and these groups will help NCWM serve its members and NIST. Women in Weights and Measures met as well and had nice attendance. We look for important things to come as they continue their work. The Price Verification Survey is underway, and I want to thank Marc Paquette for leading the Focus Group and he is the right man for this task. John McGuire, NIST OWM, performed invaluably, leading four virtual training courses with over 375 inspectors participating. Because of the interest the survey created, he added a fifth training when he found out others wanted to participate. We also want to thank Scott Dolan with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets for creating the state specific spreadsheets that we use to collect data. Scott participated in the training events along with Marc and John to explain how the spreadsheets work and he will remain active in the project. I look forward to seeing you at your regional meeting or the Annual NCWM Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio July 14 - 18, 2024. Again, thank you for allowing me to serve you and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions.
Sincerely, Gene
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2024 Issue 1
Professional Development Committee Interim Summary Ethan Bogren, Committee Chair-Westchester County, New York
The 2024 Professional Development Committee (PDC) Interim Report consists of 6 informational items. A presentation was provided to membership by PDC members providing details on each item. The PDC designated the status for each of the agenda items as follows:
Informational Items EDU-1 Professional Certification Program EDU-2 Training EDU-3 Instructor Improvement EDU-4 Recommended Topics for Conference Training PMT-1 Safety Awareness PMT-1 Skimmer Education Task Group
Specifications and Tolerances Committee Interim Summary Jason Flint, Committee Chair-New Jersey
AWS-24.2 N.1.6. Influence FActor Testing AWS-24.3 N.2.2.3. Shift Test (Dynamic)
The 2024 Specifications and Tolerances Committee Interim Agenda, along with presentations and written comments provided to the Committee, are available on the NCWM website. Oral comments for these agenda items were heard during the Open Hearings at the Interim Meeting and all of the aforementioned were considered by the Committee when assigning the following status for each item as follows: VOTING ITEMS SCL - SCALES SCL-22.3 UR.3.3. Single-Draft Vehicle Weighing., and UR.3.4. Axle and Axle Group Weight Values The committee will update this item with chnages recommended by the submitter. SCL-23.3 Verification Scale Division e: Multiple Sections Including, T.N.1.3., Table 6., T.N.3., T.N.4., T.N.6., T.N.8., T.N.9., T.1., T.2., S.1.1.1., T.N.1.2., Table S.6.3.a., Table S.3.6.b., Appendix D, S.1.2.2., Table 3., S.5.4., UR.3., Table 8. SCL-24.3 Table 6 Maintenance Tolerances Based on open hearing comments, the Committee has chosen Option 1 and removed Option 2. AWS- AUTOMATIC WEIGHING SYSTEMS AWS-24.1 N.1.5. Test Loads.
WIM - WEIGH-IN-MOTION SYSTEMS - TENTATIVE CODE WIM-23.1 2.26 Weigh-in-Motion Systems Used for Vehicle Direct Enforcement The committee updated the item to address some of the concerns expressed during open hearings and will update the item further prior to submitting the Interim Report LPG - LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND ANHYDROUS AMONIA LIQUID-MEASURING DEVICES LPG-24.1 S.1.5.7. Retail Motor Fuel Dispenser Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retail Motor Fuel Device ., S.2.6.1. Electronic Stationary (Other than Stationary Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retail Motor Fuel Device ). S.6.2. Automatic Timeout Pay-at-Pump Retail Motor Fuels Devices Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retail Motor Fuel Device . and, S.4.3. Location of Marking Information: Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retail Motor Fuel Device. The committee will block this item with LPG-24.2 and OTH-24.1 LPG-24.2 S.2.5. Zero-Set-Back Interlock. S.2.5. Zero-Set-Back Interlock . The committee will block this item with LPG-24.2 and OTH-24.1 EVF - ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUELING SYSTEMS EVF-24.2 S.2.7. Indication of Delivery, N.5.2.Accuracy Testing., and T.2.1. EVSE Load Test Differences. The committe will update the item to make the three 2025 dates
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2024 Issue 1
Specifications and Tolerances Committee Interim Summary Cont. Jason Flint, Committee Chair-New Jersey nonretroactive.
SCL - SCALES SCL-22.2 UR.1. Selection Requirements, UR.1.X Cannabis VTM - VEHICLE TANK METERS VTM-20.2 Table T.2. Tolerances for Vehicle Mounted Milk Meters The Committee wil block this item with MLK-23.2 MLK - MILK METERS MLK-23.2 Table T.1. Tolerances for Milk Meters The Committee will block this item with VTM-20.2 WITHDRAWN ITEMS SCL - SCALES SCL-24.1 S.1.7. Capacity Indication, Weight Ranges, and Unit Weights LPG - LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND ANHYDROUS AMMONIA LIQUID-MEASURING DEVICES LPG-23.1 S.2.5. Zero-Set-Back Interlock EVF - ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUELING SYSTEMS EVF-24.1 S.1.3. Mobile Device as Indicating Element for AC Chargers EVF-23.7 N.1. No Load Test, N.2.2 Startin Load Test, N.5.2. Accuracy Testing, And Appendix D: maximum deliverable amperes.
EVF-23.4 S.5.2. EVSE Identification and Marking Requirements, S.5.3. Abbreviations and Symbols, and N.5. Test of an EVSE System. The committee updated the item with the changes requested by the submitter. EVF-23.6 S.5.2. EVSE Identification and Marking Requirements, and T.2. Tolerances. The Committe updated the item with chnages requested by the submitter. OTH-OTHER ITEMS OTH-16.1 Electric Watthour Meters Tentative Code The Committee will update the item to include changes proposed by Mr Kimura and develop language to address concerns raised during open hearings reguarding S.3.2.2.a Table. OTH-24.1 Appendix D, Definitions: liquefied petroleum gas retail motor-fuel device. The Committee will block this item with LPG-24.1 and LPG-24.2 OTH-24.2 Appendix D, Definitions: National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) and Certificate of Conformance (CC) The Committee will update the item to include changes requested by the submitter. ITEM BLOCK 1 (B1) TRANSFER STANDARDS B1-LMD-24.1 N.3.5.X. Field Standard Meter Test N.3.5.X. Transfer Standard Test. B1-VTM-24.1 N.3.5.X. Field Standard Meter Test N.3.5.X. Transfer Standard Test. B1-LPG-24.3 N.3.2. Field Standard Mete r Transfer Standard Test. B1-MLK-24.1 N.3.2. Field Standard Meter Test. N.3.2. Transfer Standard Test. B1-MFM-24.1 N.3.2. Field Standard Meter Transfer Standard Test. The Committee will update these items to include the word “meter” after “transfer standard” everywhere it appears in the item under consideration.
DEVELOPING ITEMS SCL - SCALES SCL-24.2 Multiple Sections Reguarding Tare LMD - LIQUID MEASURING DEVICES LMD-24.1 N.4.1. Normal Tests HGM - HYDROGEN GAS-MEASURING DEVICES HGM- UR.3.8. Safety Requirement
ASSIGNED ITEMS
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2024 Issue 1
Laws and Regulations Committee Interim Summary Doug Rathbun, Committee Chair- Illinois
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS MOS – UNIFORM REGULATION FOR THE METHOD OF SALE OF COMMODITIES MOS-24.2 2.16.3.1. Tare Weights, Part (c) Allowable difference. Informational WITHDRAWN ITEMS PAL – UNIFORM PACKAGING AND LABELING REGULATION PAL-24.1 10.11. Cannabis and Cannabis-Containing Products. Withdrawn MOS – UNIFORM REGULATION FOR THE METHOD OF SALE OF COMMODITIES MOS-24.3 2.16.3.1. Tare Weights, Part (d) Average requirement. Withdrawn MOS-24.4 2.16.3.1. Tare Weights, Part (e) Tare Determination. Withdrawn FLR – UNIFORM FUELS AND AUTOMOTIVE LUBRICANTS REGULATION FLR-23.3 Section 2.20. Hydrogen Fuel. Withdrawn
The 2024 Laws and Regulations Committee Interim Agenda, along with presentations and written comments provided to the Committee, are available on the NCWM website. Oral comments for these agenda items were heard during the Open Hearings at the Interim Meeting and all of the aforementioned were considered by the Committee when assigning the following status for each item as follows: VOTING ITEMS RSA – UNIFORM REGULATION FOR THE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION OF SERVICE PERSONS AND SERVICE AGENCIES FOR COMMERCIAL WEIGHING AND MEASURING DEVICES RSA-24.1 Section 4. Voluntary Registration NET – HANDBOOK 133: CHECKING THE NET CONTENT OF PACKAGED GOODS NET-22.1 HB133, Section 1.2.6. Deviations Caused by Moisture Loss or Gain and Section 2.3.8. Table 2-3 Moisture Allowances. NET-24.1 Section 3.11. Ice Cream Novelties. NET-24.2 Section 4.9. Procedure for Checking the Contents of Specific Agriculture Seed Packages Labeled by Count., and Appendix D. AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds. ITEM BLOCK 1 (B1) RENEWABLE DIESEL AND DIESEL B1: MOS-23.1 Sections 2.31. Biodiesel and biodiesel Blends that Contain Greater Than or Equal to 21% by Volume Biodiesel. and 2.40. Diesel Fuel. B1: FLR-23.1 Sections 1.9. Biodiesel Blend., 1.27. Fuel Oil., 1.XX. Renewable Diesel., 3.3.2. Automotive Fuel Rating., 3.15. Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blends Containing Greater than 20% by Volume Biodiesel. ITEM BLOCK 2 (B2) REFERENCE ASTM STANDARDS D8080 AND D8487 B2: MOS-24.1 2.9. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Vehicle Fuel., 2.10. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)., and 2.XX. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Blended with Hydrogen B2: FLR-24.1 3.11.2.1.X. Identification of Grade. and 3.12.2.X. Identification of Grade. DEVELOPING ITEMS OTH – OTHER ITEMS OTH-07.1 Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee Developing OTH-11.1 Packaging and Labeling Subcommittee Developing
ASSIGNED ITEMS OTH – OTHER ITEMS OTH-24.1 X. Uniform Shipping Law Assigned
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2024 Issue 1
Women in Weights and Measures Column
The Unseen Strength: Women’s Contributions in Weights and Measures
In the realm of weights and measures, women have played a crucial but often overlooked role, leaving an indelible mark on an industry traditionally lead by men. From pioneer advancements in precision instruments to driving innovation in calibration techniques, women have significantly shaped the landscape of this field, contributing to its evolution and success. Historically, women have been instrumental in developing and refining measuring instruments. Notably, in the 18th century, Henrietta Swan Leavitt made groundbreaking contributions to the field of astronomy by discovering the relationship between the luminosity and the period of variable stars. Her work laid the foundation for accurate measurements of astronomical distances, influencing the development of standardized measures used in various scientific disciplines. Women’s involvement in the industry isn’t limited to the sciences; they have also made significant strides in regulatory bodies and standard-setting organizations. Their roles in these institutions have been pivotal in establishing guidelines and regulations that ensure fairness and accuracy in measurements, influencing a broad spectrum of sectors from manufacturing to healthcare. The divers perspectives that women bring to the field contribute to a more holistic approach to weights and measures. For instance, women have been at the forefront of addressing biases and gender-specific considerations in measurement standards, ensuring that these standards are equitable and inclusive. Moreover, women have excelled in the development of cutting-edge technologies that have revolutionized the industry.From advancements in digital scales to the implementation of artificial intelligence in calibration processes, female innovators have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible.
Cheryl Ayer Director of Weights and Measures New Hampshire Department of Agriculture
The positive effects of women’s contributions in weights and measures extend beyond the technical aspects. The increased representation of women in the industry fosters diversity, bringing about a variety of perspectives and approaches that enhance problem- solving and creativity. This diversity not only enriches the workplace but also contributes to the overall progress and adaptability of the field. The importance of women’s contribution in weights and measures cannot be overstated. Their impact, both historical and contemporary, has shaped the industry’s development, fostering innovation, equity, and accuracy. Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women in this field is essential for inspiring future generations of female leaders and ensuring a vibrant and dynamic future for weights and measures.
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2024 Issue 1
NTEP Column
NTEP’s Changing Landscape
As with all organizations, there is an ever-changing environment or landscape created by individuals moving to new companies or retiring. These events also impact NTEP. This article will share some of these changes with you and let you know how NTEP is adapting to ensure that we provide industry with continued and excellent services for both NTEP Evaluations and VCAP Audits. The New York Laboratory recently lost its evaluator for weighing devices through retirement, and the evaluator in the Maryland Laboratory accepted a position with a different organization. These changes effectively closed these laboratories. In addition, the California Laboratory has been 100% focused on the certification of Electric Vehicle Fueling Stations, removing them from the NTEP pool of evaluators. To compensate for these changes, NTEP has 1) relied heavily on the capabilities of the Ohio Laboratory, 2) expanded the number of field evaluations performed by Jeff Gibson, NTEP Specialist, 3) hired Ed Payne, retired evaluator from the Maryland Laboratory, as a part-time employee to perform field evaluations on weighing devices, and 3) hired Richard Shipman, former quality manager with Rice Lake Weighing Systems, as a part-time VCAP Auditor. These changes have allowed NTEP to maintain our previous level of services. This has taught us that we need to constantly look ahead to recognize changes that are coming and develop a plan to ensure these changes do not impact our customers’ needs and expectations of the NTEP process. To do this, the NCWM and NTEP have taken a significant step into the future by deciding to build and operate an evaluation laboratory. The building will be located in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as the new NCWM headquarters and NTEP laboratory. We anticipate opening the doors for operation in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
Darrell Flocken NTEP Administrator
I want to point out that this facility along with the Ohio and California Laboratories will bring NTEP back up to full operation for our weighing customers. The North Carolina, and Maryland Laboratories along with Allen Katalinic, field evaluator for measuring devices, will continue their focus on our measuring customers. The NCWM and NTEP Staff are very excited about having our own facility. Stay tuned for more information about the new facility in future articles.
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2024 Issue 1
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Coming Up! 109 th NCWM Annual Meeting July 14th - 18th | Cleveland, Ohio
The Annual Meeting is the high point of our year where all the hard work pays off. At this meeting, stakeholders will debate important proposals to amend the United States standards for weights and measures. When the debating is done, the votes will be cast. Our committees have their work cut out for them with some very full and diverse agendas. Committee agendas are available at https://www.ncwm.com/publication-16
MEETING LOCATION The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel 24 Public Square Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (216) 696-5600
Room Rate: $ 137 (Prevailing Government Per Diem) Reservation Discount Deadline: June 24th, 2024 Click here to make your online reservation
EVENTS The Chairman’s Reception will honor Gene Robertson from the State of Mississippi. The reception will be Sunday, July 14 th , from 5:30pm- 7:00pm. The reception attire is business casual.
The Special Event will be held Wednesday, July 17th, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Click here to register online Register by June 24th, 2024 to secure discounted rates!
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2024 Issue 1
The Meetup
Wow, did we have a great Interim Meeting last month! New Orleans did not disappoint as the backdrop for this incredibly well-attended gathering which drew in a final number of 193 people. We embraced the bustling energy that is Bourbon Street and spent the week networking both in and out of the meetings. We held our first ever Women in Weights and Measures breakout session, heard from experts during the NCWM National Price Verification Survey technical session, and discussed all the hot topics during the days of Open Hearings. Thank you to all who spent their week with us and a special thank you to the many guests who tagged along; the opportunity to meet your family and loved ones is a special benefit of these meetings. All we accomplished at the Interim Meeting will culminate in July at our Annual Meeting taking place in Cleveland, Ohio. We will occupy the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel which has a fascinating history involving both mobsters and presidents. Possibly the most well-known story about the Renaissance is that Elliott Ness frequented the hotel, in particular the ballroom where he and his wife would attend galas where they would dance the night away, but Ness also spent over a week questioning Francis Sweeney, a suspect in the Torse murders, in one of the hotel rooms in 1938. You can read more about those details here. The hotel has been visited by countless celebrities including the Beatles and Martin Luther King, Jr. The hotel has a history of haunts and folklore; what more could you expect from a 106-year-old hotel? Take some time to review the history of Cleveland and, in particular, the chronicles which are the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. How many of us watched The Christmas Story this past Christmas season? Director Bob Clark picked Cleveland for the filming site after having sent his location scouts to over twenty cities in search of the perfect setting. What sealed the deal for Cleveland? The department store’s, Higbee’s, willingness to allow filming within its doors and their willingness to leave displayed Christmas decorations for weeks after the holidays! Higbee’s was the first department store in Cleveland and served as an anchor for Cleveland’s Public Square until it closed in 2002. You might recognize the department store in the opening scene in which Ralphie first spies the Red Ryder BB Gun (the large glowing ‘HIGBEE’ sign in the background), during the parade scene right before Ralphie goes to see Santa, and then the scene inside the store as Ralphie visits Santa.
Elisa Stritt, CMP, CEM Director of Operations NCWM
It just so happens that the Higbee’s building, now home of the Cleveland Visitor’s Center, is directly adjacent to the Renaissance making it impossible to miss and a must-see while in the city. I also recommend visiting the A Christmas Story House and Museum located a quick five-minute drive from downtown. To learn more, I urge you to read the fun history surrounding Cleveland’s role in the movie. Now that you are enticed, let’s get you registered. All meeting details including discounts, early bird deadlines, and a tentative schedule can be found on our website (2024 NCWM Annual Meeting) and while you’re there, check out our plans for next January (2025 NCWM Interim Meeting). Please ensure to register before the early deadline of June 24th and get your hotel reservation handled now! As always, thank you for being the best meeting attendees ever; it is a pleasure to plan for you.
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2024 Issue 1
Looking Forward...
EVENT CALENDAR
2024
2025 NCWM Interim Meeting January 12 - 15 | Charleston, South Carolina
May NEWMA Annual Meeting Cape Cod, Massachusetts May 6-9 CWMA Annual Meeting Des Moines, Iowa May 20-23 July 109th NCWM Annual Meeting Cleveland, Ohio July 14-18 August NTEP Grain Analyzer Sector Meeting Kansas City, Missouri August 13-14 NTEP Software Sector Meeting Kansas City, Missouri August 13-14 NTEP Weighing/Belt Conveyor Sector Meeting Cincinnati, Ohio August 20-21 September WWMA Annual Meeting Las Cruces, New Mexico September 8-12 NTEP Measuring Sector Meeting
The Interim Meeting is where our standing committees come together to hear testimony on new proposals brought forth from the regional meetings as well as carryover items from the previous year. In addition, the committees will determine the status of each item for the voting session of our Annual Meeting in July. Presentations, testimony, and work sessions will occur through the week. Committee agendas will be available at www.ncwm.com/publication-15 MEETING LOCATION Francis Marion Hotel 387 King Street Charleston, South Carolina 29403 Group Rate: Prevailing Government Per Diem Reservation Discount Deadline: December 19, 2024 EVENTS The Chairman’s Reception will honor Marc Paquette from the State of Vermont. The reception will be Sunday, January 12 th , from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Dress is business casual.
Click here to register online
Cincinnati, Ohio September 17-18 October SWMA Annual Meeting San Antonio, Texas October 6-11
Register By December 19 to secure discounted rates!
2024 Issue 1
NCWM-News 13
MARK Y UR CALENDARS!
Details: NCWM.COM/MEETINGS
OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYMENT
NCWM IS PROUD TO SERVE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES COMMUNITY, BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, BY LISTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ANY ORGANIZATION THAT MAINTAINS MEMBERSHIPS WITH NCWM MAY REQUEST POSITIONS TO BE POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEWING .
IF YOU WISH TO POST EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION, PLEASE SEND INQUIRES TO INFO@NCWM.COM
13 NCWM-News
2023 Issue 1
NCWM National Price Verification Survey Marc Paquette, Vermont NCWM Chairman-Elect
The National Conference on Weights & Measures (NCWM) is conducting a National Price Verification Survey in collaboration with NIST Office of Weights & Measures (OWM) and 68 state and local jurisdictions located across the country. The NCWM proposed the survey in response to ongoing concerns from compliance jurisdictions around the country on the high level of failure rates being found during price verification inspections. While the feedback being reported to NCWM was valuable, it included little documentation or statistical data to gauge pricing accuracy in the marketplace. In response, NCWM Chairman, Gene Roberston, appointed a Price Verification Focus Group to plan for a national survey to gather statistical data on price verification inspections. The Focus Group began planning for the survey in September 2023 working diligently to create a survey plan and scope. Some of the data gathered will include compliance rates, total number of items inspected, overcharges, undercharges, range, average errors found, number of stores inspected, and compliance rates based on store types. As part of the survey plan, the focus group developed a list with accompanying definitions for ten commonly found types of retail stores where consumers typically purchase goods. These categories of store types include grocery, supercenters, big box/department, warehouse/club, dollar/discount, convenience, drug/ pharmacy, automotive, home centers, and clothing retailers found in the consumer market. The response to the survey has been outstanding. For uniformity and consistency of data, participants in the survey were asked to attend a NIST virtual training session on Price Verification Procedures as published in NIST Handbook Book 130. The sessions were tailored with specific information for the survey. The NIST OWM originally offered two training sessions for November and December 2023, however the response was so overwhelming three additional sessions were added. Close to 400 inspectors around the country have now attended this survey related training. Each participating jurisdiction has been provided with a unique spreadsheet to enter data into. Once the survey is complete, the spreadsheets will be consolidated into one document. While part of the survey, the spreadsheets are also designed for each jurisdiction to use in their own
unique programs as it will provide jurisdiction specific data in both tabular and chart form. This information can be used to create reports and analysis of each jurisdiction’s inspection program. This can assist in managing resources, educating local stakeholders, and to promote their work being done in this area. The inspection phase of the survey will be completed by March 1, 2024. Participating jurisdictions will be asked to send completed spreadsheets in by March 15th for consolidating. Once the results are compiled the NCWM Price Verification Focus Group and NIST will be evaluating the survey. They will then determine the best method of dissemination of data and overall results to survey participants and the public. The anticipated release of the data is expected during the summer of 2024. Upon completion, the survey results may be utilized by many stakeholders. Potential utilization includes retailers who may choose to use the information as a catalyst to implement pricing improvement plans for retail establishments and create related staff training. It may be used to empower consumer groups to use the information to educate shoppers that errors exist and how to address some of those errors either at the retail level or higher. W&M compliance programs can use the survey to better allocate inspection resources based on store type and to advocate for their programs. For information related to the survey please contact Marc Paquette at marc.paquette@vermont.gov ,or for further information on NIST OWM training John Mcguire at john.t.mcguire@nist.gov.
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2024 Issue 1
Train for Excellence
RICE LAKE WEIGHING SYSTEMS’ TRAINING COURSES offer something for technicians of all experience levels. Our topics include everything from general electronic systems to indicator programming and weighing industry standards—there are even specialty classes focused on unique product lines. Learn from Rice Lake experts and gain skills you and your team can use during real-world sales and service calls in 2024 and beyond!
Rice Lake, WI ES-111 Fundamentals of Electronic Systems February 4-9 April 14-19
Other Locations Handbook 44 Training January 16 .........Portland, OR April 4 ................Cincinnati, OH September 24.... Concord, CA October 22......... Columbus, OH Online ES-111 Fundamentals of Electronic Systems ES-222 Advanced Scale System Troubleshooting SB-111 Setpoints and Batching HB-44 Handbook 44 Training
RS-111 Retail Scales Training
February 18-23 June 2-7 July 21-26 October 6-11
June 23-28 August 4-9
September 8-13 December 15-20
AW-111 Automatic Wrapper Training
January 14-19 March 24-29 July 7-12 December 1-6
ES-222 Advanced Scale System Troubleshooting January 21-26 May 19-24
August 25-30 October 20-25
AW-112 WM-Nano Wrapper Training October 1-3 O
ES-300 1280 Enterprise Workshop March 3-8 November 3-8 ES-301 Indicator iRite Programming March 10-15 November 10-15
L
www.ricelake.com/training View our complete training schedule, read course descriptions and register today at:
To speak with our training coordinator, call:
800-472-6703
NCWM Welcomes New Members
ABB E-mobility Cuong Mguyen
Curb Mobility, LLC Amos Tamam
ABB E-mobility B.V. Richard Torres
Cuyahoga County Division of Weights and Measures Adam Ayers Brice Williams Neal Popovic
ALMA Florence Martin
Delaware Weights and Measures Cortney Davis Jr.
Arkansas Bureau of Satandards Teddy Dalton Brian “Kenny” Wooldridge Aleksandr Maldonado
Digital Forces Corporation Andy Rosa
Avery Dennison Paul Riscalla
Erie County Weights and Measures Luis Ayala
Blue Lion Solutions Claude Roeltgen
EVSIS Adolphe Niyigena
Burlington County Weights and Measures Alexandra Algayer Jennifer Falt
EZ Meter Ryan Fetgatter
EZ Software Solutions LLC Ali Hessaraki
City of Gloucester Robert Vicari
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
City of New Bedford Joseph Barney
Megan Money Diere Hodges Lorenzo Aleman Julian Cepeda Shane Remy
City of Seattle Consumer Protection Division Marcy Goldstone
Fresno County Department of Agriculture Amanda Zito
Clover Network, LLC Marisa Negrete
Grain Millers, Inc Connie Groth Guru Weighing Systems Simranjot Singh
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Malachi Westberry
County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office Anna Hall
iFlow Inc. Gene McMillan
CresLane Retail Solutions Richard Sutton
Illinois Department of Agriculture Steve Carter John Satterlee
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NCWM Welcomes New Members
INGETEAM Javier Etxeberria
Medina County James Bell Bryan Lanning
Intercomp Eric Walls
MID:COM Jeff Christiansen
Joshua Ali Bocas Instrumentation and Scale Repair Joshua Ali Bocas
Minnesota Department of Weights and Measures Cyrus Mink Andy Setzer Andrew Peterson Nick Forbook Andrew Buchanan
King County-For-Hire and Shared Transportation Sean Bouffiou
L&G Industries LLC Preston Hughes
Morrow County Connie McChesney
Lake County Department of Agricultiure Weights and Measures Katherine Vanderwall
Murray Equipment Inc Michelle Seiler
LG Electronics Jisung Jang
Nevada Division of Measurement Standards Dave Lipscomb Brandon Hendrix Vernon Miller Charles Radcliff
Lorain County Auditor’s Office James Marsiglia Jason Kelleher
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture John Abasto
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Jennifer Adair Allison Dumas
New Jersey State Weights and Measures Federico Isaza
Tiffany Ordoyne Kevin Tripeaux II Sarah Simon Brittany Kiser Cameron Dean
NEWMA Zane Ruehrwein
Macnaught USA Pete Graniello
Next Meters Casey Jorgensen
Mandatory Fuel Management Joshua Crochet David Tiede
North Carolina Department of Agriculture Marcus Helfrich Jeremiah Lanning Oneida County Weights and Measures Mark Renzi Brian Barile
Measurement Canada Lucia D’Ilivo
Mechtronic Limited Simon Haigh
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NCWM Welcomes New Members Portage County Joseph Carpenter Prairie Scale Systems Conner Binkert Transact Campus Sean Oshea
Turbines Incorporated Robert McDavid Mitchell Anderson
Products Engineering Corporation Julie Hood
Renewable Fuels Association Justin Schultz
Uber Richard Willder
Scales, Sales and Service LLC Shane Armendariz
UDSA Packers and Stockyards Myron Simmons
Sierra Pacific Industries Karl Hankins
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Richard Newton
Stanislaus County Amy Lomeli State of Alaska Talphus English Ryan Brooks Jonathan Lanier State of Montana Timothy Stephens Brandon Brizendine
VisAI Labs Ramprakash Jelari Thinakaran
Walmart John May
West Virginia Weights and Measures Division of Labor
Sadie Dixon Bryan Cook Jessica Bradford
State of Wisconsin, DATCP Samantha Lange
Wisconsin Department of Ag and Consumer Protection Mollie Weber Michelle Reinen
Stowe Research International Raj Tanwar
Yokogawa Corporation of America Maja Jankov
Texas Department of Agriculture Heather Exner
Allison Haas Kirt Weyand Anthony Stoner Aaron Louhela
Zewst Fahad Shabir
Town of Barnstable Michael Collopy Ryan Mulligan
Town of Wareham Matthew Kelley
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Add Your Voice to Improve Voluntary Standards - Guest Article Cleo Manuel Stamatos, ANSI
"That Equity May Prevail" is the motto of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) shares your values and invites you to learn more about volunteer opportunities in the standards process in the U.S. NCWM members understand that standards are behind the scenes making the world safer every day. You know that across the full spectrum of U.S. industries and communities, standards for performance, interoperability, and safety help protect the public and foster commerce and innovation by influencing the design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and use of nearly every product, process, and system we use every day. In the U.S., voluntary consensus standards are set by standards developing organizations through a process characterized by openness, balance, due process, consensus, and the right to appeals. One hallmark of this process is assuring that contributors represent a wide range of interests and organizations. “Voluntary standards groups bring together industry experts, government agencies, and consumer advocates to develop safety practices for product manufacturing,” said Alexander Hoehn-Saric, chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). “Having a diverse group of stakeholders is one of the founding principles of developing safety standards for consumer products. When we bring experts to the table to discuss incidents associated with a product, consumer representation is essential; without the consumer perspective, the discussion can be unbalanced.” “Given the importance of stakeholder participation in standards development, I urge you to consider joining a standards committee to help shape and improve the world around you,” according tosaid Kathleen Thuner, a long- time NCWM colleague and retired San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures.
According to Thuner, “NCWM members know how important standards are, but they may not know how much the strength of standards depends on the active participation of all relevant interests, including volunteer consumers, in standards committees. My experience as a weights and measures professional has helped me represent the public interest in many voluntary standards committees, from e-farming to unit pricing.” Thuner recently recruited past NCWM chairman and member and former California State director of measurement standards Mike Cleary, who is now active on several ASTM standards committees. According to Cleary, “I have joined some ASTM committees and now am training to volunteer on international consumer issues, as well. It’s a great way to continue to serve the public and make the world safer for consumers.” For more information, visit ANSI’s Consumers and Standards webpage.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org.
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One Tool: # 1 Inspection Software WinWam Software
There is only one Software product that addresses all of your Weights & Measures Inspection needs. That tool is WinWam Software. WinWam Software is a collection of four powerful modules, which can be purchased separately or together. All of the Weights & Measure modules have been built to perform inspections in accordance with NIST regulations. .
Nover Engelstein & Associates, Inc. Developers and sole source providers of WinWam Software 3000 Atrium Way, Suite 2203 Mount Laurel NJ 08054 Phone: (856) 273-6988 web-site: www.winwam.com e-mail: sales@winwam.com
Package Checking WinWam Package Checking Software is designed for W&M officials and quality assurance professionals to perform standard and random inspections in accordance with NIST Handbook 133. WinWam Package Checking Software guides you through the inspection process. Error, MAV, Cost Error are calculated for each test. Color displays allow easy identification of Pass Fail or Gray Areas. Some of the features include: ▪ Category A & B Sampling Plans
Device Inspection WinWam Device Inspection Software is designed to perform and record Handbook 44 inspections WinWam Device Inspection Software supports all devices specified in Handbook 44 including but not limited to: scales, (apothecary, computing, livestock, shipping, vehicles, etc.), meters, LP Gas, LMD, linear devices, timing devices, etc. Whether Acceptance or Maintenance WinWam calculates tolerances for nearly all tests.
▪ Automatically Calculates MAV’s Normal USDA Standard, USDA Fluid, Bark Mulch, Polyethylene Sheeting ▪ Allow variations due to moisture loss. ▪ Calculates SEL and Standard Deviation ▪ Dynamically calculates Rc/Rt for tare ▪ Calculates conversion factors
WinWam Device Inspection Software provides a comprehensive database of business establishments with a complete inventory of devices. Full detail inspection data allows management the ability to better measure economic impact of the W&M program
for volume inspections
▪ Calculates Cost Error, Average Error, Average Cost Error % Error Price Verification
Hypertext Handbooks Hypertext Handbooks are a collection of on-line reference manuals in which the user can view government regulations, search on a particular topic and print any part of the handbook with the touch of a button 2024 Hypertext Handbooks available now!
WinWam Price Verification Software is designed in accordance with NIST Handbook 130. The Software runs standalone or with a handheld scanner. Software calculates error, lot cost error, net dollar error and calculates Over / Under Ratio. Accommodates Intentional Under- charge and Not On File.
Nover Engelstein & Associates, Inc. Developers and sole source providers of WinWam Software 3000 Atrium Way, Suite 2203 Mount Laurel NJ 08054 Phone: (856) 273-6988 web-site: www.winwam.com e-mail: sales@winwam.com
Safety Column
Keep Your "Eye" On the Prize: Protect Your Vision True PPE Stories By: Ron Armstrong, Northwest Tank An Eye Saved When it comes to workplace safety, words of caution from the experienced follow us into adulthood, for good reason. An employee of a contract safety glasses program began warning his 18-year-old son, who installs siding on houses, to wear safety glasses while working. After much discussion, the son finally began wearing safety glasses after he started getting aluminum dust in his eyes. A week later, he began using an air-powered staple gun to apply the siding. During that first week, he fired a staple that hit a metal plate behind the siding, ricocheting back to his face. One leg of the heavy-duty staple hit the son's safety glasses' lens with such force that the frames cracked, and he received bruising on his eyebrow and cheekbone. An eye saved and the willingness to take PPE seriously sets an example for others to follow. Permanent Blindness Edward Bernacki, a professor of medicine and chair of a joint committee on health, safety, and the environment at Johns Hopkins University, tells each trimester's new students a story about eye safety. Bernacki explains that a graduate student working in the lab chose not to wear eye protection. Following a lab explosion, he suffered permanent blindness and was unable to work in the lab again. "There are only so many things in life you can control, but [wearing eye protection] you can. Just taking that one extra step to wear PPE can make a major difference in your life," Bernacki explains.
Tragedy Inspires Prevention Barry Weatherall worked for a plumbing and heating company in Alberta, Canada, more than 15 years ago. Today, he spends his time telling thousands of industrial workers across Canada how he lost his eyesight. In the hopes of inspiring change in the common "it won't happen to me" attitude, he leads 90-minute interactive workshops on eye safety in the workplace. Weatherall's life-altering story starts when he was on the job and received incorrect information from a chemical company about the risk involved in neutralizing sulfuric acid with another chemical called caustic soda bead. Weatherall was wearing personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, a face mask, and gloves while performing his work. After he finished neutralizing the chemicals and believed that there was no longer a risk of explosion, he left to remove his PPE. His life changed forever when he went back to check on the chemicals without putting his PPE back on. A chemical explosion occurred which left Weatherall permanently blind. Eye contact with chemicals make up 20 percent of eye injuries. Flying particles, a combination of flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye, account for 70 percent of total injuries. "Companies can train people until they're blue in the face, but once the worker is on the job site by himself, it's up to that worker to take the time to be safe," Weatherall said. His program's intention is to provide workers with an intense and entirely new perspective on eye safety.
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OSHA estimates that 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper protective eyewear.
Prevent Blindness America stresses that eye safety doesn't end with PPE. Office workers are not immune to eye problems and injuries. Most office workers' eye issues stem from computer vision syndrome, or dry eye syndrome.
PBA recommends the following for office workers' eye injury prevention:
• Take frequent breaks to readjust your eyes. • Reposition the computer screen so it's at eye level.
• Drink plenty of water and keep over-the-counter drops on hand for proper hydration. • Have your eyes examined once a year to evaluate any unforeseen eye injuries or conditions.
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Meet CALM
With the recent addition of the Community for All Legal Metrologists (CALM) to the NCWM meeting agendas, we’d like to take a moment to introduce ourselves. You know our faces from Metrology Laboratories across the country where we work hand in hand with State Weights and Measures programs to help companies and regulators meet legal requirements. A few things about State Metrologists you may not know… • There are currently 46 State Metrology Labs in the country. • There are less than 150 US Legal Metrologists keeping those labs running. • We meet in regions each year, but traditionally, we only meet as a national group every 5 years. • More than 5 labs are staffed with only ONE Metrologist with many more by only TWO. Imagine having no immediate colleagues to speak to on a day-to-day basis. Imagine depending only on yourself for brainstorming or collaboration. Not to mention, meeting only every 5 years leaves a significant gap in networking and knowledge sharing opportunities in even the largest labs. Hence, the idea came about for CALM. After the idea materialized and our mission really took shape, one of the main hurdles to achieving that mission was finding an established group that could offer us independent support and shared resources to help us expand our reach. NCWM has graciously provided CALM meeting space at both the Annual Meeting and now the Interim Meeting as well as hosting a ListServ for our members to utilize for questions and other communications. With their support, we’ve been able to increase communication between State Lab Metrologists and even offer skills sharpening collaborative sessions. Single Metrologist labs can now access all their nationwide colleagues with the click of a button. We host monthly ZOOM meetings on various topics presented by State Metrologists, for State Metrologists. On our website, at calm-metrology.com, we list past and present meeting topics ranging from roundtable discussions to our upcoming Basics of Electrical Metrology. As we move forward into the near future with Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and Mass Flow Meters entering field operations, communication between our small group of colleagues will only become more critical.
Kate Smetana Colorado Department of Agriculture
It’s an exciting time to witness the emerging technologies in the Weights and Measures industries. For the labs with new employees, we encourage Directors to put your metrologists in touch with CALM and we welcome your support. Any one of our valued members will be eager to mentor a new Metrologist or even provide insight into what a director might look for in a successful recruit. In closing, we thank you for welcoming our tightknit group of unique scientists. Thank you to NCWM staff, the NCWM Board of Directors, and State W&M Directors from around the country for your continued support. We are all very excited to see where this group can go and how we can effectively contribute to the mission of NCWM. Keep CALM and carry on.
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