Ventura County Grand Jury
• 1996-1997
Ventura County Department of Weights & Measures
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F2, F4
Findings 3 findings
F1
During the tour of the El Rio Facility, the Grand Jury members observed wet floors ln the watt-hour meter testing laboratory due to a leaklng roof, and very crowded - conditions of the facility overall. This lab testse lectrical meters by applying 240 - VDC at 30 Amps during the tests, thereby creating very unsafe and hazardous conditions for the inspector perfonnlng the tests.T he El Rlo Facility is leased by the department from Ventura County General Services Agency (GSA). I. Working standards used in the field to test and certify weighing and measuring devices are not labeled or marked, and have no records attached to indicate the device’s certification due date. Certificates of Accuracy issued by DMS are on file in the county’s Department of Weights and Measures office. These records are not visible to the inspector using the standard, therefore the inspector is not aware of the due date. The potential of using a standard beyond its due date is a possibility.
F3
The field inspectors appear to be well trained and diligently perform their -. duties. They were very courteous and displayed a cooperative attitude with the employees of the businesses they inspected. .-
F5
Over the years, the Department of Weights and Measures has experienced a staff reduction from approximately eleven inspectors to the current level of five. Consequently, this reduction has impacted the ability of the department -, to adequately cover the inspection areas. -.
Recommendations 3
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R1The leaking roof at the El Rio Facility meter testing laboratory should be __ repaired to provide a safe working environment for the inspector and to protect - the equipment housed in the lab. The better solution would be to have larger -. and more adequate facilities provided by GSA for the safety of the inspectors and the protection of the costly equipment maintained by Weights and -. Measures. -
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R2Copies of Certificates of Accuracy issued by the California Division of Measure- ment Standards should be kept with the standards in the field trucks, or a label indicating the next recall date should be attached to the standard. This action will keep inspectors aware of recall dates for each standard used in the field. The ._ process of attaching labels to standards is used by commercial calibration/ certification laboratories as the common method to document date calibrated and next due date.
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R3Additional funding should be allocated to increase the number of inspectors -., needed to adequately cover the county areas of inspection. RESPONSER EQUIRED General Services Agency _- Chief Administrative Officer Resource Management Agency Department of Weights and Measures - -, Ventura County Board of Supervisors _~ .- _.,~ 63