Section 260-RICR-30-10-3.3 - Process for CertificationA. An Introduction to Weights and Measures session shall be scheduled annually by the certified metrologist or by an authorized agent of the Director of Labor, to provide basic information for any person considering an appointment to the municipal sealer position. The session will cover the following agenda: 1. Applicants will view the hands-on training video demonstrating the basic procedures used in the testing of scales and gasoline measuring devices.2. A general question and answer session will be conducted with the applicants.3. Attendance to this introduction session is mandatory. Upon completion of this session, appointees shall participate in the training requirements of either §§ 3.3(B) or (C) of this Part, to fulfill the certification requirements.B. To attain certified status, all new appointees to the local sealer of weights and measures position are required to participate in a Technical Course in the field of weights and measures. When there are more than seven (7) new appointees, a 3-day training course will be conducted at the Department of Labor, by a professional agency. Application cost shall be paid by the municipalities/participants of the 3-day training. The course agenda will be as follows: 1. One half day - Fundamental Considerations, General Code of Handbook 442. One half day - Rhode Island General Laws pertaining to the municipal sealer of weights and measures.3. One full day "General Application of the Scale Code"4. One full day "General Application of the Gasoline Measuring Device Code"C. Where there is a new appointee, or when a Sealer is not available to participate in the 3-day Technical Course in § 3.3(B) of this Part the following must be completed in order to fulfill the certificate requirements:1. Engage in a program of self-study of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, ("NIST"), Handbook 44, § 2.20, Scale Code and § 3, 3.30, Liquid Measure Devices (hereafter "NIST Handbook 44 section content areas"). a. Participants must study the NIST Handbook 44 section content areas as referenced herein.b. The cost, if any, for participation in both NIST Handbook 44 section content areas shall be paid by the municipality/participants.2. The Department of Labor and Training shall issue a certificate of completion to participants upon completion of the NIST Handbook 44 content areas and the following: a. Satisfactory demonstration of his/her field abilities to an authorized sealer of the Department of Labor and Training in the NIST Handbook 44 course content areas completed over a ninety (90) day period which shall include:(1) Ten (10) hours of on-the-job training in Scale Code inspection under the direct supervision of a Department of Labor and Training authorized and appointed sealer. The Department of Labor and Training authorized and appointed sealer shall keep a log book of the participant's on-the job training, and(2) Thirty (30) hours of on-the-job training in liquid measure device inspection under the direct supervision of a Department of Labor and Training authorized and appointed sealer. The Department of Labor and Training authorized and appointed sealer shall keep a log book of the participant's on-the-job training.b. Successful completion, with at least a score of 70%, on a written examination covering the NIST Handbook 44 section content areas and administered by the Department of Labor and Training. Participants must make request, in writing, to the Department of Labor and Training to test within thirty (30) days of completing their on-the-job training requirements.D. Participants who do not receive a passing score on the written examination may retest after thirty (30) days of receiving notice of unsuccessful completion of the written examination by making request, in writing, to the Department of Labor and Training to retest.E. Sealers having completed the course criteria of either §§ 3.3(B) or (C) of this Part thereby rendering them "Certified", shall participate in technical courses relating to weights and measures, which may be offered annually by the Department of Labor. Course criteria shall be based on changes to the Handbooks adopted by this state and/or by changes made to the R.I. Gen. Laws. At no time shall these courses require more than 35 hours of annual training. Certificates will be automatically renewed on June 30 of each year unless an annual training is scheduled. If an annual training is scheduled, certificate renewal will be based upon successful completion of the course.F. Any person who has been appointed by a municipality to the sealer position, and has met the mandated requirements for certification shall be able to continue such certification status if he or she continues to participate in the annual training as covered by § 3.3(E) of this Part, and shall be considered for assignments in other municipalities where said municipalities are without an active certified sealer. Sealers so assigned shall be responsible for all costs incurred while performing these sealer duties, and shall be subject to § 3.5(B) of this Part.260 R.I. Code R. 260-RICR-30-10-3.3
Adopted effective 12/28/2018