Some Ohio cities have also implemented Weights & Measures programs as part of their city services.

The county auditor is responsible for testing the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices used in the purchase and sale of commodities.

The Director of Agriculture is the State Sealer of Weights and Measures.  The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the custodian of the Ohio primary standards of weights and measures, which are traceable to U.S. standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  The international standards are kept in Paris, France.

As consumers, the products we buy are sold by weight, volume, length, count, or measure.  The time-tested methods of verifying weight, volume, and pricing are being replaced by computerized devices.   There are positives as well as cautions involved with the advances in technology.   As U.P.C. pricing and computers are replacing price stickers, consumers receive faster service but they cannot visually verify each item's price.  Therefore, Weights & Measures officials and merchants must work harder to provide customers with pricing and measuring confidence.

Certification

     All weights and measures inspectors are required to receive training and certification from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures.  Inspectors must pass a series of 20 tests and 2 exams, as well as attend 18 hours of continuing education class per year to maintain their certification. back to top

Error Rates

     Error rates vary within each of Ohio's 88 counties.  Ohio jurisdictions are very responsive to calls.  Upon receiving a complaint, a weights and measures official will usually inspect the site within 24 to 48 hours.

     If an error is found, the facility's equipment may be temporarily shut down or the operators may be fined.   Records are maintained for all reported complaints. back to top

Pre-packaged Commodities

     All commodities must be marked with a statement declaring net contents.  Net weight does not include the weight of the bag, wrapper or container of any kind in which a commodity may be packaged.  This is called the tare weight, which must be accounted for before the product is weighed.  Inspectors from the State and County periodically check the accuracy of these pre-packaged items. back to top

U.P.C. Scanners

     The Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) is used in most retail stores to scan the price of the item.  The price of the item is entered into a computer.  When the item is scanned, the price will immediately appear on the register.  The county auditor is helping to ensure that the labeled shelf price or the advertised price matches the price appearing at the checkout. back to top

Community Awareness Programs

     To increase weights and measures awareness among consumers, county auditors participate in a variety of outreach or educational programs to help explain the role or the county sealer and the protection consumers and merchants receive.  The purpose of these events is for citizens to realize they have rights as well as responsibilities in the market place. back to top

Gas Pumps

     Fuel is sold by volume in gallons or liters.  A computer in the gasoline pump calculates what you owe based on the amount and unit price of the gasoline.  Weights and measures officials post a seal to show the the equipment was tested and found to be accurate. back to top

Fire Wood

     In Ohio, the legal method of sale for fire wood is the cord or fraction of a cord.  A "cord" is defined as 128 cubic feet.  Fire wood must be labeled in cubic feet or cubic inches. back to top

The Auditor is the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the entire County, thus protecting the general public from the possible loss which may occur from faulty measuring devices, such as scales and pumps. The Auditor is charged with the responsibility of insuring that all State laws relating to weights and measures are strictly enforced.

Sealers perform "spot-checks" on pre-packaged items to test the weight of the contents. County sealers are certified by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. A few cities in Ohio employ their own sealers.

• The Weights and Measures Department is responsible for checking a number of things for accuracy. Some of these include:
• Scanners used on bar codes to verify that the price marked on a product is the price that is charged.
• Gas pumps to make sure you are receiving the amount of gas indicated by the pump meter.
• Scales at grocery stores, meat counters, produce departments are checked for accuracy.
• Orchards and produce stand scales are checked seasonally.
• Scales at school's, doctors' offices, weight loss clinics and nursing homes are verified as a courtesy upon request.
• Truck scales at asphalt, cement, gravel and scrap metal yards are also checked.
• Meter verification of truck scales used for heating oil as well as liquefied petroleum gas.
• Products such as feeds and mulches for weight and accuracy.

If you are going into business or you are already in business and will be using a scale, you must contact our office for more information. 

These services are performed to insure the consumer is getting the value advertised on the product.

Periodic "spot checks" are performed on prepackaged items, testing the accuracy of the contents.

If you believe a gas pump or scale did not perform properly for the goods you received, please contact the Auditor's Office, Weights and Measures Department.

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