EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Medical Scales

If you haven't seen it yet this link is the latest update regaurding scales

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Estatesalerts/DH_114046

We have had trading standards in twice checking our scales and they really go to town i.e. weights on all four corners then total weight allowance over entire scale surface. Path lab scales were tested down to milligrams and if anything was out of cal the scales were withdrawn from service by trading standards. All class 3 scales can only be calibrated / repaired by the manufactures unless you have all the correct equipment / certification / up to date paper work and able to employ somebody to look after all of this, good luck.

Oh what fun! Anyway, it sounds like there could (should) be a large number of quite usable scales that become available in the next year or so. I think some would be gratefully received by charities etc who donate GOOD used equipment to hospitals etc. in countries that can't afford to be choosy whether the scales display in metric units only.

I quite understand the potential for confusion between certain metric and imperial values, but I really would hope that professional staff would take care to see that the display shows g/Kg and not Lbs/Oz etc. Still, it's OK, the NHS isn't trying to save money or anything

No it's not Geoff but it IS what this thread was originally about before it got "diverted" (see first post from Mike d)

Just as long as they don't "have to" scrap them (chuck them out) thinking they are conforming with some hare-brained (European) "directive" or other.

Geoff,

Reading the DoH link in Dave Howell's last post I found this:

"...Recommendation 6 – Safety Alert’s previously issued by DH Estates & Facilities
recommended that all scales used for weighing patients should only display metric units.
Where weighing equipment is in use with switchable scales (e.g. imperial and metric), the
switching facility must be disabled to ensure that only the metric reading is
available. Where weighing equipment is in use with dual readings not capable of being
converted to read only metric units, should be replaced as a priority."

If the capability for reading in Imperial units can't be removed, my understanding is that they 'should' be taken out of service, hence my previous comment. Personally, let's just say that seems a little crazy to me!

I apologise for my part in taking this thread a little of topic: So, to comment 'on topic': I too have good experience with Seca stuff, although it's not the cheapest. Also if anyone has a recommended (realistic?) test/calibration methodology, I'm sure folks would find that helpful.

There, I tried!

I believe I may have already mentioned the plastic containers and the well known relationship between volume and mass of water.

and as I believe has also been mentioned, not having calibration certification for the bottles may cause a problem no matter how solid the physics may be.

Now, what was that about recommended OEMs for scales? Perhaps we need a different thread for other scale matters.

Which, being where I currently am, is exactly what I do as it happens! However, in er, other places, I suspect the test weights have to be certified to have been tested against a tracable 'sub-standard', which in turn is tracable to...you get the idea I'm all for doing a professional, accurate job with everything I do, but sometimes things seem to be taken a little 'O.T.T'. When you see hospitals, clinics etc with basically nothing, and desperate people being turned away because they can't be helped if there is 'nothing'..well, it does seriously change one's perspective on things!

Rant over!

DaveC...yes, this thread should be for comments on weighing scale OEMs, models etc.

I will take the liberty of starting another thread for calibration etc. discussion, if anyone wants to contribute anything (I may even rant some more..oops)! I'll call it 'Medical Weighing Scale Testing'.