To operate a public weighbridge, you require a Certificate of Competence issued by the Chief Inspector for Weights and Measures for your local authority.
Operators of public weighing equipment have a responsibility to ensure that they can perform their duties competently and honestly.
No-one may operate public weighing equipment unless he/she holds a certificate from a Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures.
To operate a public weighbridge the operator must have sufficient knowledge for the proper performance of his/her duties including basic numeracy skills. Anyone applying for a certificate must pass a verbal and practical test to show they can:
Section 18 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 states that the operators of public weighing equipment must hold a certificate of competence from a Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures.
Section 19 states that operators:
It also states that:
Reg 4(7) No person may carry out a ‘double weighing’ for trade purposes
Application Evaluation Process
Once your completed application is received, the City Council will send an Inspector of Weights and Measures to carry out the verbal test. Once satisfied a certificate of competence will be issued within 7 days.
If we have not contacted you to make arrangements to complete an inspection within 14 days of your application, please contact us to check that your application was correctly made and received.
The City of Newcastle upon Tyne will endeavour to issue a Certificate of Competency for a Public Weighbridge Operator within a period of 28 days, however if we have been unable to determine your application in this time a Certificate will not be automatically granted due to weights and measures and road traffic implications.
Please complete and submit an Application Form for a Public Weighbridge Operators Certificate.
Requests for application forms can be made by emailing: tradingstandards@newcastle.gov.uk or phone 0191 2116119
Public Weighbridge Operator Licence Application Form
Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a Public Weighbridge Operators Certificate by a Chief Inspector of Weights may appeal against the refusal to the Secretary of State, who may if he/she thinks fit direct the Chief Inspector to grant the Certificate.
Go to the websites of the National Measurement Office at www.nmo.bis.gov.uk
or the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) at www.ceca.co.uk
A copy of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and related legislation can be viewed at the Trading Standards Service, Room 709, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne where you may also obtain an application form and further help or advice.
For further information or clarification please contact the: Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, Trading Standards Service, Regulatory Services & Public Protection, Room 709, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8PB.
E-mail: tradingstandards@newcastle.gov.uk. Phone (0191) 2116121
Copies of the legislation mentioned on this page can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery Office or can be accessed at www.opsi.gov.uk
Please note: This information has no legal force and is not an authoritative interpretation of the law, which is a matter for the Courts. It is intended to help businesses to understand in general terms, the main features of the legislation. The information is not a substitute for the legislation and you should refer to the text of the legislation for a full statement of legal requirements and obligations. Where appropriate, you should seek your own independent legal advice.
For further information, please contact the City of Newcastle upon Tyne's Trading Standards Service on 2116121 or via E-mail at tradingstandards@newcastle.gov.uk.
Last Reviewed/Updated: July 2011