Measuring weight using beam balance

scale

EHES Training Material

Exclusion criteria

Weight is not measured if participant• is immobile or in a wheelchair • has severe difficulties standing steady• is heavier than the upper limit of the scale• refuses

Equipment

• Beam balance scale• Calibration weights• Carpenter’s level

Clothing during weight measurement

• Ask the participant to undress to his/her underwear

• If the participant refuses or feels uncomfortable to undress, ask him/her • to take off shoes, heavy garments such as

jacket, pullover, belts, heavy jewellery, and • to empty pockets

Posture• Ask the participant to

stand still• in the centre of the

platform • arms hanging loosely at

sides• weight distributed

evenly on both feet

Weight measurement• Move the weights until

the beam balances properly

Recording

• Record weight to the resolution of the scale• Record extra clothing, if more than underwear• If the participant is pregnant, ask and record

pregnancy weeks and the weight before pregnancy separately from the measured weight

• If weight is not measured, record the reason• Record the number of the measurement device

used

Acknowledgements• Slides

• Johanna Mäki-Opas, Hanna Tolonen, Päivikki Koponen• Photographs

• Hanna Tolonen• Measurement demonstration

• Liisa Saarikoski, Katri Kilpeläinen, Ulla Leskinen, Shadia Rask, Ari Haukijärvi