§ 800.185 Duties of official personnel and warehouse samplers.

(a) General. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall, when performing official services or duties under the Act, comply with the Act, the regulations, and the instructions. (b) Inspection and weighing services. Official personnel shall perform requested official inspection and Class X and Class Y weighing services (1) without discrimination, (2) as soon as practicable, and (3) in accordance with methods and procedures prescribed in the instructions. (c) Sealing carriers or containers. Upon request, or in accordance with the instructions, official personnel shall (1) when feasible, affix security seals to doors, hatch covers, and similar openings on carriers or containers that contain grain that has been officially inspected or Class X or Class Y weighed under the Act and (2) show seal records on certificates and other official forms in accordance with the provisions of § 800.161. (d) Scope of operations. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall operate only within the scope of their license or authorization and except as otherwise provided in § 800.117, operate only within the area of responsibility assigned to the official agency, field office, or contractor which employs them. Official personnel and warehouse samplers may perform official inspection or weighing services in a different area of responsibility with the specific consent of the Service. (e) Working materials. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall be responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of the applicable provisions of the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the instructions, and all amendments and revisions thereto. (f) Observation of services. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall permit any person (or the person's agent) who has a financial interest in grain that is being inspected or weighed under the Act, or in equipment that is being tested under the Act, to observe the performance of any or all official inspection, or Class X or Class Y weighing. Appropriate areas in the elevator may be specified by the Service in conjunction with the elevator management for observing each service. The areas shall be safe, shall afford a clear and unobstructed view of the performance of the services, but shall not permit a close over-the-shoulder type of observation by the interested person or the person's agent. (g) Reporting violations. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall in accordance with the instructions promptly report (1) information which shows or tends to show a violation of any provision of the Act, the regulations, or the instructions, and (2) information on any instructions which have been issued to them by any official personnel or other persons which are contrary to the Act, the regulations, or the instructions. (h) Related duties. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall, when practicable, assist in training other employees who desire to become licensed. (i) Instructions by Service. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall carry out all written instructions or oral directives issued to them by the Service and, upon request, inform the Service regarding inspection, weighing, or equipment testing services performed by them. Oral directives from the Service not found in written instructions shall be confirmed in writing, upon request.