Workplace robotics safety

Hazard controls include physical barriers, good work practices, and proper maintenance.

[citation needed] On October 5, 2017, OSHA, NIOSH and RIA signed an alliance to work together to enhance technical expertise, identify and help address potential workplace hazards associated with traditional industrial robots and the emerging technology of human-robot collaboration installations and systems, and help identify needed research to reduce workplace hazards.

So far, the research needs identified by NIOSH and its partners include: tracking and preventing injuries and fatalities, intervention and dissemination strategies to promote safe machine control and maintenance procedures, and on translating effective evidence-based interventions into workplace practice.

Additionally, if a worker is standing in a zone that is overlapping with nearby robotic arms, he or she may get injured by other moving equipment.

Human errors could be anything from one line of incorrect code to a loose bolt on a robotic arm.

Unauthorized access hazards occur when a person who is not familiar with the area enters the domain of a robot.

Environmental sources are things such as electromagnetic or radio interference in the environment that can cause a robot to malfunction.

Improper installation is fairly self-explanatory; a loose bolt or an exposed wire can lead to inherent hazards.

Possible hazard controls include collision avoidance systems, and making the robot less stiff to lessen the impact force.

Risk assessments can help gather information about a robot's status, how well it is being maintained, and if repairs are needed soon.

These can include engineering controls such as physical barriers, guard rails, presence-sensing safeguarding devices, etc.

Maintaining a robot insures that it continues to function properly, thereby reducing the risks associated with a malfunction.

These barriers, often made from durable materials such as mesh or polycarbonate, prevent accidental interactions between workers and robotic systems, reducing the risk of injury.