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Robotics |
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| Hazard Evaluation and Solutions |
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In order to make an impact in reducing the number of
injuries and fatalities due to robotics in the workplace, more than just hazard
recognition needs to occur. It is important that once the hazards are identified
that measures of control for worker safety are put into place and followed. The
following references aid in evaluating hazards and possible solutions to controlling robotic hazards in the
workplace.
Hazard Evaluation
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About NOIRS 2000 - 206. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National
Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS), (2001,
March). Aviation, medical devices, semi-conductor and
robotics industries, along with OSHA have all adopted risk assessment
for specific applications.
Control and Prevention
- Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines.
OSHA Publication 2254, (1998), 720 KB PDF, 110
pages. Personnel who program, operate, maintain, or repair robots or robot
systems should receive adequate safety training and be able to
demonstrate competency in performing their jobs safely.
- Concepts and Techniques of Machine
Safeguarding. OSHA Publication 3067, (1992).
- Safe Maintenance Guidelines for Robotic Workstations.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 88-108, (1988, March). Contains guidelines for preventing injury from
unexpected robot motion during maintenance activities.
- Chapter 27 - Industrial Robotics Standards. National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), Intelligent Systems Division (ISD), 221 KB
PDF, 20 pages. Presents a brief description of the industrial robots
related standards activities at the national an international level, discusses
the robot performance and safety standards in greater detail, and provides a thorough list
of national and international standards and committee drafts with a brief
description of each.
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Health & Safety Manual. Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory,
Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) Division.
Robotics Benefits
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Downstate Firms Honored by OSHA For Innovative Workplace Safety And Health Practices.
OSHA Regional News Release, (2003, May 15). Highest honors, the Z Project
Award, went to Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc., Champaign, Ill. for the
introduction of robotics to assist in the handling, movement and assembly of
filter systems for employees inspecting product. This innovative hazard control
greatly decreased potential risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders, or
ergonomic related injuries.
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Easy Fixes: Solutions at the Subassembly Shop. National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Robotic Welder.
Provides an example hazard and the innovative
solution implemented to improve worker safety.
The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT)
Research Center
has developed several prototypes which increase safety
by keeping highway workers from being exposed to potential dangers,
such as unstable snow and soil banks, hazardous toxic spills,
traffic hazards, and worker exertion and fatigue.
Case Studies
- Lockout-Tagout Interactive Training
Program. OSHA. Includes selected references for training and interactive
case studies.
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Mold Setter’s Head Struck By a Cycling Single-side Gantry Robot. National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Michigan Fatality
Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 01MI002, (2001). A 29-year old
male died from injuries sustained when he was struck on the head by a cycling
single-side gantry robot.
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Machine Operator Crushed By Robotic Platform. National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Nebraska Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report
99NE017, (1999). A 23-year-old carousel operator at a meat packing
plant was killed when his foot tripped a light sensor causing a
computer controlled robotic platform to come down from above,
crushing his skull.
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Fatal Accident Summary Report: Die Cast Operator Pinned by Robot. National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) In-house Fatality
Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 8420, (1984). The evaluation of this fatal incident allows
general recommendations to be made which are applicable to all
establishments and workers who use or anticipate using robots.
These recommendations pertain to three categories: ergonomic design,
training, and supervision.
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