Washington — The majority of robot-related worker fatalities contain self-powered robots present process upkeep, outcomes of a current research present.
NIOSH researcher Larry Layne examined 1992-2017 information from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, figuring out 41 robot-related deaths. In all, 78% of the instances concerned a robotic hanging a worker, usually whereas it was present process upkeep. Stationary robots accounted for 83% of the incidents.
Other findings:
- 46% of the robot-related worker fatalities occurred within the Midwest, which NIOSH attributes to “the use of robots in motor vehicle manufacturing in Michigan and Ohio.”
- Men accounted for 85% of the fatalities.
- 29% of the victims had been between 35 and 44 years previous.
Further integration of robotic applied sciences within the office could introduce new hazards that problem public well being professionals “to keep pace with developments in robotics to ensure the safety and health of workers across the country,” the research states.
“This study highlights the growing challenges of protecting workers who perform tasks with the aid of robots,” NIOSH says. “As robotic technology develops, identifying patterns of death, such as those found in this study, will be a critical part of developing safeguards, including safety standards, to protect workers.”
The research was revealed on-line within the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.