What are the best ways to keep human workers safe around robots?

1 Risk assessment

The first step to ensure robot safety is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of your robot system and its environment. A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the hazards and their consequences that may arise from the robot's operation, maintenance, or malfunction. You should consider factors such as the robot's speed, force, shape, size, power, sensors, software, and communication, as well as the human's tasks, skills, behavior, and exposure. Based on the risk assessment, you should implement appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce the risks to an acceptable level.

2 Safety standards

The second step to ensure robot safety is to follow the relevant safety standards and regulations that apply to your robot system and its industry. Safety standards are sets of rules and guidelines that specify the requirements and best practices for designing, testing, installing, and operating robots and their components. They also define the roles and responsibilities of the robot manufacturers, integrators, users, and workers. Some of the most common safety standards for robots are ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066, ANSI/RIA R15.06, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910. You should consult the appropriate authorities and experts to determine which standards apply to your robot system and how to comply with them.

3 Safety features

The third step to ensure robot safety is to equip your robot system with adequate safety features that can prevent or mitigate accidents and injuries. Safety features are devices or functions that can detect, monitor, control, or stop the robot's motion or action in case of an emergency or a fault. Some examples of safety features are emergency stop buttons, safety guards, fences, curtains, mats, interlocks, sensors, cameras, brakes, limit switches, and software algorithms. You should select and install the safety features that suit your robot system and its environment, and test and maintain them regularly.

4 Safety training

The fourth step to ensure robot safety is to provide proper safety training to your workers who are involved with the robot system. Safety training is a program that educates and instructs your workers on how to safely and effectively operate, maintain, or interact with the robot system. It also informs them of the potential hazards and risks, the safety standards and regulations, the safety features and procedures, and the emergency response and reporting. You should design and deliver the safety training according to the needs and levels of your workers, and update and refresh it as needed.

5 Safety culture

The fifth step to ensure robot safety is to foster a positive safety culture in your workplace that values and promotes the health and well-being of your workers and the robot system. Safety culture is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and behaviors that influence how your workers perceive and act on safety issues. It also reflects how your management supports and encourages safety practices and initiatives. You can enhance your safety culture by setting clear and realistic safety goals and expectations, providing adequate safety resources and incentives, involving your workers in safety decision-making and feedback, and celebrating and rewarding safety achievements.

6 Safety evaluation

The sixth step to ensure robot safety is to conduct regular safety evaluation of your robot system and its performance. Safety evaluation is a method of measuring and assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of your robot system and its safety features, standards, training, and culture. It also helps you identify and address any gaps, issues, or areas for improvement. You can use various tools and techniques for safety evaluation, such as audits, inspections, tests, surveys, interviews, observations, and data analysis. You should document and communicate the results and recommendations of your safety evaluation, and implement the necessary actions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?