OSHA and the Robotic Industries Association Form Alliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has formed a new alliance with the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) to educate employers and workers on the safety hazards posed by robots in the workplace.

Countless businesses use robots to facilitate their day-to-day operations. Manufacturing companies, for instance, use them to assemble and produce products. Automakers also use robots for this very purpose. Even outside of these industries, robots are used to lift, handle and manipulate heavy objects. This isn't a trend that's expected to fade anytime soon, either. On the contrary, analysts predict that more and more companies will invest in robotic technology in the years to come.

With the increased use of robots in the workplace, however, comes new safety risks for workers. Hundreds of U.S. workers are seriously injured each year due to robots. Most of these injuries, although, are preventable -- and that's what OSHA and the RIA is hoping to accomplish.

"More than 1.5 million industrial robots are operating in factories worldwide, and another 1 million are expected to be installed by 2019,” said OSHA's Loren Sweatt. “As robotic applications continue to expand, recognizing the safety and health needs of workers who operate and service these systems is vital.” The RIA further explains that the United States is the world's fourth-largest market for robots in the industrial sector. As a result, there's a growing need to strengthen safety and regulations regarding its use.

RIA President Jeff Burnstein also explained that RIA has a long history of keeping workers safe around industrial robotic systems. The RIA developed the first national safety standard for robotic system, R15.06, more than three decades ago. Since then, it has been working around the clock to identify safety hazards associated with robotics and improve its standards.

So, how does OSHA and the RIA plan to protect workers from robot-related injury? The alliance formed by these two organizations will develop educational resources and tools on robotics safety. Among other things, they'll provide free training and educational resources to help workers and employers alike understand the risks associated with robotic systems.

Hopefully, the OSHA and RIA alliance will reduce fatalities and injuries attributed to robotic systems in the workplace. Of course, employers have a responsibility to take advantage of the educational resources being offered by the two organizations; otherwise, it's not going to prove useful in protecting workers.

You can learn more about robotic systems safety by visiting the NIOSH website here.