Abstract

This report presents an overview of the potential problems associated with the introduction of robots, and of appropriate preventive and protective measures.

A review of the most relevant literature and of available statistics reveals the following five types of hazards: collision between robots and workers; projection of material or of molten metal; nicks; unscheduled returns to manual mode; and miscellaneous hazards, including burns. The majority of accidents occur during real-time adjustments or during repair operations. The health effects, particularly on mental workload, are unknown. There exists a vast repertoire of preventive measures, including locking-out devices for the operating zone of the robot, emergency interrupt switches, and remote programming.