Robots in the workplace

In popular fiction, robots have long labored alongside humans, sometimes harmoniously and sometimes disastrously (depending on the requirements of the plot).

In reality, industrial robots have been in American workplaces for decades. The Robotic Industries Association estimates that in 2017 more than 250,000 such robots had been installed in the United States. These machines bear little resemblance to their science-fiction counterparts, usually taking the form of powerful, heavyweight automated arms that perform tasks such as welding, painting or assembly within the confines of a cage or other enclosure.

Recently, however, technological advances have begun to allow for greater diversity of robotic systems in the workplace.

“Now, in addition to traditional industrial robots, we have professional service robots, collaborative robots who work side by side with workers, and mobile autonomous robots in a wide range of industries and enterprises,” said Vladimir Murashov, senior scientist in the Office of the Director at NIOSH and a member of NIOSH’s newly formed Center for Occupational Robotics Research.

As these next-generation robots open new possibilities, their increasing interactivity and mobility may complicate the task of ensuring the safety of their human co-workers.

New roles for robots

Industrial robots typically have been used for tasks considered undesirable for human workers – what RIA Vice President Bob Doyle described as “the three Ds: dull, dirty and dangerous jobs.”

In this capacity, automated systems offer considerable safety benefits to human workers. “Robots can help prevent injuries or adverse health effects resulting from working in hazardous conditions,” Murashov said. “Some examples are musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive or awkward motions, or traumatic injuries (for example, in poultry processing, where cuts are common). They can also prevent multiple hazards in emergency response situations such as chemical spills.”

Besides keeping workers out of harm’s way, robots also can minimize risks stemming from human error. “If a job is repetitive and boring, human workers tend to make a mistake, whereas robots can do these things the same way time after time,” said Frank Hearl, NIOSH’s chief of staff and a member of CORR.

Next-generation robots still perform these types of tasks, but their ability to work in close proximity with humans creates the potential for a wider range of applications. Interactions between humans and collaborative robots can involve handing off parts and materials, or the worker “teaching” the robot by guiding it through a desired motion, which the robot then repeats.

Employers are just beginning to explore the possibilities for strategic human-robot partnerships. “Collaborative robot systems allow for partially automated tasks where the robot and human can both use their own strengths to the best effect,” said Carole Franklin, RIA’s director of standards development. “You have the strength, precision, endurance and repeatability of the robot, and you also benefit from the flexibility and sensitivity of human touch, as well as human problem-solving and creativity.”

To illustrate this concept, Murashov used the example of a car manufacturing facility where humans and robots work together to insulate and water-seal vehicle doors. “In that case, the robot spreads out and glues down material while the worker holds it in place with more agile human fingers,” he said.

In some instances, collaborative robots are filling jobs left vacant by human workers. This is the case for Dynamic Group, a Ramsey, MN-based plastic injection molds and molding company that uses five robots – two traditional industrial robots and three considered collaborative.

“We have some jobs that just aren’t very fulfilling or attractive,” CEO and Co-Owner Joe McGillivray said. “They’re repetitive, boring – things no one really wants to do, no matter how much you’d be willing to pay them.”

Dynamic Group’s robots perform tasks such as tending machines and handling parts, picking them up and setting them in front of human workers. McGillivray is pleased with the ease of programming and deploying the robots, and he expects the company to increase its use of collaborative robots.

Read more at SafetyandHealthMagazine.com