Safe guidelines to enhance secure use of Cobots at work

Cobots are advantageous at work, but they may still pose as potential risks if not used appropriately.

Cobots differ from traditional industrial robots as they are designed to collaborate directly with humans, assisting them with physically demanding or repetitive tasks. They however pose potential risks including physical injuries resulting from collisions, crushing or pinching accidents, unsafe use of end-effectors, potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities, social and ethical challenges, and increased stress on workers to adapt to new skills and routines.

This is why the development of guidelines for collaborative robots (cobot), including how they are designed and implemented, is a significant step towards ensuring the responsible and secure use of cobots in the workplace.

New guidelines were created by a joint team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Centre for Inclusive Design in partnership with the NSW Government's Centre for Work Health and Safety, addressing various concerns and gaps in current work, health, and safety practices.

Experts specializing in robotics, system engineering and human-centred design, the team behind these newly created guidelines, aimed to encompass the wide range of collaborative robots found in various industries including manufacturing, sheep-shearing, cleaning, customer service, and healthcare. They recognize that cobot workplace safety involves not only technical aspects but also social, ethical, and psychological considerations to create a safe working environment.

The guidelines for a safe collaborative robot (cobot) are based on five fundamental principles. Businesses that adhere to these principles will promote a safe and responsible environment for the use of cobots, not only in New South Wales but also in other regions and industries.