Drilling into concrete can be dusty, loud, and physically exhausting. It also can expose workers to silica dust from sand and rock, which can damage the lungs if inhaled. Drilling also exposes workers to hand vibration and noise at levels well above recommended limits. Now, two NIOSH-funded studies through CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training and the University of California at Berkeley have identified ways to reduce these hazards.
Rockford Systems has highlighted five machine safeguarding trends that will be strategic for fabricators and manufacturers in 2018. Each has the potential to significantly impact or even disrupt entrenched processes, and may poise the need for investment by manufacturers that face the risk of not being in compliance with newer OSHA/ANSI codes, or being too late to adopt productivity-enhancing equipment.
It’s not science fiction: robots are invading our world in a big way. That invasion, fueled by dramatic advancements in technology that make the devices more sophisticated than ever, is resulting in their increased use in workplaces, among other spheres. With this in mind, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a virtual Center for Occupational Robotics Research that will specifically address the safety and health implications for worker-robot interactions.
Skyrocketing demand for automation has dramatically increased the number of robots deployed by industry to over 1.5 million. Meanwhile, collaborative robots or "co-bots" are making their way into new work environments, such as light manufacturing, fulfillment centers, and agriculture.
As industrial robots continue to become more advanced, more capable and more popular, the need for comprehensive robot safety standards increases. Robots can be dangerous to operate – especially when safety protocols aren’t followed.
Is there an algorithm to predict the likelihood of an individual sustaining an injury? More than one. Types of software are on the market that can predict specifically who is at greatest risk.
Americans express more worry than enthusiasm about coming developments in automation – from driverless vehicles to a world in which machines perform many jobs currently done by humans.
I drove 109 miles criss-crossing the greater Philadelphia region this summer accompanying an ISHN sales rep on customer calls. It's always good for editors to climb down from their ivory towers and encounter the real world.
Unlike conventional machinery, robots lack the intelligence of a human operator. In the event of a programming error or hardware malfunction robots have the potential to unexpectedly move large distances at a high rate of speed, posing a serious danger to operators or maintenance personnel.
Rockford Systems, LLC., a premier provider of machine safeguarding products and services, is pleased to announce that it has become a Supplier Member of the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), underscoring the increasing role machine guarding plays in protecting operators of robotic welding, assembly, CNC and metal cutting equipment.
