Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the National Safety Council’s release of a new report from its Work to Zero initiative that examines the potential for robotics and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to enhance workplace safety, and offers some guidance on adoption.
Key highlights included a look at the key benefits and applications of the five most common types of configurations available to employers – Autonomous Mobile Robots or AMRs, Automated Guided Vehicles or AGVs, Articulated Robots, Humanoid Robots and Cobots. The report also identified several other examples beyond manufacturing where robots can create safer outcomes for workers, including inspecting confined spaces and industrial facilities; transporting parts, goods and materials; performing precision cutting and welding; safely handling toxic, high-temperature or explosive materials; and machine tending and parts repositioning. Work to Zero also found robotic technology can help employers mitigate the risk of workplace musculoskeletal disorders, prevent falls from heights and reduce worker muscle fatigue.