Using robotics as an occupational health and safety control strategy

Considers the use of robotics in the workplace as a means of protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances, environments and physical agents. Gives examples of robots being used to handle radioactive material and working in the high dust exposure atmosphere of a plastics factory. Emphasizes the need to use a systematic approach to obtain the maximum health and safety benefit from automation of work, and outlines the areas to be considered. Describes the role of the British Robotics Association in realizing the potential benefits to occupational health from the application of robotic workstations and looks at areas of industry where this might be implemented. Concludes that using robotics to bring about health and safety benefits as well as production efficiency and quality improvement is a wide and new area for industry to develop.