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Making Automation Safer Than Ever
Imagine an influx of new orders that means production has to kick in to high gear. The demands on your people and the automated systems have never been greater. With so much at stake and your people working closely with sophisticated equipment, safety is key.
Companies want increased efficiency but not increased liability. Automation replaces the dangerous and dirty jobs that are the greatest cause of workplace accidents. Automated systems are proven safe, including today's 1.5 million industrial robots operating around the globe.
Let's read how automation safety is built in to equipment design and implementation.
DESIGN
Manufacturers adhere to the latest safety standards with components like sensors and the use of laser lights. A person who wanders near a machine that affixes thousands of labels per minute on bottles may notice it stop thanks to this type of technology. A service robot moving on a factory floor and the Roomba vacuum in a house can know to maneuver around people or objects.
Manufacturers have to make smart choices during the design phase. Machine safety software and pre-engineered design documents come from companies like Rockwell Automation to guide equipment makers.
EMBEDDED SOFTWARE
A company needing spot welding applications will have a different interface than a packaging company needing help with a palletizing system. A similar platform exists but software drives equipment so it's able to carry out industry-specific tasks. Think of how people use different software applications on a personal computer to write, crunch numbers in a spreadsheet or design websites. They use the same digital platform but use software that's specific to their tasks.
Safety features are programmed and determine how quickly a robot can gear up, stop or change direction. Safety-rated software is used to control the robot motion and, as noted in the article New Robot Safety Standard, the benefit to users is that operating in a tight space is possible.
Other available software features include an enhanced Functional Safety Unit (FSU) for various monitoring needs and speed limiting. The programmable features that are needed depend on the customer goals and this requires a risk assessment.
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RISK ASSESSMENT
A robotic arm that fits on a tabletop won't need the same risk assessment as a series of fixed automated work cells. It's still necessary to determine the performance level and risk to the person operating the machine.
Reducing the potential for harm to people is done by using safe parts, safeguards around the equipment, or removing the individual from the process completely. An assessment that delves into the use of safety rated devices and the interaction between these devices achieves a desired performance level.
This allows for "creativity" according to Pat Davison, Director of Standards Development at Robotic Industries Association, who is quoted in the article The Shrinking Footprint of Robot Safety and says users don't have to follow "a prescriptive standard that essentially says put a cage around everything.”
PEOPLE AND ROBOTS
Employees are working more closely than ever with industrial robots. Safety features on the outside enhance the technical work done on the inside. The YuMi robot made by ABB has soft, padded arms and a built-in force sensing technology.
Sometimes there are reasons to keep people away from robots because of issues like weld fumes and arc flashes. People can have unpredictable behaviors and a cage or fence may be required to reduce the potential for either intentional or unintentional accidents.
TRAINING
Quality manufacturers and automation integrators will train employees to create a safe and productive environment. Affordable safety training is also available through the Robotic Industries Association as featured on the website's Safety page.
When you work with equipment that is designed for as safe an operation as possible and your employees are properly trained then you can handle an influx of orders. This leads to confidence that you can service your share of the market and be positioned for future growth.
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