Robot attacked Swedish factory worker
Published: 28 Apr 09 10:12 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19120/20090428/
A Swedish company has been fined 25,000 kronor ($3,000) after a malfunctioning robot attacked and almost killed one of its workers at a factory north of Stockholm.
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"I've never heard of a robot attacking somebody like this," he told news agency TT.
The incident took place in June 2007 at a factory in Bålsta, north of Stockholm, when the industrial worker was trying to carry out maintenance on a defective machine generally used to lift heavy rocks. Thinking he had cut off the power supply, the man approached the robot with no sense of trepidation.
But the robot suddenly came to life and grabbed a tight hold of the victim's head. The man succeeded in defending himself but not before suffering serious injuries.
"The man was very lucky. He broke four ribs and came close to losing his life," said Leif Johansson.
The matter was subject to an investigation by both the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) and the police.
Prosecutor Johansson chastised the company for its inadequate safety procedures but he also placed part of the blame on the injured worker.
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I think Sweden should pay more attention to their skynet program and immediately call Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I love it when morons like this guy blame the robot or the company they are working for because they dont know how to lock and tag out a piece of machinery.
Darwin at work yet again...but didnt get to follow through.
Hey!
Get out of their way
Hey!
Of get way their out
They're gonna want a union soon
Oil break that's dead on noon
Hey!
Their way out of get
You won't have to grease their palms
Shorter hours longer arms
Rise just watch them rise
The rise of the robots
Versatran Series F!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfnUsk-izRI...01&index=10
So I'm not surprised that the firm got into some trouble too. Although I suspect as far as "blaming" the robot goes, it's more that "Robot attacks man!!!!11" is just a great story.
That's what the robot was *saying* when attacking this guy, wasn't it?
The robot didn't locate the man to attack him, it was programmed to work in a certain way so when man came within its range, it reacted.
http://www.darwinawards.com/
It is unfortunate the idiot did not fulfil the full criteria for an award.
Could make a fantastic Mother in Law, Christmas present,...
Can always tell her its the latest hi-tec vacuum cleaner,....guaranteed to pick eveything up!...
We had two things: first, we had a safety light. If the power to the motor drive was ON, so was the light, and it was a big, offensive one, that you were NOT going to miss noticing if you were in the workcell.
Second, we had a "no exceptions" two-man rule. NOBODY was allowed to work alone in that cell. There ALWAYS had to be a second man present, if only to kill the power and call for help if something went wrong.
Every robotic work cell I have ever seen included safety lights. Most included safety barriers, keeping people OUT, and safety cutoff switches on the barriers, to kill the power if someone came into the cell.
I don't have all the facts, but it sounds as though someone at this company, probably a lot higher up the food chain than this poor guy, was being really careless with safety.
But no, you just assume the worker was an idiot and the company was blameless. Sheesh - it's a short article. Next time consider there may be more to the story.