Die cast operator pinned by robot.
Source
NIOSH 1984 Sep; :1-7
Abstract
The case of a die cast operator who died after being pinned against a pole by a hydraulic robot on July 21, 1984 was examined. The victim was a 34 year old die cast operator with 15 years of experience. The victim apparently entered the working area of an automated die cast system in which a Unimate Robot was being utilized. A safety rail with an interlock gate was in place around the working area of the robot; however, openings were present. The victim was an experienced operator who had been trained against this type of activity; however, coworkers reported having seen the victim enter the robot area on other occasions. The victim was discovered by a coworker pinned between the right rear of the robot and a safety pole. The victim died 5 days later in the hospital. No physical signs of crushing injury were present and x-rays of internal organs and bones were negative. It was concluded that the behavior of the victim may have been the major contributing factor to this accident and recommendations were made on improving ergonomic design and safety systems, specific safety training procedures, and proper supervision.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; FACE-84-020; Accident-analysis; Toolmaking; Robotics; Work-practices; Automation
Document Type
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB94-151487
Identifying No.
FACE-84-20
Source Name
Division of Safety Research, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Morgantown, West Virginia, Report No. FACE-84-020, 7 pages
