Protocol for Assessing Human Robot Interaction Safety Risks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gambatese, John ; Nnaji, Chukwuma ; Okpala, Ifeanyi
• Corporate Authors:
  University of Alabama ; Oregon State University ; CPWR--The Center for Construction Research and Training ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  "Robotics and automation (RA)-such as exoskeletons, drones, and single-task construction robots (STCRs) -offer new possibilities to combat challenges facing the construction trades, including unsafe and dangerous working conditions. Despite RA's potential positive impacts, human-robot interaction (HRI) can introduce new hazards on the job site and elevate the potential impact of existing hazards. While some studies have assessed the effectiveness of RA technologies, none have evaluated the safety risks associated with implementing RA in the construction industry. There is also no HRI safety risk assessment protocol to assist practitioners conducting pre-task planning that involves RA. This study developed a practical process and tools for practitioners to identify and quantify HRI safety risks when using RA in construction operations. Both the process and the tools could help reduce RA safety risks, increase the RA adoption, and improve construction safety performance. Key Findings The main products of this study are: A practical process for assessing and controlling HRI safety risk. The evaluation process comprises: Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on the use of wearable robots (exoskeletons), remote-operated robots (e.g., drones and unmanned ground vehicles [UGVs]), and onsite automated robots (e.g., bricklaying robots). Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) protocols for three tasks: drywall installation, bricklaying, and concrete grinding and polishing. A practical assessment manual containing: Descriptions of available robotics and automation (RA) technologies
  
  Applications of RA technologies
  
  Factors that influence the use of RA technologies
  
  Current standards and procedures for RA. The key findings of this study are: Identification of 40 hazards associated with the use of RA for construction operations. Classification of RA-related hazards into seven groups: Human
  
  Control
  
  Unauthorized Access or Operational Situation Awareness
  
  Mechanical Concerns
  
  Environmental Sources
  
  Power Systems
  
  and Improper Installation. Development of safety risk ratings for critical hazards in three categories of RA technologies (wearable robots, remote operated robots, and onsite automated robots) when used for three construction tasks (bricklaying, concrete grinding and polishing, and drywall installation). Identification of 22 preventive strategies for mitigating HRI safety risks during construction." - NIOSHTIC-2
  
  NIOSHTIC no. 20067603
  
  CPWR is the research and training arm of NABTU. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.
  
  SS2021-Human-Robot-Interaction-Risks.pdf
  
  
• Subjects:
  Ergonomics Occupational Health Safety
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Genre:
  Pamphlet (or booklet)
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  78 numbered pages in various paginations
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067603
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:48d1c20d65f46abf0d4424708b6d0c3a333ec9ccaf41becdedf41ebe1d07c99c3c319aa413bc5a2becf61df975d8b6d522bb898ebdf4f66734a1bf7071dca448
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/145622/cdc_145622_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.97 MB ]