Robot Killed Worker At Volkswagen Plant In Germany

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Our thoughts are with the family of this contractor.

A contractor was setting up a stationary robot when it grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate at the plant in Baunatal. The injuries from this accident later caused the contractor’s death.

After the first-round investigation, the initial conclusion indicated that human error was to blame, rather than a problem with the robot, which is programmed to perform various tasks in the assembly process. Normally, these robots operate within a confined area at the plant, grabbing auto parts and manipulating them.

Volkswagen representative told that the robot “was not one of the new generation of lightweight collaborative robots that work side-by-side with workers on the production line and forgo safety cages.”

German news agency DPA reported that prosecutors were considering whether to bring charges, and if so, against whom.

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