A robot safety assessment examines the complete application: the robot, end effector, workpiece, fixtures, process, people, operating modes, and foreseeable tasks. It is not a checklist applied to the robot model alone.
Robot cells and integrated applications
The review can cover robot reach and motion, tooling and payloads, part loading, setup, teaching, recovery, maintenance, adjacent equipment, and material flow. Particular attention goes to access points, foreseeable entry, manual intervention, and changes between automatic and reduced-speed or manual modes.
risk assessment
Hazard identification and risk estimation
Identify hazardous situations across production and non-production tasks. Consider severity, exposure, and the possibility of avoiding harm using the method required by the governing standard and project. Record assumptions and the basis for conclusions so the assessment can be reviewed.
Safeguarding strategy
Develop a practical set of protective measures. Depending on the risk assessment, this can include physical guarding, interlocked access, presence sensing, safe speed or position functions, enabling devices, hold-to-run controls, and safe procedures. E-stops are supplementary emergency measures and do not replace safeguards.
Integration and validation
Review the design against the intended safety requirements. Support factory and site acceptance, check safety-related control functions, and document verification and validation evidence for the installed configuration. Any unresolved item is recorded with its owner and disposition.
Deliverables
Scope note. Each engagement is bounded by the agreed scope, supplied information, applicable requirements, and the configuration examined. Recommendations and records should be reviewed against the final machine and operating conditions.