When we think of robots in the workplace, we often picture them in auto manufacturing plants or large industrial warehouses. We usually don’t think of them in hospitals, offices, food service, or airports. But, they are everywhere. Whether we like it or not, robots, large and small, are part of our businesses and part of our world.
When robots were first created, they were large and expensive. Today, robots come in all shapes and sizes and are much more affordable than ever before. But, with technology on the rise and more companies turning to robots for certain tasks, are people more at risk of injury?
Advocates for robots in the workforce claim that robots can assist with dull, dangerous, and dirty tasks and offer a company increased productivity and worker safety. Robots are becoming increasingly more popular in the medical field. They can assist in neurological, orthopedic, and general surgery. Advocates believe robots can reduce complications during surgeries and help patients return to their work and daily activities quicker. Some sceptics disagree. They believe a large majority of robot-related injuries are the result of errors in programming, installation, maintenance, or repair.
“The Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website warns of potential dangers involved in advanced robotic systems in the workplace. Just this year, OSHA cited a Maine textile manufacturer for exposing workers to carpet trimming robots, which were able to extend their arms beyond a safe perimeter, potentially striking the robots operators or nearby employees.” – www.carriermanagement.com
How will robots affect claims?
With more robots in the workforce, new types of claims may emerge. Depending on the incident, a claim could go a number of ways. For example, if an employee files a workers compensation claim for injuries caused by a robot, it might be treated the same as an injury caused by any tool found in the workplace. Or, in certain situations, an injury from a robot could equate to an injury caused by a co-worker. In this case, if the injury was the result of a robot’s design, a product liability claim could be filed in addition to a workers comp claim.
One thing that’s pretty certain, robots aren’t going anywhere and lawsuits will increase. Whether it’s a third-party civil suit against robot designers or installers, loss of jobs due to increased robots in a certain industry, anti-discrimination issues, or trade secret and privacy issues, it’s critical to have laws in place to ensure everyone understands their individual rights in all types of situations.
If you work in an industry that utilizes any type of robotics or are concerned about claims and injuries due to robots, contact one of our workers compensation attorneys in Sacramento at Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation. We are current on all the latest worker’s compensation laws and regulations and can help you better understand robots in the workplace.
