ANN ARBOR The National Robot Safety Conference this October has expanded its topics to include safety training for robotics, designed for anyone new to robotics. The conference also offers workshops as well as a Conference trade fair with displays from leading suppliers.
In 1974, when RIA was founded, robot technology was just gaining a foothold on the factory floor, and now robots and machine tools can be found side-by-side all over the world, said Donald A. Vincent, Executive Vice President. Thats why the National Robot Safety Conference addresses the combined safety issues (of robots and machine tools) that today affect so many workers.
Among the most popular pre-conference workshops is: Introduction to Robot Safety. It is held October 18 and is designed for anyone new to robots. Or attendees can choose the machine tool workshop: Introduction to B11 Machine Tool Safety Standards (running concurrently). Additional workshops are offered that day with in-depth training on the robot safety standard and on the B11 series of machine guarding standards.
There is no other Conference dedicated to robot safety where you can hear lessons learned in the real world by trained professionals that have installed and used robots and machine tools, and who in some cases helped write these ANSI standards, said Vincent. The speakers range from actual users to government officials to members of the ANSI standards committees for robots and for machine tools.
Among the speakers is industry veteran Roberta Nelson Shea, Chair of the ANSI/RIA Robot Safety Standard Committee, and member of the committee since its inception in 1983. She helps launch the two-day Conference, October 19-20, with a review of practical applications and lessons learned from applying the robot safety standard to real world situations. Other speakers include representatives from OSHA, the UAW, Toyota, the Association for Manufacturing Technology.
Post conference activities include in-depth workshops on the robot and machine tool ANSI standards, risk assessment training, and an opportunity to take the Ford Rouge Plant tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.
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