Analysis methods for new work cell standards. Risk analysis and risk reduction help in dealing with the revised Robot...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Risk Management
• Industrial Engineering

Background:

• The iterative process of risk reduction in industrial settings aims to minimize hazards.
• Residual risk, also termed tolerable risk, represents the unavoidable level of risk that must be accepted.
• Existing safety measures are often disregarded during initial risk analysis to fully assess potential hazards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of residual risk after implementing safety controls.
• To understand the balance between machine safety costs and economic competitiveness.
• To provide guidance on acceptable risk levels in industrial environments, particularly concerning OSHA regulations.

Main Methods:

• Risk analysis methodology that temporarily removes existing safeguards to quantify residual risk.
• Evaluation of safety measures including training, signage, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Consideration of the economic implications of safety implementations versus competitive pressures.

Main Results:

• Residual risk is the outcome of the final risk reduction loop, necessitating ongoing management.
• Tolerable risk is managed through administrative controls (training, signage) and engineering controls (PPE, guarding).
• The principle of guarding machine processes whenever feasible is emphasized as a primary safety strategy.

Conclusions:

• Residual risk is an inherent aspect of industrial operations that requires continuous management.
• A proactive approach to machine guarding is crucial, aligning with regulatory expectations (e.g., OSHA).
• Failure to adequately address residual risk, particularly through guarding, may lead to litigation.