Robot arm crushes worker to death in Chon Buri (video)

[webfact]

Photo courtesy of Viral Press via Daily Mail

In a heart-wrenching incident at the Vandapac factory in Chon Buri province on Wednesday, a routine day turned fatal when a robotic arm struck a worker, crushing him to death.

 

The unsuspecting worker was going about his duties, laying out sheets of material, when tragedy struck most unexpectedly.

Unsettling CCTV footage reveals the horrifying sequence of events, as the massive metal arm swung down, pinning the worker against a bench, while his colleague continued working, oblivious to the unfolding disaster behind him.

 

Emergency responders raced against time, but their efforts were in vain as the victim succumbed to major trauma upon arrival at Chon Buri Hospital.

 

Factory authorities shifted blame, citing the worker’s misjudgement, but questions loom over the safety protocols and accountability in such operations. They suggested he was aware of the robot arm’s capabilities and mistakenly manoeuvered beneath it, refusing to take responsibility for the incident.

 

Revealing minimal details, a manager stated to local media:

 

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

 

Vandapac, a longstanding manufacturer specialising in plastic products for various industries, has operations spanning decades and employs over 1,800 individuals across its facilities in Samut Prakan province and the Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate.

 

The shocking incident comes just months after another robot killed a worker in South Korea because it failed to differentiate him from a box of vegetables.

 

That victim, a robotics company worker in his forties, was checking the machine’s sensor at a distribution centre for agricultural produce in South Gyeongsang during a routine inspection in November.

 

But the machine, which was lifting boxes of peppers onto a pallet, grabbed the man with its arm and pushed him against the conveyor belt, crushing his face and chest.

 

The robot malfunctioned and identified the man as a box, police sources said, reported UK Daily Mail.

 

The victim was transferred to the hospital but died later, according to the South Korean Yonhap news agency.

 

Police subsequently launched an investigation into the site’s safety managers for possible negligence in duties. An official from the Donggoseong Export Agricultural Complex, which owns the plant, called for a precise and safe system to be established in a statement after the incident.

 

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Viral Press via Daily Mail

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

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[worgeordie]

It's starting ..they will take over the World and kill us all ....🙄

 

". The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

that must be in their contract , difficult to do if they are dead .

 

regards Worgeordie

[Ben Zioner]

Cancel the robot's visa and deport it.

 

R.I.P.

Edited March 29 by Ben Zioner

[Ben Zioner]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

Uneffingbelievable!

[Rampant Rabbit]

farang robot

[quake]

What a nasty industrial accident.

R.I.P.

[Emdog]

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

Lock him up. If employee dies because of lack of training, safety mechanisms, that is on the employer 100%. Or should be, but probably not in Thailand

[MrPancake]

Employer ---> jail

Victim's family ---> money

Edited March 29 by MrPancake

[ChaiyaTH]

I wouldn't want to even walk near a self-operating machine like that, in a narrow corner, like the employee was doing. Just because all these machines make me think of the terminator.

[freeworld]

For ref but don't know if Thailand has similar safety recommendations.

https://www.osha.gov/robotics

Recommendations By NIOSH when working around Robots.

To minimize the risk of such incidents, NIOSH offers the following recommendations regarding the design of robotic systems, the training of workers, and their supervision.

A. The Design of Robotic System

Regarding both existing robotic equipment and new designs, NIOSH recommends that the robotic system:

1. Include physical barriers that incorporate gates equipped with electrical interlocks so that operation of the robot stops when the gate is opened.
2. Include, as a backup to electrical interlocks, motion sensors, light curtains, or floor sensors that stop the robot whenever a worker crosses the barrier.
3. Provide barriers, as may be appropriate, between robotic equipment and any freestanding objects such as posts limiting robot arm movement so that workers cannot get between any part of the robot and the “pinch points.”
4. Provide adequate clearance distances around all moving components of the robotic system. It is of particular importance that this be considered in plans for replacing a human worker with a robot; a robot often requires more operational space than does a human worker doing the same task.
5. Include remote “diagnostic” instrumentation as much as possible so that the maximum amount of troubleshooting of the system can be done from areas outside the operating range of the robot. Whenever it is necessary for a worker to be within the operating range of a robot, additional special provisions for safety should be taken, including, at a minimum, the presence of another worker who can turn off the robot should an emergency develop (buddy system).
6. Provide adequate illumination in the control and operational areas of the robotic system so that written instructions, as well as buttons, levers, etc., are clearly visible.
7. Include on floors or working surfaces clearly visible marks that indicate the zones of movement of the robot.

B. Training of Workers

Training specific to the particular robot in question should be provided to workers who will be programming, operating, or maintaining robots. Moreover, refresher courses which re-emphasize safety and discuss new technological developments should be provided for experienced programmers, operators, and maintenance workers. This training should emphasize safe work practices and stress that:

1. Workers must be familiar with all working aspects of the robot, including full range of motion, known hazards, how the robot is programmed, emergency stop buttons, and safety barriers, before operating or performing maintenance work at robotic work stations.
2. Operators should never be in reach of the robot while it is operating.
3. Programmers, operators, and maintenance workers should operate robots at reduced speeds consistent with adequate worker response to avoid hazards during programming and be aware of all conceivable pinch points, such as poles, walls, and other equipment, in the robots’ operational area.

C. Supervision of Workers

Supervisors should:

1. Assure that no one is allowed to enter the operational area of a robot without first putting the robot on “hold,” in a “power down” condition, or at a reduced operating speed mode.
2. Recognize that with the passage of time, experienced workers doing automated tasks may become complacent, overconfident, or unattentive to the hazards inherent in complex automated equipment. Close supervision of such operations is imperative to assure safety.

We are requesting that company managers, editors of appropriate trade journals, robot equipment designers, and safety and health inspectors institute these recommendations and bring them to the attention of the potential victims.

Edited March 29 by freeworld

[brianthainess]

15 minutes ago, freeworld said:

For ref but don't know if Thailand has similar safety recommendations.

https://www.osha.gov/robotics

Recommendations By NIOSH when working around Robots.

To minimize the risk of such incidents, NIOSH offers the following recommendations regarding the design of robotic systems, the training of workers, and their supervision.

A. The Design of Robotic System

Regarding both existing robotic equipment and new designs, NIOSH recommends that the robotic system:

1. Include physical barriers that incorporate gates equipped with electrical interlocks so that operation of the robot stops when the gate is opened.
2. Include, as a backup to electrical interlocks, motion sensors, light curtains, or floor sensors that stop the robot whenever a worker crosses the barrier.
3. Provide barriers, as may be appropriate, between robotic equipment and any freestanding objects such as posts limiting robot arm movement so that workers cannot get between any part of the robot and the “pinch points.”
4. Provide adequate clearance distances around all moving components of the robotic system. It is of particular importance that this be considered in plans for replacing a human worker with a robot; a robot often requires more operational space than does a human worker doing the same task.
5. Include remote “diagnostic” instrumentation as much as possible so that the maximum amount of troubleshooting of the system can be done from areas outside the operating range of the robot. Whenever it is necessary for a worker to be within the operating range of a robot, additional special provisions for safety should be taken, including, at a minimum, the presence of another worker who can turn off the robot should an emergency develop (buddy system).
6. Provide adequate illumination in the control and operational areas of the robotic system so that written instructions, as well as buttons, levers, etc., are clearly visible.
7. Include on floors or working surfaces clearly visible marks that indicate the zones of movement of the robot.

B. Training of Workers

Training specific to the particular robot in question should be provided to workers who will be programming, operating, or maintaining robots. Moreover, refresher courses which re-emphasize safety and discuss new technological developments should be provided for experienced programmers, operators, and maintenance workers. This training should emphasize safe work practices and stress that:

1. Workers must be familiar with all working aspects of the robot, including full range of motion, known hazards, how the robot is programmed, emergency stop buttons, and safety barriers, before operating or performing maintenance work at robotic work stations.
2. Operators should never be in reach of the robot while it is operating.
3. Programmers, operators, and maintenance workers should operate robots at reduced speeds consistent with adequate worker response to avoid hazards during programming and be aware of all conceivable pinch points, such as poles, walls, and other equipment, in the robots’ operational area.

C. Supervision of Workers

Supervisors should:

1. Assure that no one is allowed to enter the operational area of a robot without first putting the robot on “hold,” in a “power down” condition, or at a reduced operating speed mode.
2. Recognize that with the passage of time, experienced workers doing automated tasks may become complacent, overconfident, or unattentive to the hazards inherent in complex automated equipment. Close supervision of such operations is imperative to assure safety.

We are requesting that company managers, editors of appropriate trade journals, robot equipment designers, and safety and health inspectors institute these recommendations and bring them to the attention of the potential victims.

But that would take up to much production time, can't have that in the land of cheap as you can.

[Andrew65]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

I wouldn't want to even walk near a self-operating machine like that, in a narrow corner, like the employee was doing. Just because all these machines make me think of the terminator.

With correct health & safety implemented no one should have been able to be in the area where that machine was operating. There should have been 'magic-eyes' etc that stopped the machine if anyone entered the danger zone.

If such an accident happened in the UK there's a big chance that one of the bosses would be sent to prison.

Edited March 29 by Andrew65

[DaveBart]

I operated 6 bigger robots in the UK and under no circumstances did you go into the operating area of the robot until the power was disabled and the power switch locked off 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

Wow....

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

If such an accident happened in the UK there's a big chance that one of the bosses would be sent to prison.

This is Thailand and UK rules don't apply... safety last

[Andrew65]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

This is Thailand and UK rules don't apply... safety last

Yes, I'm fully aware of that🙂

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, freeworld said:

Recommendations By NIOSH when working around Robots.

But none of the recommendations promote "Thainess."

Nothing says Thainess like high worker rates on the job deaths.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, freeworld said:

For ref but don't know if Thailand has similar safety recommendations.

https://www.osha.gov/robotics

Recommendations By NIOSH when working around Robots.

To minimize the risk of such incidents, NIOSH offers the following recommendations regarding the design of robotic systems, the training of workers, and their supervision.

A. The Design of Robotic System

Regarding both existing robotic equipment and new designs, NIOSH recommends that the robotic system:

1. Include physical barriers that incorporate gates equipped with electrical interlocks so that operation of the robot stops when the gate is opened.
2. Include, as a backup to electrical interlocks, motion sensors, light curtains, or floor sensors that stop the robot whenever a worker crosses the barrier.
3. Provide barriers, as may be appropriate, between robotic equipment and any freestanding objects such as posts limiting robot arm movement so that workers cannot get between any part of the robot and the “pinch points.”
4. Provide adequate clearance distances around all moving components of the robotic system. It is of particular importance that this be considered in plans for replacing a human worker with a robot; a robot often requires more operational space than does a human worker doing the same task.
5. Include remote “diagnostic” instrumentation as much as possible so that the maximum amount of troubleshooting of the system can be done from areas outside the operating range of the robot. Whenever it is necessary for a worker to be within the operating range of a robot, additional special provisions for safety should be taken, including, at a minimum, the presence of another worker who can turn off the robot should an emergency develop (buddy system).
6. Provide adequate illumination in the control and operational areas of the robotic system so that written instructions, as well as buttons, levers, etc., are clearly visible.
7. Include on floors or working surfaces clearly visible marks that indicate the zones of movement of the robot.

B. Training of Workers

Training specific to the particular robot in question should be provided to workers who will be programming, operating, or maintaining robots. Moreover, refresher courses which re-emphasize safety and discuss new technological developments should be provided for experienced programmers, operators, and maintenance workers. This training should emphasize safe work practices and stress that:

1. Workers must be familiar with all working aspects of the robot, including full range of motion, known hazards, how the robot is programmed, emergency stop buttons, and safety barriers, before operating or performing maintenance work at robotic work stations.
2. Operators should never be in reach of the robot while it is operating.
3. Programmers, operators, and maintenance workers should operate robots at reduced speeds consistent with adequate worker response to avoid hazards during programming and be aware of all conceivable pinch points, such as poles, walls, and other equipment, in the robots’ operational area.

C. Supervision of Workers

Supervisors should:

1. Assure that no one is allowed to enter the operational area of a robot without first putting the robot on “hold,” in a “power down” condition, or at a reduced operating speed mode.
2. Recognize that with the passage of time, experienced workers doing automated tasks may become complacent, overconfident, or unattentive to the hazards inherent in complex automated equipment. Close supervision of such operations is imperative to assure safety.

We are requesting that company managers, editors of appropriate trade journals, robot equipment designers, and safety and health inspectors institute these recommendations and bring them to the attention of the potential victims.

Delete all the above and sell at a 10th of the western prices.

[fallup88]

That factory failed in many aspects regarding to worker safety. The area where the arm should have been partitioned off to ensure nobody can enter while it’s moving. Looks like it’s easily accessible from all sides.

 

Poor worker training which is a result in worker entering the area where machine arm can be in contact.

 

Lots of red flags.

 

[Ralf001]

8 minutes ago, fallup88 said:

That factory failed in many aspects regarding to worker safety. The area where the arm should have been partitioned off to ensure nobody can enter while it’s moving. Looks like it’s easily accessible from all sides.

 

Poor worker training which is a result in worker entering the area where machine arm can be in contact.

 

Lots of red flags.

 

 

I have 35 robots welding product.

 

There is no legal requirement to have them "partitioned off".

[Confuscious]

That's the reason why a MONKEY PROOF CAGE is build in most western factories to prevent access to a robot arm.

But in Thailand they don't need security.

[soalbundy]

7 hours ago, DaveBart said:

I operated 6 bigger robots in the UK and under no circumstances did you go into the operating area of the robot until the power was disabled and the power switch locked off 

I worked for BMW in Munich as a graphic designer, I often went into the factory to take pictures of the various stages of production. Once I climbed the steps up the production line, about two stories high, waiting for the right model to be transported along the line, to my delight the right model came along and I stepped forward to take the photos, I was really pleased that just at that moment the line stopped and I was able to take photos for 15 minutes until an enraged foreman flew up the stairs and pulled me away by the scruff of my neck whereupon the line started moving again. I had trodden on a safety plate which was there to stop the line to prevent people being knocked off the platform by the cars being transported along the production line. I had unwittingly stopped the whole production line in that hall and people were tearing their hair out trying to find the cause of the stoppage, I had cost BMW 30,000 Euros in production fall out, I thought the foreman was about to have a heart attack,.......safety first.

[Confuscious]

His amulet was not working.

He should file a complaint with Buddha.

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

I wouldn't want to even walk near a self-operating machine like that, in a narrow corner, like the employee was doing. Just because all these machines make me think of the terminator.

Yes my thought too.... the areas where the arm encroach should not be freely accessible ... safety here is a joke!

[fallup88]

14 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

I have 35 robots welding product.

 

There is no legal requirement to have them "partitioned off".

there is no legal requirements for many things here, which is why there are so many industrial accidents.

 

a factory that size making parts for car manufacturers should have know better and implement better safety for workers not just the bare minimum.

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, fallup88 said:

there is no legal requirements for many things here, which is why there are so many industrial accidents.

 

a factory that size making parts for car manufacturers should have know better and implement better safety for workers not just the bare minimum.

 

Nothing to do with Vanderpac though... assuming they meet all legal requirements.

[Mr Meeseeks]

22 hours ago, Emdog said:

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

Lock him up. If employee dies because of lack of training, safety mechanisms, that is on the employer 100%. Or should be, but probably not in Thailand

 

In Thailand, the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Act of 2011 (OSH Act) serves as the cornerstone of occupational safety and health regulations. This legislation places the responsibility on employers to establish safety officers, safety committees, and safety departments to oversee workplace safety. 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/enhancing-workplace-safety-thailands-revised-osh-act-michael-j--3ucgc/

 

Pretty much the same as under HASAWA in the UK, on which it is based on, in that employers absolutely have a legal responsibility for the safety of their employees at the workplace. Failure to meet their responsibilities results in harsh punishment. 

 

Enforcement is where it all falls down in Thailand yet again. In the UK, the HSE would be all over this.

 

Shocking to see an employer coming out with statements like that though, that's pre-industrial revolution thinking.

 

Just shows how far behind they are culturally and in education. 

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

 

Shocking to see an employer coming out with statements like that though, that's pre-industrial revolution thinking.

 

 

 

Yeah they might need to revise their company philosophy !

 

 

[Digitalbanana]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

a manager stated to local media:

 

“We are not providing any more information. The employees accept responsibility for any accidents that happen while they are working.”

This manager needs replacing immediately and then to be thoroughly investigated for everyone's safety at this work place.

[Andrew65]

18 hours ago, fallup88 said:

That factory failed in many aspects regarding to worker safety. The area where the arm should have been partitioned off to ensure nobody can enter while it’s moving. Looks like it’s easily accessible from all sides.

 

Poor worker training which is a result in worker entering the area where machine arm can be in contact.

 

Lots of red flags.

 

Poor worker training? More like p**s-poor management. Let's put the blame where it really lies, and not with the worker.