How cobots can boost safety in the workplace

The summer months are most peoples favourite time of the year but they come with their own issues within the workplace. People do not want to be stuck on a production line when they could be outside enjoying an ice cream with their families. This can lead to complacency and an increased risk of workplace accidents. Cobots can help to mitigate these risks and also help to boost worker morale. Cobots will consistently adhere to safety and production guidelines where workers may slip up as a result of heat or lack of focus.

Alleviate physical strain

Cobots help to alleviate the strain placed on workers. They turn repetitive tasks into a simple pick and place operation for a Universal Robot. As the heat rises inside an enclosed environment this can take a physical toll on workers. These people may have to carry heavy boxes or push heavy loads on a pallet jack. So why not automate these processes and protect the physical wellbeing of your valued employees.

Prioritise Ergonomics

Since Covid there has been a huge focus placed on workplace ergonomics and on a manufacturing line this should be no different. During the Summer, fatigue can set in quicker. Some actions that result in awkward posture or are simply very repetitive should be automated. Allow a palletising solution to handle the heavy lifting and upskill your workers to program these robots through training programs such as the UR Training Academy.

Manage worker vacations

The summer months is where a lot of workers tend to take their holidays. This is as a result of schools being off and the good weather. This can lead to there being gaps on a production line. Cobots can be redeployed to fill whatever gaps appear or they can be a permanent fixture allowing staff to handle more skilled processes and ensure cover is available to fill gaps.

Safety Features

Cobots are designed and built to work in collaboration with humans. This means they are built with safety features to ensure things do not go wrong and people do not get hurt. Cobots are equipped with torque and motion sensors that can sense with and resistance is put against the cobot. This may be a human arm or a foreign object. The force necessary to stop the robot arm can be programmed into it upon startup. Unline industrial robots, Cobots do not need to be housed within cages. This allows people to quickly program them and is only possible due to the safety features.

Competitive Advantage

As we all saw with Covid-19, the future is unpredictable. We truly hope another global pandemic never happens again but having a contingency plan is crucial. Cobots cannot reproduce the quality and communication that a fully functioning team of humans can. However, should a factory need to be shut down due to a virus or health scare, having a team of cobots that can keep manufacturing going could be a huge advantage over competitors. Your factory may have to keep workers at home or even offer a day off to the team. This can help boost morale and loyalty if a functioning automation system is put in place, particularly in the warm summer months.